[thru02]

Hi all
Frist off I want to thank you for making this site what it is. It is comforting to know such a knowledgable and active community exists. If only the rest of world would own an Insight.

Anyway I currently reside outside of Phoenix and I am being relocated to Rochester New York this winter. I am weary of driving the insight on frigid, icy roads. I was wondering if anyone owns an Insight in the northeast and whether they had any advice to winterizing the Insight (ie snowtires?). If anyone has any experience driving the car in those conditions I would appreciate your feedback.

thanks
Brian
'01 5sp
#1900

 

[Hambone]

Its not an all the time thing, but in light snow the Insight does just fine here in Maryland. As long as the snow that piles up between the ruts isn't higher than about 6 inches, its not problem. You should probably get more replies, as there are it seems many Canadians who use this site that have Insights, and if they can keep their Insights on the road when the weather turns cold, I'm sure they'll be steer you right. Gonna be a big change Phoenix to Rochester. Get ready for some snow!

 

[Guillermo]

Get good winter tires. They are cheap insurance that helps you maintain control, turn and stop much much better in slippery conditions compared to the OEM tires.
Also take a 1 day advanced collision avoidance driving course to improve your ability to regain control in conditions when most would give up and resort to praying...

 

[Yves M.]

Yes, good winter tires are a must to me. I have nokkian tires, which I will put in the next weeks. They are my original winter tires from 2000 and they are still in very good condition.

I am on my second set of summer tires. So having winter tires prolong the summer tire life, it is not a lost of money to have winter tires.

This year, I will put radiator blocking to allow the engine to run at a better tempature while the heater is at full blast ( for -20 C and below tempatures).

I do not like the ABS but I live with it. I am sure I could do better braking without. Braking on ice and the Insight's ABS is not the best combination. But in snow it is ok.

 

[Tim Maddux]

Unique to the Insight is the plastic underbody paneling and the panels over the rear wheels. There have been reports of snow damaging or removing those panels from a few people, easily repaired or replaced. Usually happens in deeper snow.

Other than that the Insight handles snow/ice just like any other front wheel drive car. Drive safe and think about winter/snow tires, or chains/studs, depending on where you live, what roads you drive, whether or not they're treated/salted/plowed.

P.S. I did not have any problems during the winter of 2002/2003 on Cape Cod, MA. Lots of snow that year.

 

[zenartist]

I just bought nokian haka2s

I live in Central NY .. hills and bad snow.. My Insight was almost useless in the snow here last year,.I didnt drive much ,, was laid up with a knee replacement.I had an 80 mile commute.. used my 4wd truck in the snow.Well this year I have no commute but my truck may be dead.. so I got 4 new steel rims, and Nokian Haka 2s in same size as oem.Alltogether it was $554 total.We will see how she does.