spock

iTrader: (5)

I buy aerosol cans of "Rust Check" and spray the crap out of problem rust areas in the fall. I respray during the rest of the year, (less agressivly), in the most rust prone areas.

ajm8127

iTrader: (8)

You are right, with black ice, you could have studs and probably still lose grip. Nothing can be done about that. But baring such extreme conditions which we both agree can't be foreseen, you should generally know how much grip you have when driving.

James92SE

iTrader: (31)

Interesting thread! Oddly enough, I've actually been curious about snow/rust recently.

I've lived in Texas my whole life, but I've spent probably a solid month and half (total, over several trips) in WI and MN this summer visiting friends. And I was amazed at the amount of cars driving around that were complete rust-buckets.

I had a 3rd gen Maxima for years up until just a few months ago that was originally from Pennsylvania. It wasn't "rusted out" by any northern standards, but I did a ton of rust-repair on it including welding in new sheet metal and the like. Even after repairing all this, it always bothered me in the back of my mind that the car had any rust. Just random little nuts/bolts in the engine bay, the whole oil pan, etc. was all just coated in rust. Half the time working in the engine bay nuts would just snap rather than come out, etc. Plus, just imagining all the unseen rust creeping/growing - it psychologically affected me

During my trips to WI/MN, as a truly car-obsessed guy, I asked friends how they can stand to buy a new car up there just to have it rust away. I mean, I saw a lot of cars that were only 6-7 years old with a noticeable amount of rust on them. Of all the "natives" I inquired with about this rust subject, they all seemed perplexed that I'd even be curious about rust, as if it was just a given way of life.

So, some dumb/Texan questions about rust (just out of my own curiosity/intrigue - nobody I spoke with up there really knew the answer):

If you don't drive your car at ALL in the snow/salt, but do drive it during the winter months, does rust still creep up on your cars?

I guess, what I'm mostly wondering - is rust purely a by-product of the salt used on the roads during winter months? OR is it "in the air" (from the Great Lakes)? Or both?

MyownNismo

iTrader: (13)

If you don't regularly wash car the salt will kill the car. But having a car for ten yrs. and using in the winter it will still add up. My lower radiator core support is needing some work and my rear fenders are rusted up but looking to do some work here b4 winter hits. Funny how the bodyshop wants $7,000 to fix it all cause the inner fender in the rear is rusting.

Max_5gen

iTrader: (2)

Salt just accelerates the process, by my estimate about 2 times. What I found out by hunting the rust through my 93 Max is that moisture in the air is probably the main reason. For example, many internal parts were rusted due to condensation, there's no way they could do it from the salt on the road. One such example - upper holders of the rear seat belts in the trunk were rusted, the driver side- completely, I had to weld in new piece of metal there. The rust was eating from inside the trunk and I often found on foggy summer mornings drops of water in those areas. Another thing which stunned me is the routing of the drainage hoses - they discharge inside the internal cavities of the fenders, no wonder they rust so quickly. In general, rust needs 2 more ingredients besides iron: water and oxygen. Remove either and you won't have rust. I found painting inside of the fenders with POR15 helps a lot plus that "Krown" spray to finish the beast .

Max_5gen

iTrader: (2)

Studs are illegal in Ontario so we have to take it as real men . This is also not so rare occasion around here - on the same hwy a year before I counted once 6 cars in the ditch, 2 of them laying on the roof on 20 km stretch. My best strategy these days - take a day off when temperature falls that much and the roads were wet before, it's cheaper this way. Oddly enough this combination happens only once per winter so no big deal.

hot_wax_tree

I feel like you think im saying snow tires are worthless and that would be a stupid thing for me to say. snow tires DO help in the snow im just giving him my two cents and trying to make things easier for him. but yes snow tires do help i have been fine with out them tho.

SteveB123

iTrader: (2)

Have you tried them?

Max_5gen

iTrader: (2)

You're missing his point - even if he never tried them he is still fine without and I fully agree, being proud owner of both. You also made yourself clear - driving in 6" snow uphill with all seasons is impossible. I also agree, it's just where I live I don't have a need to plow through such deep snow, they clear roads pretty quick around here. They're also called 'snow' tires not 'ice' tires and they do suck on ice almost as bad as all seasons. I've never tried Blizzaks but I did try Hakkapellitas, Gislaved and Toyo, all of them suck on ice, sorry.