Its snowing pretty bad here in Chicago. . .
i have no winter tires (trying to see how my all season Nitto Neo Gens will do) but thank god made it home going 25mph tonight! plus, the greatest thing is-the ABS doesnt work! (i'll be taking care of that tomorrow...)


anyhow..
im not a bad driver, but i know there is always something you can learn!

it would be great if you guys throw in some suggestions of how to handle bad weather/snow... sliding/braking/shifting etc.

 

i like to use my e-brake in order to swing my back end around if i have no turning power because of the loss of traction.

 

Keep the car in a higher gear and start from 2nd if you must to avoid wheel spin. Avoid stopping on an incline if possible. If your coming up on a steep hill, build up so speed so you don't end up stranded with your wheels spinning hopelessly trying to get traction. Slow down to a creep well before taking a corner and turn your wheel slowly and gradually.
On top of all have fun and be safe. I love winter driving but its a nightmare when something goes wrong. Tis the season for parkinglot doriftooooooooooo!

 

I'll be driving from NC to PA this weekend.. I gotta convert the cold air to short ram for safety sake. I have yet to drive my tC in the snow so it should be fun!!

 

today was my first day in snow... the car handled ok on turns and from stop. Do you think i should still buy winter shoes for it, or can i make it through winter with neo gens?

 

If you hit the brakes and you're skidding (essentially turning your car into a 3k pound sled), let off the brakes and you'll regain some steering control. Pumping the brakes will help, but most people are too panicked to remember. Biggest thing is if you find yourself is a hairy situation, always look at where you want the car to go. If you stare at the rear end of the car in front of you, or the curb/tree/pole, you're more likely to hit it.

Another thing to try to avoid is doing anything sudden, like hitting the brakes or jerking the steering wheel. Try to downshift and engine brake (if possible) if you need to slow down in a hurry.

I try to do this every day, but try to maintain a good distance away from other vehicles. It's difficult, esp because of all the people that feel they need to ride your bumper (some reason they think it makes traffic move faster).

 

I had some nasty understeer pulling into a parking space the other day...and I was only doing about 5 mph. After that, every turn I did involved the E-brake. No more understeer. It also doesn't help much that my tires are basically anti-snow tires.

 

drive very slow, have a road side emergency kit with you. use a higher gear to avoid wheel spin. assume that your going to have to slow down for turns at least twice the distance than you normally would.

if the roads haven't been plowwed, i'd wait. though i am a bit curious to try out my tc with lsd in the snow, see if there is any considerable difference.

 

Do those with intakes convert them to short ram in the snow time?

 

i used to have cai... its fine in the snow... what u need to worry about is rain-just avoid big puddles

 

no.

that is like, do you put your car to a short ram every time it rains, we don't. people hydrolock when they take their car swiming. you have to literally submerge it in water.

 

nicely put! hahahaa!

 

bump for an answer!

 

Should not this topic be in another section

 

you don't need dedicated winter tires. i have driven just fine over the past three years in all weather conditions with oem size all season tires. the stock ones were terrible, but the pirelli pzero nero m+s, and kumho ecsta asx are just fine in the snow.

it is hard, but it is absolutely possible.

now if you have summer tires on your car, yeah, you'll need new tires.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...l-seasons.html

 

I would say the #1 tip I can give someone.. Buy a beater.. Something you could put into a ditch or hit a mailbox and not care about the car. a fwd turd would be a great suggestion. get something with previously dented panels for like $600-800, and drive the crap out of it.. then sell it for $400-500 when spring hits, and youll be good to go!
ideas would be an old honda or toyota, or like a dodge K car. maybe a blazer or something with 4x4, but they go for a bit more (even if junked up)

 

something i try to do also, especially if the roads have not been paved is to follow in the tracks of others. bigger SUVs help, but anyone packing the snow down in front of you will help you.

also, if i'm starting to lose traction, i'm in the habit of pumping the gas, to gently pull me through without spinning the tires. i guess its similar to rocking your car out of a spot (if you're stuck).

i think thats it (that hasn't been said already). winter tires will help, but def. not necessary. just be careful and drive smart, and you'll get through most situations.

i simply can NOT stand people that insist on riding your bumper in these kind of conditions.

 

It just started snowing in my area in the past couple of days. The temperature keeps changing so during the day a lot of the snow turns into sleet. My tC started sliding EVERYWHERE in the sleet; had it been a large empty parking lot it would've been fun, but no...

 

drive as if you have a glass of acid on your dashboard

really a good idea is to go to a parking lot, practice getting up to 40 and slamming on the brakes and seeing how long it takes the car to come to a stop.

 

I actually made 25 minute drive into 45 yesterday on my way into work. I lost control twice: one, the dumbass in front of me slammed on their brakes to stop and I had no choice but to slam on mine forgetting to pump the brakes. Second, was caused by me not slowing down into a right turn and the car started to slide almost into median. I turned the wheel into the slide and the car straighten out.

This is what I do
1. Don't tailgate...even if the dumbass behind you wants to tailgate you. Let them; it's their fault for tailgating in dangrous conditions.
2. Pump brakes when you need to stop
3. Watch your speed; if you feel you should to do 25. Do it; but make sure its in the right lane.
4. My personal requirement before leaving the car....kick off any extra snow between wheel walls and tires.

I don't know from personal experience for winter tires. I wanted to try them out by my damn personal financial problems got in the way. Co-worker of mine stated I should buy spare set of all seasons and switch them around early March. So I may try that this year...since tires are $500