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.