Is the Cyber Truck a Flop?

[DarkBlack]

Correct, on hard ice. But it helps in snow, slush, and other normal winter conditions, though.

….It can…..potentially …. Help on snow, and slush…depending on tread depth, pattern, air pressure, tire width, and other factors.

Compare a lightweight 20 mph radio controlled car, with a mid weight snowmobile, with an average weight car with a heavy tractor trailer truck, and observe the stoppage distance in snow/slush, according to weight…
Guess which stops in the shortest distance?

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Many years ago I'm driving my '66 Rambler American 6 cyl, '3 on tree' in a snowstorm, I had a heavy toolbox in truck. We check on parents then drive home. On the way wife is thumbing her nose at all the 4x4 trucks stuck by the road...I don’t think we saw another car or truck on road.
I drove on the crown, 35 mph seemed to be the sweet spot except for one long hill near home...50 at bottom easing down to about 10 at top where I turn. Never spin, never touch brakes.

 

[WinterDeere]

….It can…..potentially …. Help on snow, and slush…depending on tread depth, pattern, air pressure, tire width, and other factors.

All other factors equal, weight always improves traction in snow or slush. It has to do with PSI load on the tire, maximize weight and minimize contact patch, for best penetration through any soft media to the pavement below.

I've driven dually pickups and box trucks empty in snow... terrifying!

 

[DarkBlack]

All other factors equal, weight always improves traction in snow or slush.

Again, that’s a common oversimplification, misconception.
Depending on tread depth , tire width, tread pattern, road conditions, …a vehicle may be more stable, or actually less stable in snow and slush with increased weight.

 

[WinterDeere]

Again, that’s a common oversimplification, misconception.
Depending on tread depth , tire width, tread pattern, road conditions, …a vehicle may be more stable, or actually less stable in snow and slush with increased weight.

We were talking traction, not stability. But I'll bite: please lay out a scenario where increased weight, within the limits of all components involved, does not improve traction in snow on the same set of tread-legal tires.

 

[DarkBlack]

We were talking traction, not stability. But I'll bite: please lay out a scenario where increased weight, within the limits of all components involved, does not improve traction in snow on the same set of tread-legal tires.

Easy. When the weight, tire width tread depth, produces a PSI on the snow, slush that creates an ice barrier between the tire and ground.
Happens all the time with tractors with narrow tires, heavy weight.

 

[WinterDeere]

Interesting. How often do you think that really happens in real-world on-road conditions?

 

[DarkBlack]

Interesting. How often do you think that really happens in real-world on-road conditions?

What would be interesting, would be, if you found a statistic showing statistically, that light mass vehicles are involved in more snow/slush accidents than heavier vehicles.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

For what it's worth:
I've had lots of Hyundai's I bought new and in 2002 driving an '01 Accent (100hp, 2200# manual) from my homeplace to home here...about 15 miles, many hills & we had a blizzard.
I turn to get on a 4 lane expressway and two tractor trailers sideways nose to nose, guys motion me to stop. State police told them do NOT let anyone through...but I waved by, went through to cursing & middle fingers.
I was the only one on road...cars, people everywhere & a real mess.
Never let it spin...if you do your tires are Flintstone ice wheels. So about 35 mph in 3rd
slow & steady on crown. Hills build speed slowly and 5-10mph at top. No brakes...easy & gear down.
I believe it's skill, low hp, low center of gravity and my experience too heavy is detrimental since it sinks down.
Knock on wood I've never had chains, studs, snow tires and never lost control or got stuck.

 

[WinterDeere]

What would be interesting, would be, if you found a statistic showing statistically, that light mass vehicles are involved in more snow/slush accidents than heavier vehicles.

Thats not going to really generate any useful conclusion, if the stat even exists, as people who own vehicles that they know to be poor performers in the snow are going to be more apt to avoid even driving them in the snow.

My prior example of the dually pickup, I always avoided driving that vehicle in the snow, because I knew it was terrible. An un-driven vehicle has an accident rate of zero.