Winter's coming...
 

So, I got my Evo last spring after things thawed out around here in Minnesota. With the weather cooling down a hair, I'm starting to think about winter. I'm looking for some advice about what to do with the Evo this winter. Here are the two options: 1) get a $1k winter truck and store the Evo, or 2) get $1k in winter tires and drive the Evo. I'm leaning toward #1. Particularly for those in cold climates who have had there cars through a winter, what've you guys done, and what do you recommend?

I'd store it. You should start a poll for this.

We have AWD. Throw some Nokians on the Evo and have a blast in the winter. {thumbup}

snow + evo is major fun

I can't wait for winter... I'll have some snow tires for the street and studded tires for the ice!

whoo hoo I'm looking to buy someones snow tires (that sold there evos)so I can have ALOT of fun this winter :)

Get the tires.. Like said above, snow + Evo = major fun. We amy not get that much snow or any at all but some areas around vegas do. If ur evo is for show then store it but, if you get the truck youll have to pay insurance as well.

Where in MN are you ?

EVO in winter is a blast! Good all-seasons are all you need (still driving on them, even now.) Mudflaps are a must. Change oil at 3k becaus of a little more blowby on cold starts, but overall the EVO is so much fun.

Later,

jcnel.

Thanks for all the advice. It's true that I'd have to insure the truck too, but I'd be able to defray that cost by cancelling down the Evo insurance to just fire/theft until I drove it again. Plus, I'd probably be able to see a $1k truck in the spring for somewhere around the price I bought it for.

Good advice on the 3k between oil changes, too. Anyone have thoughts about winter wheels/tires? My thought right now would be to throw my bald Advans away when the snow comes, put winters on my stock wheels, and in spring get an aftermarket wheel/tire combo. How's that sound?

I'll put up a poll (winter drive v. winter storage) soon on this.

I'd really spring for a set of 'cheap' winter rims also. Neal at Tirerack has really been helpful in getting the best 'winter' value we can for our EVOs.

The reason, your stock Enkeis will probably get chewed up just running through the snow. Hidden potholes, and corners + snowbanks don't make rims feel very good. My ADRs fine, but then again, they are heavier and can take a lot of abuse as is.

Also...finding a 'heavy' 'cheap' aftermarket rim is not the easiest because of the offset requirement of our stock Brembos. Get with Neal, he's probably the best answer on rim types and how things hold up.

Good Luck,

jcnel.

I have a house in northern Wis. Haven't had my evo up there yet in the winter, but plan to put some Pirelli PZero Nero M&S on for an ocassional fun drive in fresh snow this year. See Tire Rack http://www.tirerack.com/index.jsp

Wouldn't think of driving the evo in sloppy wet snow. Lots of road spash, especially from trucks and busses. The car would be covered in salt, sand and grime ..not to mention the ocassional deer that jumps in front of the car.

I plan to do most of my driving in a 4x4 and take the AWD evo out for some fun once in a while

I'm a big fan of beaters for winter driving. Not only do you have to consider the impact of winter driving on your car (MN likes to use a lot of salt, from what I remember), but also that the vast majority of people (even native MNs) are lousy drivers in snow - your odds of getting in accidents rises significantly. As for the Evo being fun in the winter - hell yes! But I can have just as much fun (if not more) in my $2000 beater because I don't have to worry about hitting stuff (like curbs and snowbanks). I'd have a lot harder time snow-drifting through town in a $30,000 car. If you have the facilities to store it, I'd seriously look into a $2500-3000 beater car with front or all wheel drive, get snow tires on it, and save the Evo for nice days or the spring. My two cents

I lived in WI all last winter. I just put on some all season tires and had a blast. I may be selling my OEM rims and good winter tires for right around that price. Let me know if your interested.

It depends if you live in the city where the streets are kept well plowed or out in the boondocks where they aren't.

If you're in close, I'd drive the Evo. Life is short.