Winter Driving Tips

[JohnnyO]

The subject usually comes up on several boards I belong to this time of year.

IF this is your first 4x4 and you are not familiar with driving one in snow, keep these things in mind:
1. When you are turning on a snow covered road, it will want to go straighter than what you have the steering wheel turned for. The front tires, because they are turned, will break traction long before the rear tires will. This will cause the vehicle to "push", as the NASCAR drivers say. Go easy on the gas in turns.
2. 4x4's GO better in snow than regular cars but they do not necessarily STOP or TURN any better. It is easy to become overconfident and this is why you will sometimes see more 4x4's in the ditch than regular cars. 4wd works by letting you power your way out of problems, however if you are already going too fast, it won't help and now you've got more problems...like guardrails, utility poles, trees, oncoming traffic, or parked cars.
3. Tires matter. Dedicated snow tires are best, and all-terrains are better than all-seasons or mud-terrains. The all-season tires that came on my Sport Trac new were utterly awful and downright dangerous in snow. After the first winter with the ABS working overtime, I got all-terrains before the second winter. Much better. I run Blizzaks on my wife's Taurus in the winter and it goes as well in snow as my truck and turns and stops better.
4. Ice. Not much you can do except brace yourself for impact. Dedicated snow and ice tires help a little bit.

 

[RatDog8o8]

I've lived in Iowa since 1989, and every year I'm amazed at the number of long-time or lifetime residents who seem to forget how to drive in snowy/icy conditions.

 

[dasfinc]

Piece of advice from my first 4X4 winter last year:

If you do over-cook your turn and start to spin out and HAVE 4X4 turned on/etc. You can counter-steer and give the truck some throttle to bring it back, otherwise you will spin out. Probably common sense to many, but people used to RWD and no 4X4 aren't (I wasn't).

Essentially this is the act of drifting, but it can honestly save your bacon if you loose the tail of your truck while accelerating into a turn since your front tires will continue to try and pull you forward since your tail is basically out of control once you loose traction.

Weight in the bed helps this SOME, but having 4X4 on makes a bigger difference than any amount of weight (Drove a 2wd truck the past 2 winters prior).

Pack an emergency kit, "Hope for the best Prepare for the worst". Water, Granola Bars, Jumper cables, Drag chain/rope, Hand Warmers, and a blanket are what I lugged around last year. Ended up using every single one of those items multiple times.

 

[mp3deviant721]

Let off the throttle when you feel your vehicle is starting to fishtale. Worst thing you can do is use your brakes and lock up the tires, sending you into the ditch.

I also know what ratdog is talking about, cars come into our shop every year when the first snow storm hits that have been sent into the ditch, rear ended, etc. It's amazing how people can forget how to drive during the winter, just over the summer.

 

[adsm08]

If you think you are going too fast you are.

A dead stop is the only speed that is "too slow" on bad roads.

 

[RatDog8o8]

Oddly enough, the only 2 times I had snow/ice related issues while driving were in Texas. In about '84, we had 6" of snow in Austin. Totally unheard of; shut down the entire town. On the 90-mile drive home (Lometa), had some issues with unplowed roads. (Actually, none were plowed.) Spun around backwards in a Toyota Celica.

Other time was between Austin and Grand Prairie, on I-35. Hit a patch of ice under an overpass, got backwards and into the median in a Pinto.

Both times, just re-started the car and went on my way.

 

[straycat]

The subject usually comes up on several boards I belong to this time of year.

IF this is your first 4x4 and you are not familiar with driving one in snow, keep these things in mind:
1. When you are turning on a snow covered road, it will want to go straighter than what you have the steering wheel turned for. The front tires, because they are turned, will break traction long before the rear tires will. This will cause the vehicle to "push", as the NASCAR drivers say. Go easy on the gas in turns.
2. 4x4's GO better in snow than regular cars but they do not necessarily STOP or TURN any better. It is easy to become overconfident and this is why you will sometimes see more 4x4's in the ditch than regular cars. 4wd works by letting you power your way out of problems, however if you are already going too fast, it won't help and now you've got more problems...like guardrails, utility poles, trees, oncoming traffic, or parked cars.
3. Tires matter. Dedicated snow tires are best, and all-terrains are better than all-seasons or mud-terrains. The all-season tires that came on my Sport Trac new were utterly awful and downright dangerous in snow. After the first winter with the ABS working overtime, I got all-terrains before the second winter. Much better. I run Blizzaks on my wife's Taurus in the winter and it goes as well in snow as my truck and turns and stops better.
4. Ice. Not much you can do except brace yourself for impact. Dedicated snow and ice tires help a little bit.

Gee, I don't need no sticking advice, Bro. I live in Florida!!!!! lol

But, you are correct. I do know people who live in the upper states that have told me horror stories about their driving fun in their 4x4 in snow and ice. Just because you have a 4x4 does not mean you are better off then poor Mr.
' Joe Schmuck The Rag Man ' in the 2wd. It is better to be safe then sorry.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Here is my advice, learn to drift your vehicle correctly. Not like something out of "Fast & Furious". But drifting in a way to control your vehicle in the way you need it to. This technique has saved my butt countless times, including those when there was no snow or ice on the roads.

 

[gribly]

It is generally a good idea to find a slippery parking lot and go goof off for a bit to learn how your vehicle handles in the snow. If a cop shows up, just explain yourself - but that won't work if you're simply doing donuts, lol.

 

[dasfinc]

Here is my advice, learn to drift your vehicle correctly. Not like something out of "Fast & Furious". But drifting in a way to control your vehicle in the way you need it to. This technique has saved my butt countless times, including those when there was no snow or ice on the roads.

This is kinda what I was getting at earlier. It is SUPER easy to recover in the snow with 4X4 if you don't panic.

 

[adsm08]

I like to just pull the stick back and straighten the wheel. Let off the gas and she will pull herself straight most of the time.

 

[LearjetMinako]

I like to just pull the stick back and straighten the wheel. Let off the gas and she will pull herself straight most of the time.

Here is another good advice saying, "When in doubt, both feet out. When in spin, both feet in.". Thou it really doesn't apply to today's vehicles with ABS & ESC. But for those of us that still drive a clutch vehicle with no ABS (or disabled), it can apply.

 

[Rangered06]

i cant wait to see the snow here ppl cant drive in the rain we have gotten lately so snow should be fun lol i say after the first month about 25% of the cars out right now here will be in a shop or junkyard from terrible driving

 

[Sunk]

Slow down.

Also if the vehicle has a manual transmission, downshift (ease the clutch out gently) instead of braking. If the engine and drive train are still spinning, the tires won't lock up. This can be achieved with all 4 tires if you have lockers.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Slow down.

Also if the vehicle has a manual transmission, downshift (ease the clutch out gently) instead of braking. If the engine and drive train are still spinning, the tires won't lock up. This can be achieved with all 4 tires if you have lockers.

Automatics can downshift too, I drop down to second quite often to slow down.

Starting off in second also helps reduce slippage.