WINTER DRIVING W/ LOWERED YARIS (i know an old topic) - Toyota Yaris Forums

gojon17 · 10-13-2013, 11:44 PM

i just got my yaris a few weeks ago. I wanna lower it really bad!, i would love to get teins or tanabes but this is my daily driver, only car i have, wife and 2 little kids. and besides this i live in Edmonton Alberta. Soooo some people know how winters are here... what should i do??? thanks a lot

47_MasoN_47 · 10-13-2013, 11:48 PM

It's kindof rare we get snow around here, but I don't really see how being lowered would make much of a difference.

gojon17 · 10-14-2013, 12:08 AM

i had a celica 2001 with tanabes df210 and drove fine on winter, i think celica still had tons of ground clearance after lowering it ( they look like 4x4s stock), but when i see lowered yaris here ( teins as an example) maaan they look low!

403RS · 10-14-2013, 12:10 AM

I drive (Calgary/Edmonton/occasional ski trip to BC) with my coils fully lowered most of the year, then raise them about halfway for the winter.

gojon17 · 10-14-2013, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 403RS

I drive (Calgary/Edmonton/occasional ski trip to BC) with my coils fully lowered most of the year, then raise them about halfway for the winter.

i wish i had coilovers lol, i just wanted some good ol teins or tanabes to drop it close to 2 inches

gojon17 · 10-14-2013, 12:19 AM

how much ground clearance do you think its necessary for winter??

403RS · 10-14-2013, 12:54 AM

Ride height on springs shouldn't be an issue, ride quality on the other hand (the woman hates it lol.)

CrankyOldMan · 10-14-2013, 08:11 AM

My concern has always been ground clearance. My neighborhood doesn't get plowed very well, and I frequently have to "wade in" the snow when leaving my parking space. Stock ground clearance is sketchy at best (5") but dropping it is almost guaranteeing I will get stuck. That, and on 2" drop, I couldn't get into the car wash!

Viperoni · 10-14-2013, 11:50 AM

FWIW I've lowered my Echo 1.5" all around and got taller than stock winters (stock size is 175/65/14, I'm running 185/70/14 winters) and have never gotten stuck.

Thirty-Nine · 10-15-2013, 11:57 AM

I drove a lowered Nissan Sentra, a lowered Ford Focus, a lowered Honda Civic, a lowered Honda Prelude, and a lowered Scion xB through winters in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I never got stuck. I wasn't "slammed" down low, but I was lowered about two inches in each case.

I've driven my lowered Yaris over the mountains through a few inches of snow, and didn't have issues. I would suggest a good set of snow tires.

gojon17 · 10-15-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

I drove a lowered Nissan Sentra, a lowered Ford Focus, a lowered Honda Civic, a lowered Honda Prelude, and a lowered Scion xB through winters in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I never got stuck. I wasn't "slammed" down low, but I was lowered about two inches in each case.

I've driven my lowered Yaris over the mountains through a few inches of snow, and didn't have issues. I would suggest a good set of snow tires.

i just see yaris on teins and i think they look beautiful even when they dont have fancy rims or bodykit. I love lowered vehicles sooo much... when i was living in mexico i had a chevy nova... 1 inch from the ground.

thebarber · 10-16-2013, 01:52 PM

-2" in southern Ontario....no issues in snow storms, etc. Just get winter tires..

gojon17 · 10-16-2013, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebarber

-2" in southern Ontario....no issues in snow storms, etc. Just get winter tires..

thats great because my car came with 2 sets of rims with tires...one of them being really good winter tires

IllusionX · 10-17-2013, 11:02 AM

i'm lowered on MI springs.. -1.75" first winter. will let you know after the winter haha :)

detroiter · 10-18-2013, 03:12 PM

I drive in Michigan winters on Tein S-tech springs (I'd say about a 2 inch drop atleast) and I never had an issue. I think it actually handles the snow BETTER than stock, it doesn't feel like a boat with body roll when getting moved around due to deep snow or slush.

CrankyOldMan · 10-19-2013, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detroiter

I drive in Michigan winters on Tein S-tech springs (I'd say about a 2 inch drop atleast) and I never had an issue. I think it actually handles the snow BETTER than stock, it doesn't feel like a boat with body roll when getting moved around due to deep snow or slush.

I'm on the west side of the state: lake-effect is significantly worse over here than on your side. =) Getting 8 or 10 inches overnight isn't uncommon.

roxy1 · 10-20-2013, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrankyOldMan

I'm on the west side of the state: lake-effect is significantly worse over here than on your side. =) Getting 8 or 10 inches overnight isn't uncommon.

yep. Metro Detroit doesn't have much of a winter and really gets no lake effect snow. Im in the southwest corner and lake effect hammers us often as well. I drove a fiat 500 last winter (4 inch ground clearance) and there were plenty of times id have liked a little more clearance. at least the yaris has another 1.5 inches of clearance.

WeeYari · 10-18-2013, 04:15 PM

I've got a dandy crease in my passenger side rocker panel. Caused by a junk of ice buried in the snow at a parking lot entrance. Happened at stock ride height. Lowered will only get you closer to more of that type of crap. Just something else to think about other than 'will I get beached'.

10-13-2013, 11:44 PM	#1
gojon17 Drives: Yaris Sedan 2011 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Edmonton Canada Posts: 53	WINTER DRIVING W/ LOWERED YARIS (i know an old topic) i just got my yaris a few weeks ago. I wanna lower it really bad!, i would love to get teins or tanabes but this is my daily driver, only car i have, wife and 2 little kids. and besides this i live in Edmonton Alberta. Soooo some people know how winters are here... what should i do??? thanks a lot

10-13-2013, 11:48 PM	#2
47_MasoN_47 What I thought I'd do was View User's Garage Drives: 09 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northwest Alabama Posts: 1,140	It's kindof rare we get snow around here, but I don't really see how being lowered would make much of a difference. __________________ My Nissan Hardbody (D21) 4x4 build log Check out my YouTube channel (mostly shooting) - http://www.youtube.com/user/47MasoN47

10-14-2013, 11:50 AM	#9
Viperoni Drives: 2005 Toyota Echo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brampton, ON Posts: 505	FWIW I've lowered my Echo 1.5" all around and got taller than stock winters (stock size is 175/65/14, I'm running 185/70/14 winters) and have never gotten stuck. __________________ 2006 Saturn Ion Redline 2005 Toyota Echo RS 4dr hatch - Cyl #3 bad - sold 2000 Toyota Echo 2dr coupe - The track car - rusty & scrapped

10-15-2013, 11:57 AM	#10
Thirty-Nine Small cars are a big deal View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 3,144	I drove a lowered Nissan Sentra, a lowered Ford Focus, a lowered Honda Civic, a lowered Honda Prelude, and a lowered Scion xB through winters in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I never got stuck. I wasn't "slammed" down low, but I was lowered about two inches in each case. I've driven my lowered Yaris over the mountains through a few inches of snow, and didn't have issues. I would suggest a good set of snow tires. __________________ Subcompact Culture: The Small car blog

10-16-2013, 01:52 PM	#12
thebarber daily driver View User's Garage Drives: the #wrecho Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,877	-2" in southern Ontario....no issues in snow storms, etc. Just get winter tires.. __________________

10-14-2013, 12:08 AM	#3
gojon17 Drives: Yaris Sedan 2011 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Edmonton Canada Posts: 53	i had a celica 2001 with tanabes df210 and drove fine on winter, i think celica still had tons of ground clearance after lowering it ( they look like 4x4s stock), but when i see lowered yaris here ( teins as an example) maaan they look low!

10-14-2013, 12:10 AM	#4
403RS #yyc View User's Garage Drives: BSP '07 RS 5dr LB Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 238	I drive (Calgary/Edmonton/occasional ski trip to BC) with my coils fully lowered most of the year, then raise them about halfway for the winter.

10-14-2013, 12:19 AM	#6
gojon17 Drives: Yaris Sedan 2011 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Edmonton Canada Posts: 53	how much ground clearance do you think its necessary for winter??

10-14-2013, 12:54 AM	#7
403RS #yyc View User's Garage Drives: BSP '07 RS 5dr LB Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 238	Ride height on springs shouldn't be an issue, ride quality on the other hand (the woman hates it lol.)

10-14-2013, 08:11 AM	#8
CrankyOldMan 2ZR swap. DO IT! Ask how! View User's Garage Drives: 09 Meteoric Metallic HB Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: West Michigan Posts: 2,333	My concern has always been ground clearance. My neighborhood doesn't get plowed very well, and I frequently have to "wade in" the snow when leaving my parking space. Stock ground clearance is sketchy at best (5") but dropping it is almost guaranteeing I will get stuck. That, and on 2" drop, I couldn't get into the car wash!

10-17-2013, 11:02 AM	#14
IllusionX It's the illusion you see View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Sedan Aero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brossard, QC Posts: 3,888	i'm lowered on MI springs.. -1.75" first winter. will let you know after the winter haha :)

10-18-2013, 03:12 PM	#15
detroiter Drives: 2008 Polar White LB Auto Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,238	I drive in Michigan winters on Tein S-tech springs (I'd say about a 2 inch drop atleast) and I never had an issue. I think it actually handles the snow BETTER than stock, it doesn't feel like a boat with body roll when getting moved around due to deep snow or slush. __________________ I live my life a quarter pounder at a time. And for those 500 calories or more, I'm free. I need FRIES! Two of them. The big ones. Oh, and I need them tonight. You're lucky the double shot of BBQ sauce didn't blow the seam on your nugget box. There she is, 2 pounds of pure beef. My dad ate it in 9.0 seconds flat. Check it out, it's like this. If I lose, winner takes my happy meal. But if I win, I take the burger and the toy. To some people, that's more important.

10-18-2013, 04:15 PM	#18
WeeYari View User's Garage Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,809	I've got a dandy crease in my passenger side rocker panel. Caused by a junk of ice buried in the snow at a parking lot entrance. Happened at stock ride height. Lowered will only get you closer to more of that type of crap. Just something else to think about other than 'will I get beached'. __________________

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