Snow Driving with Summer Tires

"Mythlin" (kxcmiles) 10/27/2015 at 14:09 • Filed to: None

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Hey Oppo so in November I have to go and pick up my gf and her cousin from college and bring them back to SoCal. They are in Flagstaff AZ at around 8500ft, Flagstaff usually has 10” of snow in November. Now I’m from SoCal and at this point ill probably have a Mustang GT with summer tires, what do I need to do to stay safe? No, I will not purchase new tires for one trip so please don’t say “get winter tires”. Ive never driven in snow before, let alone a rwd manual on summers. So Oppo what do I need to do to stay safe? An hour out of Flagstaff and I should be back to normal 80+ weather, ill only be there a few days and with maybe 50-75 miles of snow driving total. It is also a mountain, if that makes a difference. Interstate snow driving tips would be appreciated too as the only way up is a highway.

It seems like the general consensus is rent a car, my sister has a 2004 ford focus with all terrains on it that is seeming like a much better option at the moment. Or possibly chains on the ‘stang?

Here is a photo of a mustang I’m checking out today for your time:

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:11

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Keep everything smoooooooooooooooooooth.

Chains?

spanfucker retire bitch > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:12

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Rent a car that at least has all-seasons or something? Shut down the entire road going up the mountain so that only you are on it?

If it’s actually snowing when you pick them up, you might as well be riding on the rims because summer tires are as hard as hockey pucks in freezing temps.

bob and john > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:13

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rent a car. seriously.

T5Killer > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:13

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Just keep it slow and no major control changes, I live in Albuquerque were get snow nothing like flagstaff but I have never once had to get winter tires even when going north to Santa Fe or Taos.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:13

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Ive never driven in snow before, let alone a rwd manual on summers. So Oppo what do I need to do to stay safe?

Save your car and rent one.

Urambo Tauro > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:17

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Lengthen your following distance, make all your inputs (brake, steering, throttle) gentler, and practice in an empty lot. Pull over to let more experienced drivers (or more capable vehicles) pass.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:19

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Rent a car.

Or if you really have to take everything slow and smooth and get your self some good cables.

jariten1781 > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:21

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I recommend picking up some earplugs to drown out the yells of ‘Welcome to Flagstaff dumbass” when you’re trying to free yourself going up the mountain.

Note: That exact thing happened when my friend got us stuck going up a pass in a tiny dusting in his 3 series with summers. Lots of calls of ‘dumbass’, some pealing laughter, and a couple folks that flung snow on us.

Seriously, rent something with all seasons or use better tires.

Twism > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:22

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Drive slowly, keep the stability control on, don’t be too sudden with inputs (including steering, throttle and braking), keep a wider gap between you and the car in front and remember that you are EXACTLY the kind of person we are especially wary of: sport car drivers with no experience in the snow and summer tires ;) .

Oh yeah, and try to avoid stopping on an incline; either you won’t be able to move again (upward incline) or you won’t be able to stop (downward incline). Both cases suck.

But I’d recommend either renting a little FWD car or borrowing something with all-season tires and/or less power and/or AWD.

Moves-Like-Senna > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:23

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Protect your car and rent one.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:24

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I’ve driven over that stupid pass in the snow so many times. RWD and summer tires will be a no-go if its actually snowing...seriously.

Alfalfa > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:25

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Chains will run about $30 for an economical pair. Some places have a buy back program if you buy them and ends up not using them. Aside from that, keep it slow and smooth. Keep a good braking distance.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:26

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my WRX was scary in snow with summers, rent a car and save yourself the cost of wrecking yours

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:28

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I am dead serious when I say that a powerful, RWD sporty car on summer tires would not make it there in the hands of a driver who has never seen snow. Especially since it’s a mountain pass. If there is snow, find some other car to use.

Parth985 > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:32

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Ur screwed in winter in jersey we laugh at mustang guys trying to drive in the snow with their all season or summer tires a they always are stuck spinning thier tyires just hope it don’t snow or buy some cheap ebay snow tires u can get from 200 to 400 bucks so yeah hope or buy up to u or even smarter is not take ur mustang and rent a car on relay rides which is a app of one of the countless rental car agencies

deekster_caddy > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:32

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Don’t drive while it’s snowing. If you have no choice, slow down a lot and wait for a plow truck to go by. If you can follow the plow truck you will be better off.

I’ve driven on my MPSS in the snow and it’s horrifying. If you’ve never driven in snow before, and only have summer tires, wait until the weather clears.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:36

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I’ve lived with a lowered Mustang GT in the mountains over Colorado. Here are a few tips.

1. If you are truly on summer tires and not A/S, go to the junkyard and get some all seasons. I run very aggressive summer tires, I can’t make it through icy snow pack. You should be okay with all seasons.

2. Get a shovel and some bags. Fill the bags with as much sand as you can. Put as many bags of sand in your truck as possible.

3. Don’t stop on up hills. Maintain momentum at all costs. Don’t stop and creep at a light. Even if you leave a gap, always be creeping forward.

4. 1st gear, forget you have it. Learn to start out in 2nd.

5. Get cables, hope you don’t have to use them and then return them. Chains probably won’t work. You most likely don’t have the clearance and they will beat your fender to a pulp.

6. Leave lots of room.

7. Leave more room.

8. Stay in the tracks.

9. Bring extra windshield washer fluid.

10. Don’t stop on an uphill.

11. Don’t park facing up hill.

12. Think, then act.

13. Don’t be afraid to lay into your traction control and crawl until you get momentum and slowly increase your speed.

14. Pray it doesn’t snow.

15. If all else fails, stop and call a tow truck. It is cheaper than having one tow you out of a ditch.

Honestly though, if you are really only doing 75 miles on an interstate, as long as it isn’t actively snowing and covering the road, you should be fine. If you can see pavement and are going slow, you will be fine on summers.

boxrocket > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:36

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Rent something sizeable, with good gas mileage, AWD, and comfortable. Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, etc. More than two people in a Mustang for more than a half hour is unkind.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > bob and john 10/27/2015 at 14:41

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I’ve got to agree with this - snow is fine if you have experience in it, but you have a powerful RWD car, no experience, mountain roads and the potential for a lot of snow. This isn’t a knock on driving ability, it’s just the fact that it can be very unpredictable if you’ve never driven in snow before and that TC/ABS and all that other electronic safety stuff just doesn’t work as well (i.e. ABS pulsing your brakes doesn’t matter at all when the tires just won’t grip).

If cost is the issue, could that cost not be split with the passengers? It does seem reasonable, after all.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:41

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No, spoken as someone who unknowingly drove in subzero temps on summer tires.

Übel > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:41

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This is just the worst idea. Seriously. Don’t. Even bad all-seasons can be borderline dangerous in the snow, and that’s on a normal FWD hatchback.

jjhats > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:47

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rent a 4x4 on relay rides

Boxer_4 > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/27/2015 at 14:48

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I have good all-seasons on the Forester, and there were still times last winter I wished I had a set of snow tires. I couldn't imagine using summers.

Justin Hughes > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 14:49

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The thing to remember is it’s not just the tread of snow tires that makes them grip the snow better - it’s the rubber compound itself. It’s designed to work best in colder temperatures, in much the same way that your summer tires are designed to work best in warmer temperatures. But that means that your summer tires won’t grip a cold road in cold temperatures well at all, even if the day you happen to take the drive is sunny and dry. I’ll likely be swapping my snow tires onto my BRZ this weekend, not because it’s likely to snow (though we got 2’ of it on Halloween a few years ago), but because temperatures are now going below freezing for my morning commute.

I agree, a set of snow tires doesn’t make sense for a one shot deal like this. Borrow or rent a better equipped car, and leave the ‘Stang optimized for fun in the sun.

M54B30 > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 15:07

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“I’ve never driven in snow, especially not in a manual RWD car on summer tires.”

This pretty much sums it up. Don’t be an idiot and just rent or borrow a car. It’ll be cheaper then your deductible.

bob and john > Parth985 10/27/2015 at 15:08

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mother of run-on-sentence...

Parth985 > bob and john 10/27/2015 at 15:19

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Yay run on sentence

OPPOsaurus WRX > Boxer_4 10/27/2015 at 15:57

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yea I got snows the following winter. I didn;t realize how bad it actually was. i got it in february so it was only a could storms to deal with. the fol,owing year (last year) was the year we got slammed. I wouldn;t have be able ot go anywhere

Captain of the Enterprise > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 16:02

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my sister has a 2004 ford focus with all terrains

Thats awsome. SR20?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 16:06

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My personal opinion... Give the GF and cousin a choice... either you rent a car that you’ll use to pick them up with (which *they* jointly pay for) OR they can book a ride on Greyhound.com (which will cost $80-$150 each) and 12 hours later, you can pick them up from the Greyhound station in SoCal.

And there are many places they can get on the Greyhound in California as well as AZ:

http://locations.greyhound.com/

shop-teacher > Mythlin 10/27/2015 at 16:08

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Chains may make you go, but your fronts will not let you steer or stop in the snow. Either rent a car, or borrow your sisters Focus. Don’t ruin your nice Mustang.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 10/27/2015 at 16:23

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Edit: I saw that you mentioned that you have the option of driving a different car like a Focus. If you have that option and the car has all season tires or better, consider that option.