In a word, awesome.
Just got back from driving the C4 around in about 3-4 inches of snow with Blizzak LM22s on and it's incredible. You can drift the car nicely around turns without PSM being activated, everything works. Only bad thing is you want to keep going faster but thats a fools errand for those who follow it.
Anyway, tons, TONS of fun. Only problem is ground clearance and getting beached.
Cool, I've wondered how my 996 C4 would do with snow tires. I used to swap winter tires onto my Audi A4 every winter and it was great :-) Out of curiosity, do you use a separate set of wheels? Unlike with my Audi, getting a second set of cheap steel wheels doesn't seem to be an option with the 996.
Posted by: Von | January 24, 2007 at 04:39 PM
Ive been driving my 2000 C4 in the snow (on occasion) and it handles like a dream. In fact as long as the snow isnt deep, its better than my Jeep. Ive got a set of winter tires and wheels just for it.
Gotta love it.
Posted by: derrik dyka | February 17, 2007 at 09:38 PM
I'm finally thinking about, and have the financial resources to, jump into the Porsche dream I've had all my life. I'm looking at the Cabrio 4.
One primary reason for the 4 over the base model is the need to deal with crappy reaction to the occasional snow storms in the Puget Sound, where the commute home can have you going through 3-4 inches of snow, packed or otherwise, up some steep inclines. The 2WD cars just get stuck, and the cities just don't have the resources to plow early and often for these occasional annual snow-storms.
However, a concern I have, especially given the very pot-holed parking lots up at the ski resorts in the Cascades, is the ground clearance. Are there any solutions to the ground clearance issues for winter? In addition to putting on dedicated winter rubber in November-March, I was wondering if there is some suspension changes that might be used to dial in a few inches of greater ground clearance during these months when low drag profile are not as important as quasi-offroad ability. I'm not looking for Paris-Dakar ralley suspension, but it would be nice if there was something that could be dialed in with a wrench in the garage - say something like a coil-over.
Posted by: Thomas S | February 22, 2007 at 08:26 PM
So, I am about to put snows on my "04' C4S, but someone told me that the Blizzak's go away after about 60% use. At best you can only get one season out of them.
What do you think about that.
Dick
Posted by: dick | November 23, 2007 at 03:16 PM
I was thinking of trading in my 2000 C4 911 because it performs like crap with my brand new all-season tires. Do you think snow tires would make a huge difference in traction vs the all-seasons? If so, how would a 911 with snow tires perform vs. a Acura MDX?
Posted by: Biren | January 26, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Blizzaks only work well until about 60%. There are two rubber types on the wheel and only the outer one has the blizzak magic. Once thats gone then it's a normal M&S tire. There are two wear markers so you can spot when the outer rubber is gone.
Posted by: Billy Newport | July 06, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Hi I have the 911 996 C2 40th Anniversay I live in Sweden and I have just ordered winter wheels and tires I will tell you how I get on, however on a dry road this car is well fanstic is not even close
Posted by: robert taylor | November 03, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Hi guys, i have a convertible carrera (C2) 2004. do you think the blizak LM25 (I can't find the L22) is ok for winter driving? I have heard also of Yokohama and other? any suggestions would be appreciated...
Posted by: Mak | November 04, 2008 at 01:33 PM