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Winter Driving - are you prepared?

149 messages,  Last post on Aug 19, 2009 at 8:38 AM

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#31 of 149 Re: california winter [carlisimo] by bobny11580 Dec 13, 2005 (11:56 am)
Replying to: carlisimo (Dec 09, 2005 7:35 pm) Thanks for the chuckle Carlos.
#32 of 149 Ice, snow, SUVs, 4x4, etc.. by covah23 Dec 13, 2005 (6:02 pm)
I have several different modes and types of transportation, and all are different in SNOW. My Silverado has climbed over three foot snow piles without even looking twice. My Grand Am doesn't even like the rain. But it doesn't matter if you have a small car, 4x4, front or rear wheel drive, SUV, or pick-up, you can still crash. AWD and 4x4 people do think nothing can happen to them, just watch a lot of them. These vehicles ARE better in snow, no real argument. But, NO MATTER what you drive, ice WILL get you. we are talking about rubber on top of ice and physics take over. Please, everyone, no matter what you drive, respect the road conditions. Replies to this message: explorer05 (Dec 14, 2005 2:24 am) vibsr (Dec 14, 2005 6:48 am) kdshapiro (Dec 14, 2005 9:25 am)
#33 of 149 Re: Ice, snow, SUVs, 4x4, etc.. [covah23] by explorer05 Dec 14, 2005 (2:24 am)
Replying to: covah23 (Dec 13, 2005 6:02 pm) excellent point on the ice..and agian slow down and take your time....i have both awd and 4x4 and i do believe that i can be involved in an accident just as likely as anyone..i have equipped both of our vehicles with blizzaks to help achieve all advantages....
#34 of 149 Re: Ice, snow, SUVs, 4x4, etc.. [covah23] by vibsr Dec 14, 2005 (6:48 am)
Replying to: covah23 (Dec 13, 2005 6:02 pm) Well put! Many of the slide-offs that I've seen involved 4WD vehicles. 4WD, AWD, and FWD have a distinct advantage over RWD on takeoff, but stopping is another matter. I often look at it this way: Inability to move the vehicle is an inconvenience, but the inability to stop the vehicle can be deadly. Give the road crews time to clean the roads. Patience is a virtue. Replies to this message: kdshapiro (Dec 14, 2005 9:25 am)
#35 of 149 I've prepared since Oct! by lifestar Dec 14, 2005 (7:34 am)
I live in Boston and we just had our first real significant storm this past weekend. All I can say is after living on my own for a few years, I've come to realize how important it is to think and plan ahead for the winter. With my new FWD car, I did the following:   1. Bought a seperate set of wheels and winter tires jsut for this season. Will change back to the OEMs when spring arrives. The wheels are 1 in smaller than my OEM wheels to help increase traction and control.   2. Got myself a new portable shovel that I can stick in the back of the car.   3. Keep my battery jump-start juiced up.   4. Top all my fluids. Pumped more air into my tires to keep them properly inflated.   5. Give my car at least 2-5 min. of warmup time as the morning temps have been as low as 5 degrees the last two days.   Besides that, the only thing that is concerning me is actually my GF's car. Has anyone every heard of Sternling tires???
#36 of 149 Re: Ice, snow, SUVs, 4x4, etc.. [vibsr] by kdshapiro Dec 14, 2005 (9:25 am)
Replying to: vibsr (Dec 14, 2005 6:48 am) "I often look at it this way: Inability to move the vehicle is an inconvenience, but the inability to stop the vehicle can be deadly."   Actually the inability to move can be deadly as well. The inability to stop in any condition shows poor driving skill. I often wonder why both Civics and SUVs alike and everything in-between are involved in car crashes after the first storm.
#37 of 149 Overconfidence by falconone Dec 14, 2005 (11:08 am)
I don't think that any car/truck has an advantage over one another in snow/ice. What really matters is:   driver skill good tires (dedicated snows) stability control   The reason someone brought up SUVs is that some owners may feel a bit of over confident when they're driving one. When I used to own an Audi the tow truck driver's saying when it snowed was "it's Audi duty time". Why? Lots of Audi drivers thought their quattro systems were invincible. Surprise!! Quattro doesn't stop you.   Back in 1998 I was driving my A4 down route 17 in Orange County NY. Snow turned to freezing rain and I was going down what's known as Wurtsboro hill. The car lost control and I was in a spin. I hit the brakes as hard as I could and landed rear first in a snow bank. NO DAMAGE. I learned my lesson, though I certainly wasn't driving wrecklessly.   Bottom line.... BE CAREFUL. Take it slow and keep your distance. Drive extra defensively and you should be fine regardless of what you're driving. Replies to this message: fljoslin (Dec 14, 2005 3:38 pm)
#38 of 149 Re: Overconfidence [falconone] by fljoslin Dec 14, 2005 (3:38 pm)
Replying to: falconone (Dec 14, 2005 11:08 am) I (sadly) just sold my 1995 Suburban. I live in E WA where we have had about 1 1/2' of snow and a high temp less that 32F for the last 15 days. I had Michelin X radials (all season) on the Suburban and only put it into four wheel drive for severe traction conditions, mainly up and down the steep hill that I live on, although often that was also in two wheel drive. Most of the time I drove this vehicle in two wheel drive mode and it was great in the snow and ice. I could park this in parking lots that were ploughed snow banks where even most smaller SUVs dare not go and get in and out in two wheel drive. I drove through Snoqualmi pass on I 90 outside Seattle two years ago immediately before the pass was closed for snow. I used four wheel drive more for legal reasons that because of traction. For driving in winter, the most important consideration is driving skills: slow down, look ahead, be aware of the road conditions. The vehicle is next. Depending on what the conditions are, you need tires with good tread, weight, ground clearance and 4x4. So many people forget the driving skills and focus on the vehicle.
#39 of 149 I agree by jchan2 Dec 14, 2005 (4:45 pm)
back when I used to live in chilly North Dakota, I (and my wife) drove slower, more cautiously, and for me, I had a 4WD Mazda MPV that helped.   But now since I live in the South, all I worry about is rain and how close I can get to that mall entrance.
#40 of 149 Bridgestone in the ditch? by godot1066 Dec 14, 2005 (4:59 pm)
I've been offered a "heck" of a deal on a Honda S 2000. The stock tires are Bridgestone Potenzas. I've heard horror stories. Comments welcom Replies to this message: jchan2 (Dec 14, 2005 5:01 pm) alcan (Dec 14, 2005 6:18 pm)

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