Bad Traction

Non Focus discussion. Pretty much other cars and off topic stuff.
thenamessean04
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed May 04, 2005 1:16 pm
Location: Minnetonka, MN
Contact:

Okay, So I was driving down 35W while it was snowing out and I could barely keep my car under control! It wasn't just the snow because EVERYONE was passing me going 70. It felt like my focus was on two wheels located in the middle, and it kept tipping over from one side to the other. Whenever I would try to counter it it would go way to the other side. It was like there was play in the front end but I know there isn't. I had heard that focus' suck in the winter but there is no way the firestone's suck that much is there? There were FIVE people in the car. Was there just too much weight on the rear of a 2 wheel drive car? I really really really need help getting this resolved because I am 200 miles away from where I have to be on Monday morning. Any insight you can give me would be greatly appriciated. Thanks! Please! :shock:
Last edited by thenamessean04 on Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sean Cunliffe~

My car-2002CD Silver ZX3,SVT front bumper w/upper grill,SVT suspension(soon),Focus sport strut bar,Cold Air Intake,2005 charcoal interior,Sony Headw/2 10" Punch subs,Kenwood 930watt amp w/built in fan to stay cool under false floor.
HotRodWagon
Cajun Mafia
Posts: 2515
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 7:56 pm
Car: 01 Street Wagon/02 ZTW
Location: Minnesota River Valley
Contact:

Those Firehawks are the worst tires I've ever had in the snow. I couldn't get much over 45mph without the rear getting loose. It'll be a long winter if you've got to ride them out.
Pappy
have you seen my boxers?
Posts: 4072
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:11 pm
Car: 09 Mustang GT, 14 Focus
Location: WI

I haven't had any problems yet. My car pulls fine through all this. The wheels I have on have firehawks in the back, and my back end only kicks out when I make it...
Nils
Prestige WorldWide The First Word In Entertainment

______________Boats and Ho's!_____________
thenamessean04
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed May 04, 2005 1:16 pm
Location: Minnetonka, MN
Contact:

Thanks for your guys' help. I made it home alive. I guess it was a combo of all the weight and the shitty tires. It was 10 times better on the way home with just me in the car. This is going to be one very long winter.
Sean Cunliffe~

My car-2002CD Silver ZX3,SVT front bumper w/upper grill,SVT suspension(soon),Focus sport strut bar,Cold Air Intake,2005 charcoal interior,Sony Headw/2 10" Punch subs,Kenwood 930watt amp w/built in fan to stay cool under false floor.
o2designs
Making skinny jeans look baggy since 2009
Posts: 8253
Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2005 3:27 pm
Car: Bone Stock Focuseses
Location: Rochester

Mine handled fine last year with the half used set of Firesquaks on all 4 last year. It was the funniest car to drift around in the snow with. Handled awesome. I'm thinking your problem was the weight/weather.
Pants too tight, wheels so bright!
mars
Posts: 1308
Joined: Fri May 20, 2005 1:42 pm
Location: STP

glad u got home safely!! yea the weight will do that... i had the samething happen to me on BlackFriday last month going home in the morning with 5 of us (me+4others)... really sucked... i am still running the falken zeix on the 5spokers i bought... runs ok wit me alone in the car, but still sucks... cant get traction while snow falls... i've heard their for all-season, but i guess it was meant for hot states, because they suck more than the stock conti.. that i still have....
2004 EAP Comp. Orange Focus SVT - LOUD AZZ SVT exhaust!!!!
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146.64whp/129.47tq
portfocus33
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:43 pm
Location: Newport, MN

i have some blizzaks on my stock rims and they handle beautifully...
focinite
Master of Phonemic orthography
Posts: 3718
Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:32 pm
Car: black cvp vroom vroom
Location: anoka mn

if you have any sort of drop in the back ( or a couple of fat chicks) it will screw with your camber alot wich in turn will make the contact patch of the tire a different shape wich in turn affects the gripping factor of your tires i have made a modification to my rear arms( slots ) wich alow me to adjust camber to correct for my drop( or fat chicks). the first winter i had a hard time with going under bridges the tail would kick to the left all the time i then putt in the coils and it would not do it so much any more but onec on ther aligment rack i found my cambr and toe setting were wacked way out so i set camber (after sloting arms) and set toe , she tracks great even with the fire spunks on the back , but after the goo9s went on i found that about + 0.08 degrees past stock camber work great and holds that rear from movin around a whole lot
Image wink wink.....bitches
saintg2005
Posts: 193
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:11 am

Hey I got in a reall ybad accident on sat night. I was trying to brake and fishtailed to the right into oncoming traffic so i turned it the other way to go onto the curb. My drivers side quarter panel went through a sign and into a fire hydrant. I already have a used quarterpanel on the way but does anyone know anybody around the tc that will cut and weld a quarterpanel for cheap?? Any suggestions?? I'm kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. :evil:
I'm not the MN ZX3 w/ Cali plates anymore.
A cop came by and trashed my dreams.
NEXT BIG PROJECT:
Swap to stick with CM Stage3, Fidanza Flywheel and Steeda Short Shifter
CleanZX3
Really CleanZX4
Posts: 1211
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2003 10:03 pm
Car: 07 ST S.A.P.

Last year, I drove half the winter with Justins bald ass tires on the back.They were super bald, like slicks. It wasnt too bad. I learned to drift pretty good. :)

I remember getting caught in the snow with teh azenias(sp?) Everybody else was crashing, sliding into ditches, while i drove 20mph on 394.

People in Mn need to learn how to dive in the snow. The should give classes in drivers ed.
07 ST S.A.P.
Pappy
have you seen my boxers?
Posts: 4072
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:11 pm
Car: 09 Mustang GT, 14 Focus
Location: WI

saintg, talk to trahma. He's got some body shop hookups.
Nils
Prestige WorldWide The First Word In Entertainment

______________Boats and Ho's!_____________
trahma
has a blownup bomb
Posts: 1247
Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:47 pm
Car: 2002 Malibu Blue ZX3
Location: Minneapolis
Contact:

saintg2005 wrote: Hey I got in a reall ybad accident on sat night. I was trying to brake and fishtailed to the right into oncoming traffic so i turned it the other way to go onto the curb. My drivers side quarter panel went through a sign and into a fire hydrant. I already have a used quarterpanel on the way but does anyone know anybody around the tc that will cut and weld a quarterpanel for cheap?? Any suggestions?? I'm kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. :evil:


There's a guy in Duluth I take my car to and have him work on my car. He's an amazing painter and does excellent body work as well. He's worked on my car both times it's needed body work. I can give you his number but he's 2.5 hours away.
reconstruction.
saintg2005
Posts: 193
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:11 am

Yea og for it. I got a couple of numbers form people but I have to go outto them cause one of them lives in oak grove mn. For sure tho giv eme his number. I don't really need paint done i just need a new left quarterpanel and a new door put on. i have a guy in the tc thats going to totally redew the paint job on the focus to black.
I'm not the MN ZX3 w/ Cali plates anymore.
A cop came by and trashed my dreams.
NEXT BIG PROJECT:
Swap to stick with CM Stage3, Fidanza Flywheel and Steeda Short Shifter
spots25
Posts: 761
Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:24 pm
Contact:

just for the record, the worst tires EVER in the snow are Bridgestone Potenza RE92
00' Kona
trahma
has a blownup bomb
Posts: 1247
Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:47 pm
Car: 2002 Malibu Blue ZX3
Location: Minneapolis
Contact:

I'm quite sure my Azenis are much worse. :twisted:
reconstruction.
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