Porsche’s premium reputation may lead some people to believe that a Porsche does not belong on winter roads. At Porsche Centre Saskatchewan, we are here to assure you, with the proper care and maintenance, you can drive your Porsche during the winter months. Here is everything you need to know about driving your Porsche in the snow.
Road handling
Porsche boasts an envious reputation for producing exquisite sportscars built on splendid chassis and powertrains. Each Porsche is designed to become an extension of the driver and although this has helped racing drivers to set incredible lap times, it also assists commuters on snowy streets and roads.
When driving on ice and snow, it becomes more difficult to “feel the road”. Grip is reduced, and the feedback communicated through steering, suspension and chassis is not as direct. Porsches are fitted with driver aids, such as the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system, that act like “guardian angels” when drivers face challenging conditions.
PSM is designed to keep your vehicle pointing the right way no matter how powerful your Porsche is or if it’s rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Endlessly tested in the real world, from the arctic circle to the desert, PSM has been fine-tuned to ensure that just the right amount of power is delivered under any conditions.
Porsche Connect
Porsche Connect syncs you with your Porsche. This is especially helpful in winter, as you can map out your route and stay on top of weather changes in real time. Porsche Connect also offers peace of mind on treacherous roads. You can transmit your location and all relevant vehicle information to Porsche Assistance and receive immediate support with the touch of a button. Download the app and stay connected to your Porsche from anywhere. Using the app, you can control the climate and access key performance measures on your Porsche, all from the palm of your hand. Porsche Connect is available in most Porsche models from model year 2017.
Quality and durability
Porsches should always be well cared for and preserved. We’ll agree that winter presents one of the harshest environments for a car to be driven in, but beauty and power go hand in hand with Porsche. Few vehicles are as well prepared, tested and protected from the factory to handle the salt, grit and dirt in the long run.
In fact, Porsche offers a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty on its vehicles - a testament to the brand’s trust that its vehicles are well protected against corrosion. With such attention taken to ensure that Porsches are built to last, it’s no wonder that over 70 percent of all Porsche vehicles ever built are still on the road today.
Switch your tires
When temperatures begin to hover around the seven degrees Celsius mark, it’s a good time to consider making the switch to winter tires. At Porsche Centre Saskatchewan we offer only the best, “N-rated” tires. To receive N spec approved status the tire must excel in four areas:
Speed:
The tire must be capable of safely handling the Porsche vehicle at any speed while allowing it to reach its top speed on a track (or the German Autobahn).
Noise:
As tires continue to grow in size and width, noise suppression becomes more and more important. Generally speaking, Porsche performance tires are low profile and very soft. This makes it even more difficult to manage road noise. You can rest assured that those tires with a Porsche N spec approval will be as quiet as possible.
Hydroplaning:
The focus in recent radial tire development for Porsche vehicles has primarily included optimum handling on dry surfaces and the safest possible behavior on wet surfaces, even at high speeds.
Handling:
Your tires provide the grip that keeps your Porsche “stuck” to the road. Poor tire construction, soft sidewall, or tires that are too firm are all things which will lead to reduced handling and possible safety concerns that can be avoided by choosing a Porsche N spec tire.
Most popular N spec approved tires:
Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tire
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric Tire
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Tire
Porsche is one of the few car makers to undertake extensive tire testing and publish regular manufacturer approvals for summer and winter tires for all their new vehicles. If you have questions about which variety of winter tires best suit your vehicle visit Porsche Centre Saskatchewan today.
Dealership support
If you’re feeling especially apprehensive about winter driving, our service professionals at Porsche Centre Saskatchewan have got your back. If you haven’t got your wheels aligned and tires balanced recently, book a visit to Porsche Centre Saskatchewan as both should be verified every 15,000 km. We can also further protect your Porsche from rock chips and road grime by applying protective films and coatings. With this amount of support from highly skilled Porsche technicians, you can be sure that your Porsche will be as ready as it can be to take on whatever winter throws at you.
Thermometers don’t lie. Winter is around the corner, but behind the wheel of a Porsche you can take that corner with grace and power. More than anything, a Porsche instills confidence on the road, which gives the driver, freedom to adapt to ever-changing road conditions.