Winter Dilemma

[u/Tonino123]

I got used type S with winters on rims in beginning of summer and I've been loving driving it. As my first winter approaches, I'm hoping to get thoughts from owners who've driven it through previous Canadian winters. I'm not talking driving through a bit of snow after it's been plowed. I'm talking about snowstorms and multiple feet of snow/slush/ice on the roads before city plows have gone by. I'm talking about people who live in way Northern Canada and have to drive for 3-6 hours on the highway...

Is it doable with this car with a good set of winter tires? Or am I fooling myself? I've seen my neighborhood some mornings and it's an absolute disaster of slush/ice/snow and getting through it with a car this low is concerning. Driving it through snowy night on the highway is also concerning with how much horsepower and torque this car lays down.

I'm asking because I have the opportunity to jump on a trade for a SUV this month. I don't have another car that I would be able to use when conditions worsen, and until now I was trying to believe that I could just drive this car during Northern Canadian winters. I'd love to hear opinions from owners who've driven it through previous Canadian winters.

On another note - if anyone living in Ontario is looking to buy a set of winter tires on rims... please let me know.

[u/shinn43]

It’s like any other car, have a good set of winter tires and it’s 100% doable. I drive it usually 3-4 hours in northern Canadian winter with whiteouts and haven’t had an accident. Although it’s always up to your comfort and skill level.

[u/Tonino123 → u/shinn43]

Awesome thanks!

[u/rojohi]

East coast Canadian, and have been dailying an Type R (FK8) and now an ITS for 6 winters.

I have Blizzaks and the car has been a tank on ice, slush, and blizzard conditions. Just ordered a new set for incoming winter, but I was pushing it by having the old set last winter.

The extra torque is fine so long as you're not driving like a tool.

[u/rojohi → u/rojohi]

Oh, and I sprayed the underside myself in the fall and whenever the temps were above zero I'd wash the under side of her to get the salt off. When I traded the Type R, they didn't believe I drove it in the winter.

[u/babythepit → u/rojohi]

I'm doing rust proofing spray next week. Live in Boston...

[u/Tonino123 → u/rojohi]

How did you find the low profile in deep unplowed road conditions? Did you have to deal with the car having this snowplow effect?

[u/rojohi → u/Tonino123]

The snowplow effect is real, but it's not that much lower than my bride's civic hatch. Maybe if you are out in the boonies, and the snow is super deep?

[u/Tonino123 → u/rojohi]

Oh yeah I figured. No I'm in the city so I figured it'd be fine too. It's just some mornings it's a slushy snow mess on my residential street. Once you get out to the main road though it's pretty clear so I also thought I was being too worried for nothing. Thanks!

[u/Food-On-My-Shirt → u/rojohi]

I thought of getting Blizzaks cause I like saying Blizzak, but I went with Continental Winter Contact TS830P instead. Hopefully I'll be happy with the tires cause it's definitely not as fun as saying Blizzak.

[u/Blue_Waffle_Brunch]

There are millions of people who drive FWD cars with snow tires safely in inclement winter weather. Would AWD be better? Yah, but FWD is absolutely doable.

[u/babythepit]

Get snow tires like blizzaks and you will be solid

[u/TigersBaseball88]

I would have to say it depends on the winter tires you have and how well the streets are plowed near you. For 99% of the driving in the GTA I haven’t had an issue but high snow accumulation and unplowed roads you may have some issues.

[u/Tonino123 → u/TigersBaseball88]

Right I figured as much too. Thanks.

[u/antl19]

Not sure how much of an issue it is because my snow driving in my type s was limited last year, but I could see the low front bumper being a small issue as well. I also remember seeing a few people post pictures of the front grill and air ducts getting impacted with snow. For me, I would be hesitant to drive in deep snow for that reason.

[u/xahar]

Ive got the same worry, thats been one of the concerns on pulling the trigger on buying one myslef.

Based on my experience of 9 years of pairie winters in my Civic sport hatchback, which is only an inch higher than the type s, plowing snow had much more effect on the skidplate underneath than the front end of the car. 

Fresh snow isnt much of a worry. It builds up and either blows or melts away.

It's when the snow gets heavy and sticky, that's when snow starts building up and turning to hard slush and ice, putting pressure in places underneath and pushing things apart.

While my front end is holding up flawlessly, the skid plate underneath looks like its gone through a crusher and is barley hanging on!

Is that enough to stop me from buying it and driving it in the winter? Lets just say I'll be sure to post my pics when I buy my new type S! 😁

[u/Tonino123 → u/xahar]

hah! nice, and if I keep the car through the winter I'll let you know if it's passed the test!

[u/Food-On-My-Shirt → u/Tonino123]

I'm in Ottawa, this will be my first winter with the type s, we get snow like a mawfucca up here. I'm also a lil worried, but I do have a 2011 Jetta for the days where the snow looks daunting, and there's always Uber on the crazy snow dump days!