Winter Driving Tips

[RSKY]

Not an expert by far but the best thing I've ever owned for ICE was a front wheel drive car. It was also possibly the worst vehicle I've ever owned on snow of any depth. With my left foot putting a little pressure on the brake and right on the gas it would track where ever I had it pointed.

With my pickups I usually shoveled snow in the bed until I had enough weight to give a little traction. But it was always a scary drive.

I worked for three different tire manufacturing companies during my life. One of the hardest customers to please was Land Rover. If I remember correctly they had specifications for dry pavement traction (both starting and stopping), wet pavement traction, ice traction, and were the only company that had a specification for wet grass traction.

Just rambling here.

RSKY

 

[/pine]

Had a foreman that would say the difference of 2 whl and 4 whl drive was 10 feet and dug in deeper.
ken

I always heard that the difference was when you get a 4x4 stuck...you're really stuck...!

 

[2ndhalf]

The best thing he could do, and not kiddding here. is trade the truck on an old Subaru of any variety. The Suburu AWD system is 2nd to none. Have had several and they will run right past any 4wd in ice and hard pack snow. Very good in snow depths up to 8 inches if you get one with clearance.

I have had 4 different Subies and only do not own one now due to the Oil consumption issue with the 2010 - 2015 models. I will own one again when that is for sure resolved. My Outlander SAWD is very good but not Subaru good.

 

[oosik]

When I belonged to the 4WD club in Anchorage - we had a saying. 4WD will get you a place where NOBODY can come to help.

 

[MossRoad]

.....

Also good to find an abandoned large parking lot. Go play. Practice loosing control and corrections. Learn the limits of the vehicle and limits of driver skill.

That right there is the best advice possible. My parents did it with me, and I did it with my kids. And the first time or two it snows each year, I try and do it again just to get used to it again. Your winter skills get rusty over the summer.

 

[MossRoad]

How can any of you tell people to not use brakes and instead downshift, and then turn around and say 4wd won't help stopping? If the 4wd drive train is engaged, and you downshift, won't engine braking be applied to the entire drive train? What am I missing? :confused3:

 

[jbrumberg]

Once the tires lose traction in FWD, RWD, AWD, or 4WD and start sliding/hydroplaning on ice braking and downshifting is just an exercise in futility in stopping. One may be able to change the course with steering, downshifting, and braking; but it's a function of vehicle momentum and the coefficient of tire/ice/water friction that brings the vehicle to a stop.

Studded snow tires may help to a degree due to increased road-ice/water tire friction.

Hitting a stationary heavier object will definitely stop the sliding or at least slow the sliding depending object mass and/or degree of structure bonding to the ground surface.

 

[bunyip]

One of the hardest customers to please was Land Rover. If I remember correctly they had specifications for dry pavement traction (both starting and stopping), wet pavement traction, ice traction, and were the only company that had a specification for wet grass traction.

Just rambling here.

RSKY

Best off road vehicle there is spending more time off road repairing broken axles or dodgy electrics:laughing:

 

[JK22]

How can any of you tell people to not use brakes and instead downshift, and then turn around and say 4wd won't help stopping? If the 4wd drive train is engaged, and you downshift, won't engine braking be applied to the entire drive train? What am I missing? :confused3:

I downshift to prevent a slide, not necessarily to recover from one (although that works, just not as well). I haven’t given much thought to whether 4wd helps in that regard... Hmmm... might have to experiment with this...

 

[CobyRupert]

Regarding ABS.....

this topic seems to come up alot also. Boggles my mind the number of people that "claim" they hate ABS.
Sure, back in the 1990's......With some only having real wheel ABS, or 2-3 channel ABS....while better than none....wasnt that great. But about everything made in the last decade has true 4-wheel ABS. All 4 wheels have sensors.....and the computer knows the split second that a wheel locks up.....and releases brakes a little to JUST THAT WHEEL. Something you just CANNOT do without abs.

On ANY modern vehicle.....I'd bet thousands of dollars that on snow and ice......you CANNOT stop the vehicle faster if you were to disable the ABS. And ABS is GREAT for maintaining control when stopping.

People that claim to "hate" ABS.....just dont understand how it works.

And automatic vs manual........give me the automatic. Driving on slick dangerous roads....you have enough to worry about.

I'd take that bet.
I think ABS are great on dry pavement, allowing people to steer and brake.
Yes, I know how they work.
I've experienced it pulsating the brakes. And I've experienced that the stopping power of the ABS releasing the brakes was lesser than if my studs where just locked and digging in.
You can feel it plain as day when on ice you go from braking, deceleration, to when the pedal starts pulsating and there's no more feeling of deceleration, and you're not stopping.

Wikipedia sources (notated) says: "ABS generally offers improved vehicle control and decreases stopping distances on dry and slippery surfaces; however, on loose gravel or snow-covered surfaces, ABS can significantly increase braking distance, although still improving vehicle steering control."
Anti-lock braking system - Wikipedia