Driving in snow!

[poprocks_renee]

How hard is it to drive in the snow? I never ever drove in snow before, I am going to be driving on some main highways / interstates. Any tips and or suggestions?

Thankx!

=)

[licamell]

everyone's response:

"I know how to drive in the snow, but no one else on the road knows how."

In seriousness, take it slow, and keep a big distance between yourself and other cars. It's not that difficult, but the key thing is it is different... so your first response might not be correct (i.e. how to turn out of a skid). So take it slow, and get a handle for it.

If you have a chance, find an empty parking lot with snow and go crazy in there. It's lots of fun, plus you'll learn a lot more for down the road. :D

[Phozzle]

I haven't driven in the snow/ice much but I have a little bit. Don't do anything sudden (i.e. hard turning, fast breaking, stomping the gas).

Also my family is from Maine, so I've been up there in the winter, and it seems like every car you see on the side of the road (stuck, smashed, rolled, etc.) is a 4wd SUV or truck. Don't get too confident. Just drive carefully.

[poprocks_renee]

So I don't need any special tires or anything? Just drive slow and really safe?

Thank you for the advice!


=)

[holein1]

When in doubt floor it! :P

[stealthJamal]

It's better to have all season tires. Summer only tires wouldnt be so good.

[poprocks_renee]

I am not sure what kind I have they came w/ the car :D

=)

[AirMoore]

I am not sure what kind I have they came w/ the car :D

=)

Normally the tires that come on your car are all-purpose tires (All-Season as StealthJamal said)IE: Meaning not really summer and not really winter, but they will provide acceptable performance in both.


I would have to agree snow tires will make a big difference... but no real worry if you can't get them, many people I know go through the winter with summer tires on,they just take it a bit easier... that said (you) being from the south I would advise the snow tires to be put on... for a that extra help. Whatever they are... summer/winter/all-season make sure your tires have sufficient wear left on them... otherwise summer or winter tires, your going to have issues.

Like others have said... take it slow, give yourself a good distance between yourself and the car ahead of you.

-My main tip... you will notice that if you are driving on a semi-plowed road... so its decent in the middle... if by any chance you get caught on the side...shoulder etc etc etc... your cars steering wheel has a tendency to dart over that way a little bit because your into the slush and accumulated snow on the roadside... and the car may sway that way... DO NOT rip the steering wheel back (overrcorrect), that is a sure-fire 1 car accident, as others said, smoothly correct it.

Also we have a thing up here known as black-ice (not trying to insult you here)... I find southerners don't understand sometimes that the roads can be completely 'clear', but incredibly slippery... black ice is essentially a sheet of (normally) very thin ice, and its on the road, but is very hard to see, the only real visual que you have is the road will be a dark-black, but yet very shiny, like a new black-car... so just because there isnt snow on the road... doesnt mean go fast. This is most prevelant around bridges and overpasses, as well as near bodies of water... but can occur anywhere, so be watchful.


Its really not that hard... drive safe and have fun, and go find that empty parking lot. :lol:

-To be honest, many Northerners who have lived here their whole life get into accidents in the winter... (not always) but often minor (Sliding into a pole or a curb at 5MPH or so... etc etc), so don't worry... you will see people in the ditches, and they have lived here their whole life... but don't take your eyes off the road to look at them, because you may follow them if you do that. :shock:

[SmaartAasSaabr]

How hard is it to drive in the snow? I never ever drove in snow before, I am going to be driving on some main highways / interstates. Any tips and or suggestions?

Thankx!

=)

Well, as a friend of a friend from Egypt who moved to Canada and was wondering what snow was like, it's just like sand! :lol: But there is the likelyhood of ice being present as well under the snow, so you have to watch yourself.

Basically driving in winter conditions is like driving your car normally, except the car is going to act as if you were walking with running shoes on a skating rink. You can walk to the other side without falling down if you do it slowly and carefully, but if you try to run it's going to hurt.

But, that very thing about winter makes it extremely fun, you can do donuts and send the car in all kinds of directions, which really helps you learn the way the car reacts at the "edge" without going so fast as to kill yourself - skill that will help you tremendously in a "sticky" situation.

[AWD_rules3830]

do you have a four wheel drive?

if you car is gear, try engine breaking to slow you car down.

if your ABS breaks engages, dont panic, push the pedal all the way into the floor, its doing its job. its like a vibration.

report back as to what your tires are, if there is 'M+S' anyone on the tire, ou should be fine as these are mud and snow tires.

how much snow are we talking here?

[SmaartAasSaabr]

Engine braking on snow is a no-no. If do it carefully you can do it, but if you just jam the car into 3rd and drop the clutch you'll end up in the ditch...

But most of this stuff is with a couple inches of snow sitting on the road... if you are going on main roads they should be virtually clean...

[lordhamster]

do you have a four wheel drive?

if you car is gear, try engine breaking to slow you car down.

if your ABS breaks engages, dont panic, push the pedal all the way into the floor, its doing its job. its like a vibration.

report back as to what your tires are, if there is 'M+S' anyone on the tire, ou should be fine as these are mud and snow tires.

how much snow are we talking here?

The ABS comment is the most important one made. If the car has ABS, just floor it and the car will slow down... it will sound like there is something wrong with the car and you'll hear/feel like a grinding coming from the brakes... this is normal.

If the car does not have ABS, then you should NOT floor the breaks, but rather pump the breaks in and out. This will leave you with steering control and won't lock your wheels.

If the roads look at all wet, keep in mind they may be icy... etc. Thats it. Oh, also make sure you have a snow scraper for the car, because when you park outside, you WILL have snow and ice accumulate on it which you'll have to scrape off before you can go anywhere.

[trainedmonkey]

Engine braking on snow is a no-no. If do it carefully you can do it, but if you just jam the car into 3rd and drop the clutch you'll end up in the ditch...

adding to this, if you have a manual hit the breaks initially before you push the clutch in.... otherwise the wheels lock up really easy and you crash (i've done that before :roll: )



oh yeah, winter washer fluid is a must... windshields get dirty and ya dont wanna spray the washer fluid only to have it freeze and make things worse

[SmaartAasSaabr]

One thing though, if you are starting to lose control, don't touch the brakes at all. Any braking force is taking that directly off your steering... use the brakes to slow to a stop but if the car is going all over the place don't use the brakes and instead just push in the clutch or take your foot off the gas (on an automatic).

On snow, if you are going in a straight line and don't have ABS it is fine to lock the wheels to a stop. This will give you no real steering control (well a bit - but you can get it back by releasing the brake), but you will have a shorter stopping distance since the snow "wedges" in front of the wheels.

[poprocks_renee]

This is some really good information, I love it! I am going to get new tires for my car from my parents for my birthday here in the next couple of days/weeks! My dad (who shall remain anonymous – lolz) said I am not due, I only have like 30 thousand something miles on my car. The car place said I would not need new one’s un-till 50 thousand. But I drive a fair distance on the weekend about 100 or so miles one way. So I want to make sure I am safe and covered. I had these tires on my car since I bought the car new in 2004, I feel its time for some new ones.

I suggested to my dad that I should get snow tires since it does snow where I am going on the weekends. He told me that snow tires will jack up my gas miles, and I am not sure I want to have just “snow” tires on my car since it gets really hot here in the summer so I would not need them during that time. I think I will look at getting the all weather kind looks like I should be covered ether way with those.

I drive a small little Chevy Aveo so its close to the ground, but I have hit my car w/ my moms car backing out of the garage and my car (Aveo) smashed like a beer can. I definitely don’t want to get into any wreck in this thing lol!

So if I get good tires, and drive slow and keep enough distance between me and the other cars I should be fine, it seems like.

I really hope I don’t have to drive to much in the snow my fingers are definitely crossed!

=)

[SmaartAasSaabr]

Yeah if you just parked the car outside at a parking lot in AZ in the summer with winter tires they would melt and stick to the road :lol:

[poprocks_renee]

Yeah if you just parked the car outside at a parking lot in AZ in the summer with winter tires they would melt and stick to the road :lol:

Is that true?

=)

[SmaartAasSaabr]

Probably not THAT bad but they would wear out really quickly.

[poprocks_renee]

O haha that would be funny but not in a good way LOL

=)

[DogGod]

Blizzaks leave a nice thick black mark and plumes of thick white smoke :D

Black ice is created by exhaust, so where cars tend to sit for a little bit (intersections, on ramps) is where you will find it. Not much you can do about black ice, its fine and dandy one moment and spinning in the ditch the next.

[411]

May I put my grain of salt : all advices given are great , I would had this one : the danger arrives when you start to feel confortable.

Advice 1 : whenever you feel fine and you can do it safely : Brake Hard :
you will learn the feeling of flying carpet = no control = in fact the only control you will have : is doing everything Softly , by loosing speed you will regain control = it takes time so dont panic and dont give up = look where you want to head .Like in love affairs = Soft movement is the best :wink:

That learned , you will see that the best control is always to have some power on the tires , never go that fast that you dont need to put the foot on the gaz .... confused.... it is confusing ... it is like a motorcycle in the gravel = a little torque on the wheel will keep you heading where you want , no torque = you will plunge fast .

Advice 2 : never trust the guy in front of you who flyes because he has a
4WD .... let him take the blow of a patch of ice ...humility will take you home safely ....

Have very warm clothing in the car , a trouble can arrive anytime and dont count too much on fellow drivers to stop and help you .... unless you are a tall blonde ....

Pass or dont pass :?: you will be in this situation = big van blow so much snow that you cant see the front of you car , you slow down or you pass it = if you have confidence in you capacity = do it but do without hesitation , half way you will start to get nerves , it is not time to slow down , keep going in acceleration without overdoing it , but keep steady otherwise the lost of control is watching you....

Remember , friction is you friend :lol:

[AirMoore]

Blizzaks leave a nice thick black mark and plumes of thick white smoke :D

Black ice is created by exhaust, so where cars tend to sit for a little bit (intersections, on ramps) is where you will find it. Not much you can do about black ice, its fine and dandy one moment and spinning in the ditch the next.


It is usually deposited by extremely cold rain droplets, mist, or fog. The process of freezing is slowed down due to latent heat given off in sublimation, allowing the rain droplets to flow and merge together on the surface forming a film before freezing into clear ice. Nevertheless, because it contains relatively little entrapped air in the form of bubbles, black ice is transparent and thus very difficult to see (as compared to snow, frozen slush, rime ice, or other typical forms of ice on roadways). In addition, it often has a matte appearance rather than the expected gloss; and often is interleaved with wet pavement, which is identical in appearance. For this reason it is especially hazardous when driving or walking because it is both hard to see and extremely slick.

Yes it can be formed by the moisture from ones exhaust but the above explains how the majority of it is formed... such as on highways/overpasses/bridges/river-roads. etc etc

Taken from (a place you should never really quote from for any legal and or school material): Wikipedia... here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_ice

[DogGod]

Blizzaks leave a nice thick black mark and plumes of thick white smoke :D

Black ice is created by exhaust, so where cars tend to sit for a little bit (intersections, on ramps) is where you will find it. Not much you can do about black ice, its fine and dandy one moment and spinning in the ditch the next.


It is usually deposited by extremely cold rain droplets, mist, or fog. The process of freezing is slowed down due to latent heat given off in sublimation, allowing the rain droplets to flow and merge together on the surface forming a film before freezing into clear ice. Nevertheless, because it contains relatively little entrapped air in the form of bubbles, black ice is transparent and thus very difficult to see (as compared to snow, frozen slush, rime ice, or other typical forms of ice on roadways). In addition, it often has a matte appearance rather than the expected gloss; and often is interleaved with wet pavement, which is identical in appearance. For this reason it is especially hazardous when driving or walking because it is both hard to see and extremely slick.

Yes it can be formed by the moisture from ones exhaust but the above explains how the majority of it is formed... such as on highways/overpasses/bridges/river-roads. etc etc

Taken from (a place you should never really quote from for any legal and or school material): Wikipedia... here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_ice

Thanks for the info, I always thought it was only from exhaust.

[Audi Quattro]

Well.,I'm from chicago and we know how to drive in the snow. I drive a Audi Quattro, the best AWD system on the planet and that has been proven over and over again. I use the quattro (AWD) system to its full advantage...if i feel slippage, i hit the gas and steer my through the turn or to straighten it up. I have never lost control and love to counter steer/throttle steer my car. Depending what type of car you own..get some good set of all season tires and watch your braking.

[xrs9430]

i drove in winter last year and i must say as a then 15 year old but now 16, snow is a whole different type of driving. all though it seems rather harmless you can be goiing along just fine and then 5ft later hit a patch of ice and go ut of control. my dad let me try driving like i would in summer in a parking lot, let me tell you it was one hell of a ride. it wasnt anything like normal driving. drifiting and sliding. be careful out there and take it very slow :wink:

[411]

Audi ,

not my intention to shoot at AWD , just my experience that it gives overconfidence to inexperienced drivers , which obviously is not your
case.

One thing , you should agree with = AWD does not provide shorter braking.

[bauzer71487]

All great suggestions,

I do have one that i didn't see - if it was there, sorry.

If you start to slide all over the place - I think aveo's are front wheel drive so you won't have to worry. BUT if you do have rear wheel drive or do start to slide anyway - turn INTO the slide, not away. The human reaction is away from the way you are sliding which will send you into a full spin and at that point - you are toast. DO NOT BRAKE when you are sliding whether front or rear - this may also cuase you to go into a spin.

Another suggestion other than keep it slow and distance - brake EARLY - don't go into the stop sign at 25 expecting to be able to stop in 20 feet and come to a complete stop. Brake over the last 100-150 - 200 whatever feet to give you enough time.

You'll love it once you get used to it.

[raresvx]

I haven't driven in the snow/ice much but I have a little bit. Don't do anything sudden (i.e. hard turning, fast breaking, stomping the gas).

Also my family is from Maine, so I've been up there in the winter, and it seems like every car you see on the side of the road (stuck, smashed, rolled, etc.) is a 4wd SUV or truck. Don't get too confident. Just drive carefully.

True but 4WD suv's and truck's are a world apart from a awd/4wd/fwd car. Trucks and suvs are high centered I think thats the term. It doesnt take much to flip/roll them even on dry payment.

When I started driving I started with RWD for about a year or two in the winter. Then I started my FWD phase went through another year or two. Open up the paper and saw a 96 AWD astro conversion van. Bought that and never wanted to drive anything else through the winter.

But any way a fwd car is alot better then a rwd car. Plus its better then a 4wd/suv truck. Took a silverado grand prix edition out for a test drive when it was snowing and icy out. Taking a on ramp didnt fill save that and changing lanes. Its differnet I guess you get used to it.

[raresvx]

This is some really good information, I love it! I am going to get new tires for my car from my parents for my birthday here in the next couple of days/weeks! My dad (who shall remain anonymous – lolz) said I am not due, I only have like 30 thousand something miles on my car. The car place said I would not need new one’s un-till 50 thousand. But I drive a fair distance on the weekend about 100 or so miles one way. So I want to make sure I am safe and covered. I had these tires on my car since I bought the car new in 2004, I feel its time for some new ones.

I suggested to my dad that I should get snow tires since it does snow where I am going on the weekends. He told me that snow tires will jack up my gas miles, and I am not sure I want to have just “snow” tires on my car since it gets really hot here in the summer so I would not need them during that time. I think I will look at getting the all weather kind looks like I should be covered ether way with those.

I drive a small little Chevy Aveo so its close to the ground, but I have hit my car w/ my moms car backing out of the garage and my car (Aveo) smashed like a beer can. I definitely don’t want to get into any wreck in this thing lol!

So if I get good tires, and drive slow and keep enough distance between me and the other cars I should be fine, it seems like.

I really hope I don’t have to drive to much in the snow my fingers are definitely crossed!

=)

Your car will do good! Just remember that you have to leave room before stopping. When starting out your not going to get alot of traction depending on how icy its out so go slow.

Also your car isnt a snow plow. I cant say this enuff. Storms will happen and dump alot of snow on the road. RWD and FWD get stuck easily you barry the driving wheels and your screwed. Dont take on piles of snow. :)

I really think you should get a bigger car. But I dont want to scare you into not driving in winter.

[raresvx]

Audi ,

not my intention to shoot at AWD , just my experience that it gives overconfidence to inexperienced drivers , which obviously is not your
case.

One thing , you should agree with = AWD does not provide shorter braking.

Everything you said is true. That and the more the auto wieghs the longer it takes to stop like semi's. Dont cut them off.