Ok so its really for everyone but mostly directed towards the younger folk on the site aka the 16yr olds who just got there license and cars and have never driven in the snow before. I was going to post this earlier but it never really snowed here (Wisconsin) yet and I kept forgetting about it but hey I remembered so here we go!

1) I always recommend going to a parking lot, an empty one! Go drive your car there for a while after the first fresh snow. Its good practice because you can test to see how long it takes your car to stop, how fast you can go on turns and what happens if you spin out ect. You'll get a good idea of what will happen and how to react so you wont panic on the road.

2) Turn the stereo system down, now I say this so you can be more aware of your surroundings. In particular you can listen and notice if your tires are spinning while your moving so you can back off the gas.

3) Now I figured this would be common sense for most but it appears it just isn't. Now when your brushing off your windshield so you can see, do the whole thing your going to want to be able to see whats going on around you, especially the other person who isn't paying attention and is trying to cut you off.

4) Headlights, You brushed off your windshield didn't you? So why not your head lights, do you really think you can see all that well with an inch of snow on them? The answer is no, it takes like an extra 20 seconds to do and get the ice off too. It really helps in the night time driving. Same goes for the tail lamps.

5) Tires, Now if you can afford to have a set of winter tires there really a good investment, a set of steelies with some nice stock tires on them are great. Remember the skinnier and taller they are the better. They cut thro the snow better then the low profile ones most people drive during the warmer seasons, those are going to want to float on the snow rather and just slide because of how wide they often are.

6) Ice scraper, such a nice little tool, I don't know why people don't have one of these with them, in the summer they store easily in the trunk so its always at hand.

7) Now there's no need to be driving at like 10-15mph when its snowing out unless there is poor visibility. That is the only excuse, otherwise if you keep a reasonable distance from the car in front of you, and are alert you'll be fine. Going slow just pisses off everyone around and behind you causing more problems particularly them trying to pass you causing an accident.

8) Your going to want to slow down for a stop or turn sooner, tapping the brake is the best way, forget that abs **** it wont do you any good here. Just keep tapping the brake that helps you stop and doesn't lock up the wheel so you can still steer, your going to want to slow down BEFORE doing any turns never while turning your more likely to fish tale.

9) Starting from a stop, your going to want to start out slowly so you don't lose traction and just spin the tires, if that happens just back off the gas and go slower, if you have a stick your going to be shifting sooner then normal to keep the rpms down, that helps a lot actually. your ideal range is going to be in the neighborhood of 1,500 and 2,500 the lower torque helps keep your tires in contact with the ground and not spin.

10) Hills, now normally you would slow down while going down them and the same is still true but if you have to go immediately up one you want to keep going a little faster then normal, the reason is the added momentum will help you go back up and get on thro without getting stuck on the way up.


I think that about sums it up for now I'll think of some other stuff later and add on, if anyone else has some tips please share and lets try to keep the trash talk out of here alright? Thanks

 

And please for the love of God and all that is holy do NOT hit me because you dont know how to drive in the snow..

 

good info. my dad uses the hand brake a bit sometimes to help turn while going slow but just when theres noone around and hes going slow and the car just doesnt turn.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hatchy-Ownzjo0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And please for the love of God and all that is holy do NOT hit me because you dont know how to drive in the snow.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea my reminder today was the Jeep Wrangler (The winter car I want!) almost rear ended and then tried to slide into me becase the guy dident have a clue on what to do, yet me in my lowered car is doing just fine staying in my lane and stoping.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by snowman0520 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good info. my dad uses the hand brake a bit sometimes to help turn while going slow but just when theres noone around and hes going slow and the car just doesnt turn.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Im quilty of doing this every now and then, its such a great tool in the snow for turning as long as you know how to do it.

 

thats good advice, the driver of the 02 si hatch, that i saw slam into the back of a truck today in the snow, should have read this.

 

Indeed good info, I'm always afraid to ride with ANYONE in the snow because my idea of keeping a good distance, is about 10x theirs. LOL

11. Other people do stupid shyte, don't get caught up in it by following too closely. If that car doing 30 MPH in front of you becomes a 0MPH WALL of metal, you don't want to be within 10 cars of him, it will take you 30 car lengths to stop if he hits something.
Watch the cars in front of the car in front of you, if you can't see them, back off more.

 

Thanks Dad.

Good info.

 

glad to live in california where it never snows

it does get wet sometimes....i hate when people stay 4 car lengths away on the highway at 70. think people think!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nocturnaldragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Im quilty of doing this every now and then, its such a great tool in the snow for turning as long as you know how to do it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea ive gotten quite good at it

 

if u start to spin out.. throw her in neutral then ease back into gear.

same for autos. helps with fish talein and shishh

 

if the car starts to go to one side, steer in the other direction while giving gas and as soon as feel gaining traction ease off the gas and keep your wheel in the direction you wanna go...

i use the hand brake quite often during the winter and i use other techniques for manuevering..

it was snowing today up here and i was reminded that 99% of people can't drive... there were a few who knew what they were doing and the rest were going 5-10mph trying to keep traction at all times and not spin the tires... well, that's almost impossible in winter time.. it took me 2 hours to go 5 miles that i usually take in a few minutes time... that's the only reason i hate driving during rush hour in the winter... other than that, driving during the winter is a blast

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civic_driver &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if the car starts to go to one side, steer in the other while giving gas and as soon as you gain traction, turn straight and drop rpms really low...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wouldent that make it worse? When I Start to slide like that I push in the clutch and turn slightly out of the skid....

But that is what you do in a spin, hold the wheels straight and press the gas, and hope you get some traction and the car will go that way....

People need to do my parking lot idea and just see how there cars will react under various conditions and situations, rather then spinning and trying to remember what we talked about in this thread if you have to think its too late, it needs to be just an automatic reaction.

 

I live in Quebec, Canada. Handbraking here is a national sport. But good advice. Also be careful going up a hill when its got snow, as your car will drift towards the side of the road....did that to me last time we had snow. Also let your engine warm a little. Be safe, have a good time

 

if you wanna learn to drive during the winter, watch some clips of rally drivers and read up on how to do ****... rally involves everything from racing to drifting to sliding and everything in between... just learn more on the sport and practice during winter in a safe place and winter will be like summer... i actually enjoy driving in winter in non-rush hour times....can't stand dragging behind people for hours because they get scared when they loose any traction at 5-10mph....that's just crazy...it's a long drag if you have to go anywhere and the worst part is my job involves driving and i'm stuck in rush hour at times which sucks

when you start going sideways, you have to counter-steer and feather the clutch along with the gas... best way to learn is to practice in an empty parking lot/area

 

Yeah, this would be ncie for those lovely drivers driving 30 under on the highway on the centerline of both lanes. They make me have neck spasms. :D

 

plz put winter tires on it makes a huge difference. Also make sure your indshield wasper fluid is good till -40 and make sure its topped up with all other fluids.

 

I know Im a delivery driver at a resturant and it pisses me off like no nother when Im stuck behind slow *** drivers, especially with the truck. People go all slow down a hill and they can get up alright but me? forget it, we drive Hotshots and there basicly pickups with heated box's on the back so they have a good amount of wieght but going up hills in the snow? forget it.

 

Bump everyone please read this. Some good advice here for new drivers. Please be careful and I hope everyone enjoys their holidays.

 

Thank god im in HI.....thats 1 less problem!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nocturnaldragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">7) Now there's no need to be driving at like 10-15mph when its snowing out unless there is poor visibility. That is the only excuse, otherwise if you keep a reasonable distance from the car in front of you, and are alert you'll be fine. Going slow just pisses off everyone around and behind you causing more problems particularly them trying to pass you causing an accident.

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I will have to slightly disagree. Resonable distance is good but going 25-30 even when it's icey and good visability is a smart idea because you have to drive totally defensive in snowy conditions mainly because you have to watch out for the other idiots mainly ones in 4x4 trucks as they think they're invincible .

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nocturnaldragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> especially with the truck. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh...

 

I was mostly going by snow, yea ice you need to take it easier, the big thing is leaving yourself enough space in front of you, you dont need like 8 car lenghts like they say in drivers ed. I mean seriously the car in front of you wont stop on a dime if you cant, so its going to need some space too, now this is all void if a bus or something pulls out in front of it and stops it dead in its tracks but thats a worse case senario like they warn you about and very unlikely to happen in real life. Possible just unlikely...

 

But usually with snow comes ice .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .ken &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But usually with snow comes ice .</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ice is just bad. There isn't really much you can do besides avoid it.

I love driving in the winter. Im at work now and its snowing heavilly out there... I knew i should have put the winter rims on two days ago!

 

Bump, this needs to stay up on top a while longer....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nocturnaldragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bump, this needs to stay up on top a while longer.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

good stuff