Question for those of you that drive yours around all winter. How much weight do you put up front? I just put 2 50 pound bags of sand up there, which is what i did last winter too. Anybody put more? Seems like i'm pretty pressed for space as it is, maybe could lay another 50 pound bag across the top of the two that are sitting where the spare tire goes, but don't know if that's excessive or whatnot. More the better?

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AIM: phool88fiero

I assume the added weight is to increase steering response 'cause the Fiero really does push when it is slick. The weight will help steer under slow speed conditions and acceleration, but when actually taking a slippery corner at speed the weight is going to try and pull the Fiero off the outside of the corner.
Under ice and snow driving the smaller the footprint of the tire the better the grip. A twenty-five percent reduction in front tire width (preferably to a snow tread) should help more than the added weight.
Driving forty on ice is similar to driving two hundred on pavement, inertia rules and steering input is more of steering suggestion. More weight gives inertia more energy to fight with. Not good.
That is my nickel's worth of experience from driving through Alaska's winters.

I have to agree with phaeton.
spend the effort on the tires. You can't break the rules of physics, and physics clearly states that when cornering, WEIGHT DOES NOT MATTER.
the equation of centripetal force is:
=(mv^2)/r
friction(which acts as centripetal force: =umgsin90 *u= coefficient of friction
therefore:
(mv^2)/r=umgsin90
v^2/r=ug

since mass is not an issue, and you can't control gravity or friction, you must slow down. simple. by the way, the "u" would represent the road conditions, the less friction the smaller the value of "u".

when getting tires, is it good to just buy winter type tires since that when you really come into trouble with the tires anyways. Can't you just stick with winter tires all year around?

i believe that using winter tires year-round is actually not a good idea. It's like using rain-tires on a dry day at the track. I use all-season tires so that i don't have to change them. This is not the ideal case. They won't handle great on any surface, but rather pretty good on all surfaces. They suit my needs and budget better.
Also when buying winter tires, a thinner tire is preferable. You want the tred to touch the pavement. It has to "slice" through the snow (like a knife slicing through butter) to do this.

Thanks for the suggestions... but how much are snow tires? i guess lets just say that two bags of sand fits my budget a little better than four new tires. And i'm not too worried about high speed cornering, cause i nurse the hell out of the car in the winter. Pretty much like you assume that the car has no traction at any point in time, and you tend to be right about half the time, but at least you're prepared.

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AIM: phool88fiero

quote Originally posted by fierce_gt: therefore: (mv^2)/r=umgsin90 v^2/r=ug

WOW!!! I was lost till I read that last part.
Actually, I agree. I drive my Fiero all winter. Good winter tires, slightly smaller in width, slower than normal driving speed, and common sense.

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Jim
www.jkfiero.com

[This message has been edited by JKFIERO (edited 12-01-2002).]