Winter is Among Us

"Matthew Keyser" (teisco15) 11/21/2015 at 22:50 • Filed to: None

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Driving in the snow can be scary, and despite the fact that I live in an area that spends several months covered in the white stuff, people still seem to forget what exactly driving in snow entails when the first flake falls. As a result, I’ve come up with a short list of things to remember as you brave the elements to go out for a half gallon of milk and cat food.

This one goes no matter what the conditions, but don’t text/drink and drive. The more things you have distracting you, the more likely you are to crash. Don’t be stupid.

Brake early and brake often. Your car doesn’t stop on snow and ice like it does on dry pavement. Sliding through a red light and getting t-boned by a semi is kind of a drag, and I for one would like to prevent that from happening to me.

When you’re on ice: don’t brake, don’t steer, don’t accelerate. If you can keep a smooth and consistent speed and direction as you pass over an iced over area, you can prevent death or worse.

Don’t go faster than you feel you are capable of going. Going slower and mildly irritating someone behind you is much better than pushing your limits and crashing. This one comes with a caveat however. Much like there is a time and a place for driving quickly, there is also a time and a place for driving slowly and cautiously. Namely, the place is not in the left lane on a highway and the time is not with a line of pissed off midewesterners in SUVs behind you. Driving 45 in the fast lane on a four lane highway lightly dusted with snow is unacceptable and should be punishable by death.

You’re not Ken Block, so don’t go drifting through neighborhoods. Neighborhoods are the absolute worst place to partake in any kind of hoonery whether it be speeding, drifting or otherwise. Neighborhoods are not the place for hoonage because they are full of things like houses and mailboxes and neighbors. Hitting any of these things is a major bummer. If you want to test your mad drifting skillz at least have the courtesy to do so in an empty parking lot.

If I’ve missed anything (which I’m sure I have) please feel free to chime in below. Stay safe out there Oppos, winter is just getting started.

bob and john > Matthew Keyser 11/21/2015 at 22:52

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if you dont have winter/snow tires. dont go out.

‘but I cant afford the-”

THEN YOU CANT AFFORD TO DRIVE DIPSHIT. DO YOU GO DRIVING WHEN YOU CANT AFFORD GAS?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Matthew Keyser 11/21/2015 at 22:53

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For half the population, turn your goddamn headlights on.

For the other half, turn your goddamn high beams off.

WhiskeyGolf > Matthew Keyser 11/21/2015 at 22:53

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Thank you! Every November/December people here in the Great White North forget that sometimes we get snow, and inevitably everyone has to relearn how to drive.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > bob and john 11/21/2015 at 22:56

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I think that’s a bit of a stretch. RWD or summer tires may not be good, but plenty of FWD and AWD can get by with a good set of all season tires. It’s not ideal, but it’s not a catastrophic safety hazard in light snow either.

Big Bubba Ray > bob and john 11/21/2015 at 22:57

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Hahaha this had me cracking up.

I work at a carwash and people will get a $35 carwash when their tank is 99% empty. Like why the hell would you pay for a carwash when you can baaarrreeeeelllly make it to work?!

Also, I’m going to see that XL600R tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/21/2015 at 23:04

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You are very wrong. No matter the driven wheels, you want snow tires. All seasons are a lie and should be called 3 season. All cars has 4 wheel stopping no matter the driven wheels. Some insurance companies offer discounts if you use snow tires.

Urambo Tauro > Matthew Keyser 11/21/2015 at 23:06

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Always take a minute to clear the snow off your car. You don’t have to completely clear the entire thing of snow. Just make sure you get the following:

The windshield and all other windows
The roof, lest snow slide down over your windows
The mirrors, and the cowl, where your wipers will try to pack snow into ice
The hood, lest snow fly up onto the windshield
The trunk, so you can see out the rear window
The headlamps, taillamps, and any other lights
The grille and license plate areas

All the rest of the snow can stay.

desertdog5051 > Matthew Keyser 11/21/2015 at 23:06

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And don’t forget to practice your oppositelock. It can save your car and you if done properly.

Yeah, that is a driving maneuver, boys and girls. Not just the name of a blog. Do it somewhere safe like a parking lot.

So, how does this Desertdog know about these things?

He grew up in Michigan.

whoarder is tellurium > Matthew Keyser 11/21/2015 at 23:09

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Trust no one around you on the road.

Speed > Matthew Keyser 11/21/2015 at 23:10

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I moved from Mississippi to Pennsylvania about 6 years ago. Winter was a huge adjustment, especially my first year when I was in a Z28 Camaro on staggered Z06 wheels with Michelin Pilot Sports. Things got tricky, but I always got where I needed to go with a little skill, a little momentum and some luck.

What amazed me is how many folks born and raised in the Northeast are TERRIBLE in the snow. Even with 4x4! I learned my lesson (after two winters on summer tires) and bought studded snows the third year. On studs I looked for bad hills to climb and unplowed roads for the fun of it. I can’t stress the difference a set of studs makes on a RWD vehicle.

That said, even if your skills are up to snuff, watch out for the fools out there. I think coming from the South made me a much more attentive driver as I had to learn and managed to retain that information. It seems many folks who have lived here their entire lives start from scratch every year.

Steve in Manhattan > Matthew Keyser 11/21/2015 at 23:11

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Here’s one: if you don’t have to go out, don’t go. Make sure you have enough eggs, bread, and milk in your house before a storm hits. (what, are you not going to survive without French Toast?) Unless you’re an EMT or a person whose absence will cause other humans to die, stay home. Stay off the roads. Watch the snow pile up and drink some egg nog. I will join you.

bob and john > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/21/2015 at 23:13

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I live in northern canada. you NEED winter tires to get around here. no ifs ands or buts.

whoarder is tellurium > desertdog5051 11/21/2015 at 23:14

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Always, always know how to oppo properly.

smobgirl > Urambo Tauro 11/21/2015 at 23:15

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This. I freaking hate when some lazy asshole in front of me leaves a snow toupee on their car and it breaks loose and blinds me.

BKosher84 > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 11/21/2015 at 23:18

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Funny, my Ultra High Performance All Seasons on my MINI (when I had it) got my through the two worst winters (in Cleveland Ohio) I have ever experienced snow-wise.

bob and john > BKosher84 11/21/2015 at 23:20

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so imagine how much better it would have been is you had legit winter on that car?

BKosher84 > bob and john 11/21/2015 at 23:23

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I don’t have to imagine it because tires got me through perfectly fine. I’m not going to spend money where money doesn’t need to be spent.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > BKosher84 11/21/2015 at 23:29

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They make performance snow tires. I have regular Michlen X-Ice 2’s on my Sonic. In April we had a random snow storm the day after I took off my snow tires, my all seasons where terrible compared to my X-ice’s. Could not get traction, back end kept over steering slow speeds, same thing for under steering. It is like comparing apples to oranges.

HammerheadFistpunch > bob and john 11/21/2015 at 23:34

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pffft. This winters only snobbery is unecessary. My policy is

Winters best

All seasons passable

Yeah, you should use them. No, its not an all or nothing policy.

I’ve only had winters for a single one of my cars in my life and I live where I can see 600 annual inches of snow fall. Yeah for our sportwagen it makes a big difference and I’m currently shopping for replacement blizzaks but my cruiser with snowflake tires and my previous umpteen cars with good A/S tires and a head on my shoulders have always been safe, effective and capable. In the hierarchy of skills/tires its:

Good winters + skills

Winters + skills

Good A/S + skills

Winters

A/S + skills

A/S

Below this line its inadvisable to drive in winter conditions. There is no summer tire nor skill level sufficient to warrant their use in winter condition.

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch 11/21/2015 at 23:38

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fun fact: in quebec (not that i live there) you LEGALLY have to have winters on in the winter.

if ANYTHING good has ever come out of that place, its that. and poutine.

HammerheadFistpunch > bob and john 11/21/2015 at 23:43

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I think its a great idea to mandate winters for the sake of looking after those without skill, however, in places where babysitting isn’t available good all season tires, basic understanding of car control and a sensible head are completely adequate for a lifetime of safe and effective motoring.

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch 11/21/2015 at 23:47

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your also talking about canada and northern american, so anything involving ‘drivers skill’ can be thrown right out the window.

for Michigan > Urambo Tauro 11/21/2015 at 23:55

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Is there any snow left?

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > bob and john 11/22/2015 at 00:05

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I’ve never put winters on anything I’ve driven in the winter. All-seasons and AWD/4WD is more than enough. Nothing (including Hurricane Sandy and multiple snow storms leaving well over a foot) could stop my old 2001 Nissan xTerra on all-seasons. My JK Wrangler isn’t quite as tank-like, but still more than capable with all-seasons.

bob and john > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 11/22/2015 at 00:08

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ahh, more of that “4WD/AWD will save me” mentality.

news flash, 2WD machines also use 4 wheels to stop. guess what? thats where your losing with no snows.

bob and john > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 11/22/2015 at 00:08

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you triple posted...

EDIT: kinja just sending me 9 different notifications....

Matthew Keyser > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/22/2015 at 00:10

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Yes. This.

Matthew Keyser > desertdog5051 11/22/2015 at 00:11

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Couldn't agree more

Urambo Tauro > for Michigan 11/22/2015 at 00:18

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LOL; probably not.

That’s the thing. Depending on the vehicle in question, there might not be any places snow can be left without compromising things for you. I’ve made the mistake of skipping items on this list, and regretting it just a few miles later.

A pushbroom makes short work of clearing the car, which can take just a few passes. My little snow brush can handle the leftover detail work very quickly.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > bob and john 11/22/2015 at 00:29

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Save me? No. Knowing how to drive in the snow will help me. All-season all-terrain help me. Nothing is going to save you.

I’ve driven a Maserati Coupe on P-Zeros in the snow. Snow isn’t scary if you know how to change the way you drive in a way that is appropriate for the current conditions.

News flash, asserting that those who cannot afford snow tires should not never drive in the snow is idealistic, but bullshit. If you can’t afford snow tires, you probably can’t afford NOT to drive in the snow. Work doesn’t send a check if you don’t show up.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > bob and john 11/22/2015 at 00:33

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Kinja, go home. You’re drunk.

bob and john > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 11/22/2015 at 00:39

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you only got 2, i got NINE.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 11/22/2015 at 05:19

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Herein Nebraska where there is snow on the roads themselves between 2-3 weeks a year, you can make do. I have. I want snow tires, but can’t justify them, so I make do, and I get around fine. Not ideal, but unless a check for a grand arrives from you in the mail, I’m gonna keep driving it as-is.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > bob and john 11/22/2015 at 05:20

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Idon’t doubt it. I live a thousand miles south of you. You can make do without them here.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch 11/22/2015 at 05:23

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Hear ye, hear ye, this man speaks the truth.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > bob and john 11/22/2015 at 05:27

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Once again, way south of northern Canada, ABS and a good set of all-seasons don’t render your car a freight train when it comes to stopping on snow. Again, snow tires are a huge help, but not life or death.

And anyone on Oppo knows that cars have brakes on all 4 wheels no matter what.

twochevrons > Matthew Keyser 11/22/2015 at 10:47

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It’s probably too late for this, but if you’re the kind of person who works on your cars yourself, get your maintenance work squared away BEFORE it starts getting cold. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a heated garage, working underneath a car that’s dripping with road filth and salt will make you want to set the damn thing on fire. And in an unheated garage, you’ll simply want to do that in order to keep warm. I’m terrible at this, by the way, and am currently steeling myself to do a radiator, crankcase breather (a nasty job on a Volvo 5-cylinder), and a rear suspension bushing, all of which I’ve been meaning to do for ages.

Matthew Keyser > twochevrons 11/22/2015 at 11:37

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This can also go along with the problem I've now created for myself which is putting off taking my car into storage. Now I have to wait for a brief thaw while it sits in my garage taking up valuable real estate. Oh well, the last few drives on Thursday and Friday were worth it.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Matthew Keyser 11/23/2015 at 09:07

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I would like to raise a few issues/additions I have with these.

Point #2. Brake early and often only when necessary. Brake early is good. If you don’t brake early in snow you might as well go park yourself perpendicular to the path of a Semi and save yourself the suspense of wondering when it’s going to happen. Brake often? No thanks (at least the way it’s currently worded). It’s often people who are constantly tapping their brakes that screw up traffic flow, and in the snow the effect only gets worse. Not to mention steering in snow is easier and safer when you aren’t braking (goes for any time really) and this tends to be what “brake often” people do, is tap their brakes just enough to mess up the people behind at the entry of a corner the didn’t need to slow down for. To my mind it should read: Brake early and only when necessary. Drive steadily. Don’t outdrive yourself.

Point #3. KEEP A CLOSE WATCH FOR SUCH CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY ON HWY RAMPS. I just about got caught today. Luckily I had snow tires, Stabilitrac works well, and the ice was only thick enough to be noticed under moderate-hard braking (as in, there was ice but it was below the “texture” of the road).

Point #4. Thank you for adding that last part. I would add, just because there is this white stuff on the ground and you feel terrified, does not give you permission to straddle lanes to give you more room. I'm especially baffled by those who stay as far from the curb as possible. I mean, if I'm afraid of losing control and hitting something, I'd be more worried about oncoming traffic than a curb.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 11/23/2015 at 09:10

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I’m in agreement that they are much better, and worth the money, but some people really don’t have the space or the extra $$ to have a second set stored. And you CAN get by with all seasons if you take it really easy.

Which isn't to say I'm ever going back to A/S tires for winter.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > bob and john 11/23/2015 at 09:13

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While I'm on the side of Winters best/not totally necessary (I'm not counting you in that, being in TB. I'm saying for those of us farther south/not in snowbelt areas), I've got to agree on both points there.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > HammerheadFistpunch 11/23/2015 at 09:14

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Great, now I don't have to say it. Good thing too, this is far more coherent than I could manage.