GT350 in the winter

Anyone running their 350 in the winter with winter wheels/tires?

If so, what's your setup and does it work worth a shit in light snow, slush, frozen roads?

Thinking of picking up a '19 ruby red and driving it all year in Wisconsin. Why? Because I'm not going to live forever.

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in for comments, I’m interested.

At a minimum you will need Blizzacks. As much as it would cost for a new set to fit a GT350, you could buy a beater Focus, Ranger, Crown Vic, Exploder etc for those days it's really bad.

In the winter time, my biggest concern is the other dipshits on the road. I'd be terrified in a GT350 this time of year in Wisconsin.

I’d say do it. +1 on the Blizzaks and just be extra defensive while driving.

There are obvious traction issues that make it a terrible option but also the ground clearance. More than 4" of snow and you are bottomed out.

Klaus said:

There are obvious traction issues that make it a terrible option but also the ground clearance. More than 4" of snow and you are bottomed out.

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Front spoiler = snow plow

We have actual snow plows up here in Wisconsin, so I'm not worried about deep snow. I just wait for the plows to come out before I head out.

I run Pilot Alpines on my RS5 today and they go and stop great and have good stability. I have Michellin X-ice on the Mustang my kids drive around, and they work pretty good too, but are mushy.

Looking for some 350 specific success stories so I increase my odds of choosing a decent set of wheels/tires that fit, look good, and perform.

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I used to be a juvenile and drive my Cobra in the winter. Now I’m an adult and have a proper daily. It’s just not worth it and the paint on these newer fords seem soft. Better have that thing covered in the 3m film.

+1 on the Blizzak or Michelin X ice, also you would be doing yourself a huge favor by sizing down the width, those 295 and 305 are going to do everything they can to try and ride up on top of the snow instead of cutting through it and getting down on the road. Not sure how small of a dia. you can go down with those huge brakes, 18" maybe 17 ? Dont know for sure but the skinnier the better.

Ford Performance recommends 255/40x19 front and 275/40x19 rear snow tires. Ford makes a set of rims for those sizes that fit the GT350.

I tried to have a performance car in the winter. It was a B5 Audi S4. AWD and full on snows. Yup no prob sometimes, as mentioned, anything over 4, challanging. A larger issue plow drifts, trying to get into driveways etc. Lasted one winter. BTW I bought that car new in I think 98. Never even considered it since, SUV's or trucks in the winter.

Yeah, the cost of a separate set of wheels/tires for winter isn't going to be cheap. Which is why my G70 sits in the garage under a cover. It's got AWD and I originally intended on driving it during the winter months, with a separate set of wheels and Blizzacks. But when I calculated the cost, I decided to save my money and instead drive to work with my wife. We work in the same office. There'a another reason why I don't like driving a nice car during the winter. Road debris up north. Salt, chemicals and dirt is a menace to a nice paint finish. If you absolutely have to drive a GT-350 on snowy, slushy roads, just be sure you have adequate tires for winter driving and do your utmost to drive carefully and defensively when the roads are bad.

Bro all u need is a set of Blizzacks. They come in 19 inch. U putt those on all 4 rims and ull be fine. Those freakn tires are like magic in the snow! The technology is just on another level. Perfectly fine in the dry conditions as well. They are rated for "Good" in dry conditions and "Excellent" in snow/slush.

Thanks for the constructive responses.

I have a pretty good idea what I'll go forward with.

I haven't seen anyone provide insight on actually driving one in the snow. Is every one of these 350's a garage queen, with an alternate POS/bubble SUV/misery truck for the majority of daily miles?

Personally, I'm trying to break free of the mental paradigm to have a garage queen and a POS. It's such a waste of money and miles, IMO.

It's now about smiles per gallon for me.

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CobraBob said:

Yeah, the cost of a separate set of wheels/tires for winter isn't going to be cheap. Which is why my G70 sits in the garage under a cover. It's got AWD and I originally intended on driving it during the winter months, with a separate set of wheels and Blizzacks. But when I calculated the cost, I decided to save my money and instead drive to work with my wife. We work in the same office. There'a another reason why I don't like driving a nice car during the winter. Road debris up north. Salt, chemicals and dirt is a menace to a nice paint finish. If you absolutely have to drive a GT-350 on snowy, slushy roads, just be sure you have adequate tires for winter driving and do your utmost to drive carefully and defensively when the roads are bad.

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Thanks Bob. For winter tires on your Kia you can just swap the summer/winter tires onto the stock wheels. The profiles are big enough where there is little risk of tire damage. Or just run all weather tires, like the Goodyear Assurance Weatherready, which is an awesome tire. I have Vredestein Quadtracs on my wife's SHO and they are really good all weather performers too.

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Relaxed Chaos said:

I haven't seen anyone provide insight on actually driving one in the snow. Is every one of these 350's a garage queen, with an alternate POS/bubble SUV/misery truck for the majority of daily miles?

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Your not probably getting many responses because those of us with these cars have daily drivers already.

My cars are put away 5-6 months out of the year here in Massachusetts, I’m sure we get similar winter weather to you out in Wisconsin.

but they are hardly garage queens, the months I do drive them I drive them hard, they way they were meant to be driven. Track events, road course, drag, etc.

Daily driver is a 2013 Raptor and work truck is a 2011 F350.

I haven't had to drive my GT350 in snow, but I've driven many rear wheel drive cars, including a 2014 GT500, in the snow. There are two things that make it work - skinny snow tires and about 60 to 80 pounds of sand in the trunk.

The 350 would probably make a decent winter car in all reality. The lack of tq down low makes it want to spin a bit less, and make it easier to apply power before things get sideways. Drove my 14 V6 in the winter a bit at my last job. I delivered parts in it quite frequently when our 2wd canyons wouldn't climb the local hills in the snow. The mustang has more weight in the back than a reg cab short box Colorado, and actually went better than I thought. I was on spare rims with some half worn Goodyear RSA's. Cant imagine what studded snows or something would do.

Some unsolicited advice you don't want. Take the money you'd spend on tires, changing twice a year, etc and buy a beater. Driving your 350 in the winter is just wasted miles and given depreciation, wear and tear, oil consumption and everything else, you're robbed of the experience of the 350 by using it in conditions where it has to be grannied.

If I can't experience all the car has to offer, then I'd rather drive a beater and save the mileage and depreciation for conditions where I can enjoy the full cost of each mile.

Granted, not everyone spends EVERY mile rapped out at redline and hairpin turns, but driving the car in the winter (to the point you're changing to studded tires) is kinda like mixing $200/bottle Scotch with coke. If that's what you like and you can afford it, knock yourself out. But I think you'll find it's a pretty similar experience to mix $30/bottle with coke and save the $200/bottle for it's proper use and enjoyment.

This guy drove his 350 in the winter, although he stopped when he bought his new 350R. He has some interesting other videos with his 350.