And so it begins .. First snows of 2012

by **aidanodr** » Thu, 01 Nov 2012 4:43 +0000

Hi Guys,

Time to either garage up your REAR WHEEL DRIVE MX or get out them snow socks:

http://www.micksgarage.com/snow-socks/

Here is the article in The Journal on the first snow:

http://www.thejournal.ie/first-snow-ireland-cork-tipperary-limerick-657409-Nov2012/

And the picture:

I shudder about this because I wrote off my 03 MX5 Nevada in 2009 mid december when the snows arrives. Just before it arrived actually. Bone dry back road, no snow, water or ice, 40kms ph, 6:30 in the evening, darkish, car driving forward, next second it just turned at a right angle into a ditch/pole.

Their was an underground spring spurting up through centre of road and it had frozen. Rare wheels probably hit it and car spun.

A salutary lesson. Snow / Ice and RWD do not mix at all. Aside from all the MXes watch all the BMWs doing their snow spinning again this year. Loads of people driving them without realising they are RWD.

A

by **aidanodr** » Thu, 01 Nov 2012 5:55 +0000

Im considering a 2nd set of rims with winter tyres. Any advice? Anyone use winter tyres on MX5?

Currently I have 205/45 r16s on original factory alloys ( 03 MX5 Nevada ). I assume I would need another set of 16s or would MX5 14s do for winter??

Cheers - A

by **Steve** » Thu, 01 Nov 2012 6:46 +0000

If you have the sport brakes (not sure if that model has them) you'll need to get at least 15" wheels to clear the calipers. Not all 15's will fit so test fit first.

by **aidanodr** » Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:41 +0000

For anyone interested in WINTER TYRES:

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?suchen=Ordern&cart_id=4892981.124.20082&ranzahl=4&Breite=205&Quer=45&Felge=16&Speed=H&Transport=P&dsco=124&sowigan=Wi&last_sort=profil&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=20&sort_by=preis

Extra Rims + 4 new winter tyres adds up in price ( maybe around €800 to €1000? ) BUT balance that against writing off your pride and joy. Also you should get more life out of both your tyre sets. Most seem to put winter tyres on from November to Feb/March.

by **MX5Spares** » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 9:13 +0000

We have set 15inch rims at moment or sale .Ideal and genuine mazda.Part worn winter tyres are fine to use because winter tyres original tread depth is 8mm and not the standard 6mm so part worn usually have approx 6mm remaining.More than enough to do several winters.I have used these before and they are excellent.The situation being that standard tyres start to firm up from temperatures below 3 degrees i believe ,but winter tyres stay flexible to minus 10.Alsp tread design is better for dispersing water/snow etc.Tyreland in Dublin is where i got mine but most tyre shopa have them

by **rhysmate** » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:15 +0000

just buy a subaru Vivio

mine cost me 200 yoyos and it doesnt matter if it bumps off a ditch.. both my cars are parked for the winter now

by **aidanodr** » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 3:51 +0000

rhysmate wrote:just buy a subaru Vivio mine cost me 200 yoyos and it doesnt matter if it bumps off a ditch.. both my cars are parked for the winter now

Price of another car like that might be cheap but I cannot afford to pay two insurance premiums and two motor tax bills, plus upkeep two cars - so Im afraid not an option here

by **rhysmate** » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 4:26 +0000

aidanodr wrote:
rhysmate wrote:just buy a subaru Vivio mine cost me 200 yoyos and it doesnt matter if it bumps off a ditch.. both my cars are parked for the winter now

Price of another car like that might be cheap but I cannot afford to pay two insurance premiums and two motor tax bills, plus upkeep two cars - so Im afraid not an option here

the vivio costs me 185 a year to tax and i use my insurance off the s2000.. avivas ''driving of other cars'' means you can drive any car as long as it has tax and nct on it.. your policy becomes third party while you drive that car though but thats ok when the car costs so little!!

by **Paschal** » Sun, 04 Nov 2012 12:26 +0000

rhysmate wrote:
aidanodr wrote:
rhysmate wrote:just buy a subaru Vivio mine cost me 200 yoyos and it doesnt matter if it bumps off a ditch.. both my cars are parked for the winter now

Price of another car like that might be cheap but I cannot afford to pay two insurance premiums and two motor tax bills, plus upkeep two cars - so Im afraid not an option here

the vivio costs me 185 a year to tax and i use my insurance off the s2000.. avivas ''driving of other cars'' means you can drive any car as long as it has tax and nct on it.. your policy becomes third party while you drive that car though but thats ok when the car costs so little!!

WARNING. "Driving of other cars" has one small but important condition. The "other" car CANNOT be owned by you. In your case, if the car is off the road, just contact the insurance Company and formally transfer the insurance from the s2000 to the VIVIO

by **rhysmate** » Sun, 04 Nov 2012 5:54 +0000

I have that covered paschal :-)

only the s2000 is in my name. Had a good long chat while I was in the office in aviva about it all to make sure..

by **james** » Thu, 08 Nov 2012 9:54 +0000

im getting scared of driving my 5 in the snow now .. i guess with it being near 50/50 it could go anyway

is it seariously dodgy

by **aidanodr** » Thu, 08 Nov 2012 10:12 +0000

Unfortunately it can be - I crashed and totalled my previous one in the winter of 2009 - as I mentioned in my OP:

"I wrote off my 03 MX5 Nevada in 2009 mid december when the snows arrives. Just before it arrived actually. Bone dry back road, no snow, water or ice, 40kms ph, 6:30 in the evening, darkish, car driving forward, next second it just turned at a right angle into a ditch/pole."

So my impression of MXes and snow is a bit more coloured than others from a bad experience. Over paranoia

by **Rebelbloke** » Fri, 09 Nov 2012 7:42 +0000

Anyone here use those snow socks? Don't know too much about them - easy to put on/ take off? Are they durable? Would love to hear if anyone has used them on their mx...

Looking for an alternative to winter tyres as I just don't have the space to store the tyres... Also looking for something a bit cheaper!

Thanks

by **Rebelbloke** » Fri, 09 Nov 2012 7:42 +0000

Anyone here use those snow socks? Don't know too much about them - easy to put on/ take off? Are they durable? Would love to hear if anyone has used them on their mx...

Looking for an alternative to winter tyres as I just don't have the space to store the tyres... Also looking for something a bit cheaper!

Thanks

by **Rebelbloke** » Fri, 09 Nov 2012 7:43 +0000

Apologies- double post... Tapatalk dammit!!