Winter driving

[dave1949]

I bought a set of four mounted and balanced snow tires (Blizzaks) from tirerack.com this Fall. Just swapped them for the summer set two days ago. All perfect, great balance job. FYI.

Dave.

 

[irvingj]

Dave-- same here, for both my cars and daughter's S60. Off-season tires are stored in a shed, with a homemade rack.

I have to approach the subject carefully --tactfully-- but when I have our local service center do state inspections, for which they have to remove two tires/wheels, I let them know my torque wrench will be in the car, on the seat, set to the proper value... and to please use it. I've just seen too much variation with torque sticks!

Bird-- what a great idea your Crown Vic has; I didn't realize ANY US cars had the wiper/lights interlock. Great idea!

 

[Opti-Mist]

Winter driving is easy as long as we remember that there are two things that cannot be done quickly: 1) changing speed, and 2) changing direction. When I was a kid we used to practice things like controlled skids, etc, which helped to prepare us for the unexpected. In those days I used to buy a new set of recapped snow tires every fall. They would be worn out by the next fall. Keep it slower and keep it safer!

 

[The Haymaker]

Merry Christmas to you too!
Good tip on the lights. I like the Euro-style extra bright tail lamp that can be switched on for foggy, heavy rain or snow times. Wish they would make those standard on cars here.


Dave.

Not sure on the euro style tail lights. For me, they are an added stress. I'm constantly scanning and every time I see one of those things farther up in traffic I have to keep deciding if it is a brake light in the pack or not.

Along the same idea, on a night like tonight when it is snowing like crazy on one end of my route and 15f and raining on the other, I intentional get away or get ahead of others just so I no longer have to worry about what they are doing.

Any who, I want to wish a wonderful, non politically correct, "Merry Christmas" to all!

 

[The Haymaker]

Winter driving is easy as long as we remember that there are two things that cannot be done quickly: 1) changing speed, and 2) changing direction. When I was a kid we used to practice things like controlled skids, etc, which helped to prepare us for the unexpected. In those days I used to buy a new set of recapped snow tires every fall. They would be worn out by the next fall. Keep it slower and keep it safer!

I have a more colorful explanation when others ask me how a tractor trailer goes in these storms. "They go better than anything I have ever driven in the snow..... As long as I don't have to stop, start, or turn."

Insert long blank stare here......

E

 

[etcallhome]

Drove about 100,000 a year between my work and personal vehicles. So I glad
to see I've started something. When ever we are traveling or when I was working and it was a dreary day ,if I stopped for gas or a pit stop(boys room) if I seen a vehicle with just there DRL on I would ask them why they didn't have there headlights on . Law in PA,WV,Va,Oh if wipers on turn on headlights. There reply well My headlights turn on auto when ever they need to be on, My reply ,well I just followed you for the last what ever # of miles and AS my Granddaughter would say GUESS WHAT!!!! your taillights were never on meaning your headlights did not turn on auto .
Part of the dumbness is from the DRL using the headlight instead of using the parking light as the DRl Look at how many times you have seen a vehicle going down the street totally dark out side and no taillights ,you pass them and the driver is trying to figure out why is headlights are so dim......driving with only there DRL on.
I seen a Dept of Highway Snowplow the other morning (5am) no taillights ,
passed him looked in my mirror there were no parking lights on ,no side lights on his bed. Driving with just DRL and probably will take vehicle back to the garage and have the mechanic check his headlights because they weren't working. HERE'S YOUR SIGN !!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas to all and a safe New Year
Please remember don't DRINK and DRIVE

Have fun and be safe!!!

 

[dave1949]

Not sure on the euro style tail lights. For me, they are an added stress. I'm constantly scanning and every time I see one of those things farther up in traffic I have to keep deciding if it is a brake light in the pack or not.

Along the same idea, on a night like tonight when it is snowing like crazy on one end of my route and 15f and raining on the other, I intentional get away or get ahead of others just so I no longer have to worry about what they are doing.

Any who, I want to wish a wonderful, non politically correct, "Merry Christmas" to all!

Merry Christmas to you Haymaker. I can see your issue with the bright taillights. It would be nice if they were a different color than a brake light or turn signal. That would still be tough for some of the colorblind. Be safe out there.

About trucks braking, a guy once told me they put on a heck of a show, but you may notice they aren't slowing down much
Dave.

 

[tthopskin@yahoo.ca]

Most of the country of the last couple of weeks have had bad, bad weather.

If not major snow storm, hard rains, fog

We were talking last evening at the Church Program ,saying,wonder who will show up tonight. Roads are so bad. Someone else said 30-40 yrs ago 15-18" was nothing and all would have showed up somehow , very few had 4 x4, AWD, trucks ,Suv or cars.
But we did have Chains, and Winter tires not All Season tires.
That is why They are called Winter tires for driving in the SNOW and Ice
One other thing that needs to done for every ones safety!!!

PLEASE TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS DRL YOU DO NOT HAVE TAIL LIGHTS WITH DRL.....(daytime driving lights) Follow someone in a major snow storm,fog or heavy downspour that only have there DRL....Autolights DO NOT TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS AT TIMES WHEN THEY ARE REALLY NEEDED,
and please Do Not Text or send,read,messages while driving down the highway!

Merry Christmas to all !!

Happy New Year
Have fun and be safe !!!!!!!!!!

good advice here is a little reminder my brother deals in tires and said get your winter tires off as soon as the good weather hits he said the tire will heat up and the tire will go hard and be no good the next year hope this helps some one brian

 

[etcallhome]

Thanks for the info to get your winter tires off as soon as the good weather hits.
I always try to unless the tires won't last through out the whole winter, then I just leave them on to finish wearing them out.

Have fun and be safe !!

 

[czechsonofagun]

Ghost drivers irritate me as well - how can you drive without making sure you can be seen?
I had to drive in the storm to feed friends horses, it was actually quite pleasant to know, only plows and me are on the road and everybody else stayed home