Minnesota Focus Owners Club

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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....

i have some blizzaks on my stock rims and they handle beautifully...

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

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.

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.

saintg, talk to trahma. He's got some body shop hookups.
Nils

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.

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.

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.

just for the record, the worst tires EVER in the snow are Bridgestone Potenza RE92

I'm quite sure my Azenis are much worse.