1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I would not say that it is a "Use snows and its no problem" situation as another poster did.
I have the recommended Saab setup with the 16" rims and the Gislaved Nordfrost-II tires.
I found that I was able to get where I needed to go and we had some significant snow in the NE this last winter. I am considering studs this year, as there are conditions which really challenge the stability or rather ability...
In the slimy/slushy road conditions the damn tires are just too wide to handle steer or stop well... again this being a factor of the tire width, and not any other item,, IE these are good tires and the car is quite capable, my thought is that with the studs I will penetrate the slime and get down to the hard surface underneath.
The Viggen sits very low, and any appreciable snow will result in you and the air damn becoming a snow plow and as such you will need to moderate the depth of snow you try to negotiate, and this height situation becomes apparent in newly plowed road, where chunks of snow can eaily be hit by the air dam.. not complaining here, just making the observation.
I have driven OG900 and 99's in winter, and there was nowhere I wouldn't go with one of those with the right snow tire... and would challenge anyone to how far you could get in one vs any other 2wd.... but the Viggen is and will never be in that class of Saab. I also had a NG900 for 3 winters with all seasons and did well, but never got the chance to try it with dedicated snows.
Steep inclines and driving with the Viggen in snow in general means paying very close attention to throttle input. With the wide tires it si critical to maintain rolling traction, becasue as soon as you loose traction, becasue of the wide tires, it can tale longer for the tires to settle back down into a rolign traction situation. I thkn studs would help here too, but its bad enough driving the Viggen with snow tires (blech), let alone putting studs in......
I dirve my Viggen year round,a nd will continue to do so, but if I could, I would garage it for the winter... the conditions of winter driving are just plain bad for the car and its major assetss as a performnace touring car are largely gone once you put the snow on and the road conditions change.
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