Hey all,

I have a '91 fastback....I have always noticed that this particular car has always had a tendency to skid in wet and icy conditions....I understand that water, ice and high speeds is never a good combination, but this car seems expecially vulnerable to these conditions. In fact, I have already spun out, lost control, and or did 360's on numerous occasions...(I feel I'm a safe driver, seldom speeding) Is there anything I can do to change this, or is the car just too light??? What would sway bars do?? Or maybe plus sizing the wheels...currently on stock 15's:comprage1

get a Front Wheel Drive car..


every car does that.. even my friends 1987 porsche at low speeds, and his tires are 8 inches wide.

also, another question, I am thinking of using a set of rims that are currently on a 95 civic. they are 16x7 or something. Will they fit on the 240??? any idea if civic 4 lugs will fit 240 4 lugs??

I'll trade you cars :iceslolan mines front wheel drive and about the same weight as a 240, I live in kansas and I didn't lose control once all winter with VERY bad tires

think about it :wink:

anyways you could put sand bags in the back to add weight to the rear wheels to give them more traction, thats what my cousin did with his 87 rx-7 and it seemed to work

NO and the offset would be fucked up anyways

about your skidding problem...a LSD and/or going easy on the throttle would help too:wink:

Originally posted by Soyo


also I think all 4 lugs are the same

No not all 4-lugs are the same.240sx's have 4x114.3 and civics have 4x100.

Prelude rims would fit though.they are 4x114.3 too but why would anyone wanna do that?

Originally posted by ghostchild316
NO and the offset would be fucked up anyways

about your skidding problem...a LSD and/or going easy on the throttle would help too:wink:



mmmmm...kaaz LSD... tasty

mmmmm...kaaz LSD... = $$$!!

:frown:

Originally posted by AznGunner
also, another question, I am thinking of using a set of rims that are currently on a 95 civic. they are 16x7 or something. Will they fit on the 240??? any idea if civic 4 lugs will fit 240 4 lugs?? If its on "your car"... TRY IT ON YOUR 240!!!! :)

YOUR CAR IS REAR WHEEL DRIVE!

When you put too much power to those rear wheels and you loose traction, your rear wheels will follow the natrual law of intertia and want to keep on going straight while you're trying to turn. This is why you spin.

A good idea would be to lift that lead foot off the gas pedal next time you find that rear end trying to come around.. dont hit the brakes, it might make it worse...

front wheel drive cars don't get this problem, if anything you'll loose steering control forcing you to slow down on those turns, like you should in the first place.

Man, Tires make all the differance in the world. Just get yourself a good set of all-season radial or wet performance types. You don't have much for snow or ice in Houston... otherwise I would recommend some snows.

Seriously... it's all about the tires!

Originally posted by ThaLegend
If its on "your car"... TRY IT ON YOUR 240!!!! :)

he didnt say they were on "MY" civic, he said they were on "A" civic. So maybe they are nice rims and he wants to buy them from someone else who has them on "THEIR" civic, but he cant take them off because it isn't "HIS" civic. And that would be stealing. :bigthumb:

Originally posted by GB Phoenix77
Man, Tires make all the differance in the world. Just get yourself a good set of all-season radial or wet performance types. You don't have much for snow or ice in Houston... otherwise I would recommend some snows.

Seriously... it's all about the tires!

I agree, my 240 slides around like it is on ice when it rains due to the AVS intermediates... they are horrible in the rain, the only tire i've had in the rain that was worse was my Hoosier A03's (8" slicks)


you can also go a bit easier on the throttle like someone said, practice feathering the throttle.. and overtime you'll become more sensitive it going sideways. As in sense it & stop it sooner...

its not drifting...its not being able to control your car.

Originally posted by TheLogikal1
its not drifting...its not being able to control your car.


u should reword that a little bit, i had to take seconds to fully understand it.. :icon16:

Well so actually, I do own the Civic with the rims in question, so I'll try to put them on.....just to clarify that situation. And from what I gather, I'll just have to drive safer and really learn to slow down in the rain. But, another question is.....what are sway bars, and strut tower bars good for??

they sturdy the cahsis and help stop body role

Originally posted by RalphCare



u should reword that a little bit, i had to take seconds to fully understand it.. :icon16:


correction, when drifting, you SHOULD be able to control your car.

the civic rims are 16x7 so they arent stock so if they have two bolt patterns it'll fit

The civic rims are not gona fit, you can try but if it dont go on dont force it the bolt pattern is wrong. your gona fwk it up. also strut bars stiffen the body so there is less body roll in turns. Rear Sway bars do the same and more it helps keep the tail planted alil more, less swaying hence the name. maby you should get some rear sway bars that will help alil and the LSD is a must for RWD cars especialy in the rain. Take the turns slower is your best bet. or learn to controll the skid, Tires is mostlikly the cheapest way to help controll the problem.:bloated:

stop your 360's for free!!

when you start to slide, don't jump out of the throttle, because this transfers too much weight to the Front wheels and the car slides more because the rear wheels lose more traction. Ease out of the gas and keep the car balanced and the rear wheels WILL regain traction.:wink:

Originally posted by RalphCare


he didnt say they were on "MY" civic, he said they were on "A" civic. So maybe they are nice rims and he wants to buy them from someone else who has them on "THEIR" civic, but he cant take them off because it isn't "HIS" civic. And that would be stealing. :bigthumb: You are so right... I take back what I said, next time I will read throughly :)

Originally posted by AznGunner
Well so actually, I do own the Civic with the rims in question, so I'll try to put them on.....just to clarify that situation. And from what I gather, I'll just have to drive safer and really learn to slow down in the rain. But, another question is.....what are sway bars, and strut tower bars good for?? HA!!! I was right "RALPH" so who is the cool guy now?

if you wanna learn how to not spin your rwd car in a turn, learn how to heel-toe. this way you match the rpms of the gear your down shifting to and not overwhelming the rear wheels with power. beleive me, knowing how to do this makes a big difference and minimizes unnessecary, unwanted weight transfer in the car. i don't know about drifting but in autocross this makes a huge difference.

First thing to look at would be your tires. Are they in good condition or are they bald? With a RWD car, you should have tires with an A or AA traction rating (find this on the sidewall of the tire. The problem w\ RWD (if you want to call it a problem) is there is no weight over the wheels. A FWD car has the engine sitting right on top of the drive wheels. If its winter and you know there is ice\snow\sleet on the road, toss some sandbags(or similar weight) in the back. If you are looking for good traction tires, try looking at some goodyear aquatreads, they are AA traction. If its really bad, consider getting some thinner wheels\tires (ever notice the skinnies on SAABS?). contrary to popular belief, wider is not always better. The wide tires spread the weight of the vehicle over a larger patch resulting in less weight per area and a lower coefficient of friction. No matter how wide your tires are, if you have no traction they aint grippin!

one other thing. Civic rims have a fwd offset, 240's have rwd offset. Im not sure of the 240's pattern, but the civic most definately is 4x100

The 240 should be 4x114.3, or 5x114.3. Eather way its 114.3 and not 100:biggrin2:

when its raining and i need to make a u-turn, i flip a 360 then continue:tongue:

thats what 240's are made for, losing control, but be careful not to lose control while your losing the control..:confused:

Play Gran Turismo 3, use any rear wheel drive car (prefferably the sylvia), and try to complete a race without spinning out. The first time you play...it's not happening. I think that game has actually made me a better driver, try it.

Originally posted by ThaLegend
HA!!! I was right "RALPH" so who is the cool guy now?


you're definately cooler.

100% :icon16:


j/k..

btw. i was right considering what he posted, u were right considering what you were thinking , and it was true. but u didnt know a damn thing!!! :cwm27:


so i'd say the coolness factor is about a 50/50 split..

deal? :cool:

WRONG FOOL!!!!

I STEAL YOUR COOLNESS!!!!!!


BWAHAHAHAHA!!!


:biggrin2: :biggrin2: :biggrin2:

Originally posted by Corupt_govt
Play Gran Turismo 3, use any rear wheel drive car (prefferably the sylvia), and try to complete a race without spinning out. The first time you play...it's not happening. I think that game has actually made me a better driver, try it.

it's SILVIA!! S-I-L-V-I-A!

i don't understand how people can get the name of the car spelt wrong when it's plastered all over the internet, on the car etc.

no offence though.

I'm naming my first girl Silvia spelled with an I not a Y.

LSD is important in controlling your yaw especially when on the throttle.
try some harder rate springs in back and or a better rear sway better, that will dramatically improve your snap oversteer problem, making it almost non existent, and your car will go into the drifting zone much more predictable and controlling.....