I am a new owner of a 1994 944NA, and this is my first winter with a RWD car. Being very happy with the last two months ownership of the car, I found it much much easier to get stuck in the Volvo than in the Acura Legend. I live in central Mass, where the all time monthly snow record at 40 inches was just broken, and the streets are generally hilly. I found myself afraid of going up every slight slope. The car was parked on street, and it won't make itself out of half foot of snow, while the FWD acura legend will push through one foot new snow without too much trouble. The tires I have on the car are so called 'Nokian all season NRW' with at least 80% thread left. I googled a lot and read a lot good things about Nokian NRW , some even say they are better than dedicated snow tires while can be had on car all year around. Once the car starts moving it drives fine on the NRW's. As long as I ease the gas when turning the tail will stay in its place. On roads with one or two inch snow and mud the tail sometimes will shift left and right a bit but never really caused any trouble. But starting from a dead stop with a bit slope and snow can be really hard. It would spin likely crazy. As far as I can tell the diff is open. I did not put any weight in trunk. But now I think it might be a good idea.
So just wonder if anyone has experience with Nokian NRWs? Are they adequate for New England winter? Or should I put on a set of dedicated snows like blizzarks? I would think studded snow tires are the best. But the roads here were plowed well. So I only need to drive on snow for less than 10 days a year, studded tires would be a big hassle.
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1994 944NA 100K miles