Idiots and winter driving

[Garandman]

//Actually, the only thing I DO have are the wheels. 17" takeoffs from a 3/4 ton van. Look silly vs my (stock) 20s, but I don't care.....
I've since painted them black, at least....

That's not a bad move. I used to put stock size WRG2's on my WRX, which has a relatively low aspect ratio of 45 (though new cars can be even lower).

When you hit a big enough pothole, it pinches the sidewall and you get to buy a new tire: unless they are well worn, in which case because AWD systems are quite persnickety about rolling diameter, you get to buy four.....

So I went "-1" on the rim size down to 16", giving me a taller and more forgiving sidewall, at the expense of handling sharpness.

Was a lot of fun in snow:

Until you get enough snow pack to lift the wheels off the ground!

Now I drive the Outback all winter, which has 8 1/2" or so of ground clearance, which seems to be enough for bad weather without making it handle like, well, a 4WD pickup.

 

[Wagtail]

Far be it for me to take any pleasure from your frozen precipitation circumstances.

No sir. That would be wrong and I would be a bad person to do so, especially as it is Summer down here.



<snert>

 

[mapper]

We had snow here in the PNW for the first time in about 3-4 years, it quite the circus with the local TV news crews. We do tend to lose our instincts for driving in the white stuff since we see it so infrequently.
I do need to say that Seattle's snow problems are not just because of drivers that totally lose their minds when it snows, downtown Seattle also has some really steep hills, some of them are hard to walk down when they are dry! Put a bit of snow on them, it gets completely out of control.
Another mitigating factor for our reputation as some of the worst snow drivers in the nation is the nature of the snow we get, it is usually very wet and heavy, (mashed potatoes). About ten years ago we had an exceptionally heavy snow fall, close to two feet, the husband of one of my co-workers was from Saskatoon. He had been quite disdainful of the skill level of the local drivers when it came to snow driving. He became a little more respectful after he got very stuck trying to get out of their driveway. He was used to light dry powdery snow, not the heavy wet slippery stuff that we get here (every 2-4 years:laughing
Best thing of all for me - I'm retired now and don't have to deal with it unless I want to

 

[DK35vince]

Any 4x4 I have ever had wasn't driven on the road in 4x4, if it's that bad on the roads I'm packing in wood and enjoying my fireplace. Luckily around here the roads stay nice and clean usually and they can stay on top of the snow, ice on the other hand is another story.

Any 4x4 I've ever had, if there is snow on the roads I lock in 4WD and leave it in. I have it I use it.
If the roads are good I take it out, until then it can stay in 4x4.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Oh no; I have full time four wheel drive. Add in traction control, load levelling and braking control that should really be a disaster. I didn't realize it was a handicap? Should I take the studded winter tire's off and put the summer tire's back on?

I never said anything about a 4x4 being a handicap.

 

[MossRoad]

Any 4x4 I have ever had wasn't driven on the road in 4x4, if it's that bad on the roads I'm packing in wood and enjoying my fireplace. Luckily around here the roads stay nice and clean usually and they can stay on top of the snow, ice on the other hand is another story.

As far as how 4x4s vs regulars handle in snow, I have had bad experiences in them all, I made a left turn in a small town with a rwd trail blazer in 2wd and before I know it was facing the wrong way in the road lol spun around so fast and I had parked cars on both sides of the street, didn't hit anything luckily.

I had a lifted 1985 F150 with 33in mud tires, snow got bad when I was at work and took my truck into town for lunch, funny thing about those old trucks is 90% of breaking is up front lol front kept locking up and I had to swerve around cars and stop on the shoulder, never hit anyone on that one.

In my experience if you put lots of weight above the drive tires it helps you get around 1000 times better. I have owned front and rear wheel drive cars, 2wd and 4wd pick ups and in Ohio we get a decent amount of snow per year, 98 times out of 100 it's the inability to stop that makes me almost have accidents. I have never really had a traction issue accelerating, but trucks get 400-800lbs in the bed and cars have a motor sitting on the drive wheels so I have never needed 4x4 unless I was somewhere I shouldn't be like in a snowy field ext.

Only drawback I see with 4x4 owners is they think they can get away with going faster is all, they forget about turns and stopping sometimes. But no big deal, that's what AAA is for.

Another thing to add is I see people stopped in the middle of the road or going 15mph when the conditions can easily handle 45 safely, I have had a few white knuckle moments because of people like that, especially is snow picks up and they start coming up really fast and that thought of not being able to stop fast enough pops into your mind, thinking of ditching it or gambling on a safe pass in the left lane.

I love snow but driving in it is stressful and I avoid it unless I have to.

I've had my '93 Suburban in 4wd almost all day today. Most of the side roads are snow covered and dangerous. I take it out of 4wd when I can see the actual asphalt, so as not to cause wear on the drive train.

I don't understand your comments about a rear wheel drive trailbazer being in 2wd???

If your front wheels on your lifted truck keep locking up when braking on snow, you probably have something wrong with your back brakes. I have had that happen in several Chevy 4x4's when in 2wd. What was happening is that the rear wheels were still pushing the truck when the front tires lost traction while braking. If I'd toss it in neutral while braking, the problem would cease. It also ceased when in 4wd. So I had the brakes checked and the rears were always the culprit.

 

[aeblank]

That's not a bad move. I used to put stock size WRG2's on my WRX...

The 20s are stock, but I couldn't find snows for em. Tires are plentiful in a 17", so yeah... The wheels were cheap, too. $200 for the set DELIVERED. Too bad tires weren't that cheap.

 

[jack707]

I like the part about 1:25 into it when the plow truck is sliding down the hill...

The little salt spreaded is spinning away! :laughing:

That remind me of a bad ice storm a few years ago on 51 again people go fast on ice! Cars and trucks in ditches as I'm driving by. About 15 or 20mph.

 

[buickanddeere]

Real winter tires with the mountain and snowflake symbol on the sidewall make a difference . Summer tires, mudder tires on trucks , worn tires and all season tires are all precursers to a wreck.
Too often somebody with summer tires say they will just drive more carefull. A wreck will find them as attractive as a trailer park to a tornado.

 

[QRTRHRS]

IMHO, the best 4x4 is one with manual hubs and a manual transmission equiped with a driver who knows how to properly keep the right amount of throttle. You just cannot "feel" the road with an automatic transmission as well as a stick.

People running to fast or to slow in either lane but especially the passing lane should hit the motel or stay home. If some "big dog" comes up on your tail in the fast lane, move over when it is safe. If you are the big dog then give that person a break and get off their butt. Soon enough, likely everyone else will see if the big dog can drive or not.

Running with the four ways on is like saying, "I am scared to death, please avoid getting close to me". The glare only bothers others. Use the four ways to let those behind you know that you are slowing down due to something that you see in front of you like slowing traffic or a wreck.

 

[buickanddeere]

I agree that drivers operating the fourways while in motion should be flogged and fined.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I've had my '93 Suburban in 4wd almost all day today. Most of the side roads are snow covered and dangerous. I take it out of 4wd when I can see the actual asphalt, so as not to cause wear on the drive train.

I don't understand your comments about a rear wheel drive trailbazer being in 2wd???

If your front wheels on your lifted truck keep locking up when braking on snow, you probably have something wrong with your back brakes. I have had that happen in several Chevy 4x4's when in 2wd. What was happening is that the rear wheels were still pushing the truck when the front tires lost traction while braking. If I'd toss it in neutral while braking, the problem would cease. It also ceased when in 4wd. So I had the brakes checked and the rears were always the culprit.

It was a RWD 4x4 trailblazer in 2wd if that makes more sense, it was the shorter wheelbase version also, and that was on pretty much ice with a light in the ***, short wheel base SUV.

As for the 85 F150 I had (was just a mud toy) and my current 2wd 81 f150 has done but not as bad, the rears don't work too well. I put a whole new break system (rotors, pads, shoes, cylinders for the drums, new steel and rubber lines front to back) in the 85 and still had a issue of locking the front up first in wet or snowing conditions if the breaks were hit hard, the current 81 did it to me once.

I don't drive my 81 in the snow/salt anyway, it stays in the barn all winter where it's not rusting away lol.

As far as 4x4 on the road, I agree about disengaging it once you hit asphalt but I like to "feel" the road in 2wd I guess, I can better judge my "safe" speed that way, now granted on snow covered hills 4x4 would be a must.

It's just personal preference, also in snow I'm like a kid controlled drifting turns when I can safely get away with it.

I will say one thing, I had a 07 Z81 Sierra and that thing did not like to drift, the traction kicked in even on ice and was like "**** no you don't" and would straiten out lol, a 01 325ci I had would half *** straiten up, mainly it just cut the power to the wheels, the truck locked one side up and really took over, did a good job.

I have had a lot of cars and trucks lol

 

[Wagtail]

I agree that drivers operating the fourways while in motion should be flogged and fined.

What? That's one of the occasions when you use your hazard lights. You are driving at a reduced speed and need to call attention to yourself to the people coming up from behind.

Heck, if I'm transporting a round or bales of hay in my ute (on a public highway) I'm typically travelling at 70-80kph in a 100kph zone. I've got my 4-ways on. When it's safe to do so (for all concerned) I'll pull over to let anyone behind me pass.

Drivers who are not operating the fourways while in motion are the ones who should be flogged and fined.

 

[QRTRHRS]

What? That's one of the occasions when you use your hazard lights. You are driving at a reduced speed and need to call attention to yourself to the people coming up from behind.

Heck, if I'm transporting a round or bales of hay in my ute (on a public highway) I'm typically travelling at 70-80kph in a 100kph zone. I've got my 4-ways on. When it's safe to do so (for all concerned) I'll pull over to let anyone behind me pass.

Drivers who are not operating the fourways while in motion are the ones who should be flogged and fined.

Different situation. True that on most interstates in the US, trucks running 40mph or below should be running 4 ways. Or, running your pickup in front of a combine or a dual wheeled tractor and tender wagon.

I am talking about smaller vehicles not running solo on snow covered roads where the 4 ways wreak havoc on your eyes. The road is slippery, most vehicles are running slower. The 4 ways should be used to let others know that a situation is coming on. Ie; slow down and/or prepare to stop or you have had to pull over onto the shoulder.

I "paid my dues" running in the snow belt and I have spent three years plus doing interstate snow removal. At that time, the max time the state allowed us to be out was 15 hours. Trust me, 15 hours of that overhead yellow flasher will do a number on your eyes. Same with just driving long hours in the snow.

 

[MossRoad]

What? That's one of the occasions when you use your hazard lights. You are driving at a reduced speed and need to call attention to yourself to the people coming up from behind.

Heck, if I'm transporting a round or bales of hay in my ute (on a public highway) I'm typically travelling at 70-80kph in a 100kph zone. I've got my 4-ways on. When it's safe to do so (for all concerned) I'll pull over to let anyone behind me pass.

Drivers who are not operating the fourways while in motion are the ones who should be flogged and fined.

How many times have you driven on the interstate in a 112kph zone in heavy traffic going 50kph with your four-ways on because its snowing, but isn't sticking to the road and you're scared? :laughing:

 

[Wagtail]

Different situation. True that on most interstates in the US, trucks running 40mph or below should be running 4 ways. Or, running your pickup in front of a combine or a dual wheeled tractor and tender wagon.

I am talking about smaller vehicles not running solo on snow covered roads where the 4 ways wreak havoc on your eyes. The road is slippery, most vehicles are running slower. The 4 ways should be used to let others know that a situation is coming on. Ie; slow down and/or prepare to stop or you have had to pull over onto the shoulder.

I "paid my dues" running in the snow belt and I have spent three years plus doing interstate snow removal. At that time, the max time the state allowed us to be out was 15 hours. Trust me, 15 hours of that overhead yellow flasher will do a number on your eyes. Same with just driving long hours in the snow.

OK, that's better. I only constantly run my hazard lights if I'm being a, well, constant hazard for the time I'm in that situation.

And, as you've said, as a warning to others behind that there's a 'situation' ahead. Once I've slowed down and those behind me have done so, I'll turn them off. The conditions warrant their use... if I'm "tail end Charlie" in bad visibility (heavy rain, fog, smoke) my speed is down & the hazards are on until whoever comes up behind me has slowed down. Then I'll turn them off.

 

[2ndhalf]

Far be it for me to take any pleasure from your frozen precipitation circumstances.

No sir. That would be wrong and I would be a bad person to do so, especially as it is Summer down here.



<snert>

Many of us like snow.. we just get tired of it in about a month

 

[Wagtail]

How many times have you driven on the interstate in a 112kph zone in heavy traffic going 50kph with your four-ways on because its snowing, but isn't sticking to the road and you're scared? :laughing:

You'd be surprised, Mate. But since you asked the question... Australia runs a provisional drivers licence programme. 'L' (learner) drivers are restricted to a top speed of 80kph. Tasmania has 1 (somewhat) 4-lane highway that's posted at 110kph. [Mostly it's 2-lane with passing zones, but it's improving over time] 'L' platers are allowed on this highway and believe me it causes no end of frustration. The next stage is 'P1' (provisional) and they're restricted 90kph followed by 'P2' at 100kph max.

You add in heavy rain or heavy fog or dense bush-fire smoke and you're darn right that an inexperienced driver will be scared.

Yes, once they're 'in the pack' they can turn them off but they're usually concentrating so much on the situation that it's the last thing on their mind. I'd rather the annoyance of the lights than them not being used.

 

[Wagtail]

Many of us like snow.. we just get tired of it in about a month

Yeah, I was being facetious.

[I have driven in N.A., in snow, on many occasions... my family lives in Southern Ontario]

 

[2ndhalf]

Yeah, I was being facetious.

[I have driven in N.A., in snow, on many occasions... my family lives in Southern Ontario]

Ha Ha I know.... :laughing: So was I oooo ho Ontario.. you made the right move!