Comments on: Winter Driving Tips from Tirerack http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/ MINI Cooper news, reviews and opinion. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:20:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: MiniLifeCrisis http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13622 MiniLifeCrisis Mon, 22 Nov 2004 14:01:15 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13622 <p>Upon waiting for my MINI, one of the numerous emails form MINIUSA contained this web link. It has some helpful tips on driving in the snow. I'll let you know if they worked for me some time in March. :-)</p> <p>http://www.miniusa.com/crm/load_mini.jsp?open=wintertire&skip=yes</p> Upon waiting for my MINI, one of the numerous emails form MINIUSA contained this web link. It has some helpful tips on driving in the snow. I'll let you know if they worked for me some time in March. :-)

http://www.miniusa.com/crm/load_mini.jsp?open=wintertire&skip=yes

]]> By: allan MICHAEL http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13621 allan MICHAEL Mon, 22 Nov 2004 00:20:48 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13621 <p>I find using, taxis, buses, and trains the best way to stop skidding.</p> I find using, taxis, buses, and trains the best way to stop skidding.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13620 Aaron Sun, 21 Nov 2004 14:37:09 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13620 <p>From my experience, it isn't the folks up north who need this advice, its the ones in the southern states who only see snow once every 2 or 3 years!</p> <p>When I was in college, I was driving several of my friends in my Mazda Protege (econobox, stick shift, front wheel drive) from Atlanta to Athens, Georgia on a snowy road. 4 smallish pickups passed us on our 3 hour drive. We stopped to help each one out of the ditch on the side of the road when we caught up with them.</p> <p>My father took me to a large snowy parking lot in Michigan when I was 16 and taught me how to drive in the snow. For those without time for instruction / training, the simple "One control at a time" is excellent! I think that I would add something to the effect of:</p> <ol> <li>Slow down</li> <li>One control at a time</li> <li>Slow down some more, stupid.</li> </ol> From my experience, it isn't the folks up north who need this advice, its the ones in the southern states who only see snow once every 2 or 3 years!

When I was in college, I was driving several of my friends in my Mazda Protege (econobox, stick shift, front wheel drive) from Atlanta to Athens, Georgia on a snowy road. 4 smallish pickups passed us on our 3 hour drive. We stopped to help each one out of the ditch on the side of the road when we caught up with them.

My father took me to a large snowy parking lot in Michigan when I was 16 and taught me how to drive in the snow. For those without time for instruction / training, the simple “One control at a time” is excellent! I think that I would add something to the effect of:

  1. Slow down
  2. One control at a time
  3. Slow down some more, stupid.
]]> By: Ian C. http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13619 Ian C. Sun, 21 Nov 2004 02:44:01 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13619 <p>This has always been the big negative of ABS - in snowy conditions your best stopping power can be to lock the wheels so that snow builds up in a pile in front of them, increasing friction. I wonder if any of the "summer/winter" switches on auto transmissions also modify the ABS for winter driving?</p> This has always been the big negative of ABS – in snowy conditions your best stopping power can be to lock the wheels so that snow builds up in a pile in front of them, increasing friction. I wonder if any of the “summer/winter” switches on auto transmissions also modify the ABS for winter driving?

]]> By: scooblymonchee http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13618 scooblymonchee Sat, 20 Nov 2004 04:04:08 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13618 <p>Traction control off? Check.</p> <p>Chassis aligned perpendicular to direction of travel? Check.</p> <p>Steering at full opposite lock? Check.</p> <p>Houston, we are a go for snow.</p> Traction control off? Check.

Chassis aligned perpendicular to direction of travel? Check.

Steering at full opposite lock? Check.

Houston, we are a go for snow.

]]> By: Rocketboy http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13617 Rocketboy Sat, 20 Nov 2004 03:30:30 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13617 <p>I too cannot stand when APS kicks in in the snow. When I'm in control, using threshold breaking (think modulation, but with feathering) I have a much better idea where my car s going, and when it's going to stop. When ABS kicks in, only the computer knows. As someone who I worked with once would say about ABS, is that they don't help you stop faster, they just let you pick what you're going to hit.</p> <p>The best thing to have in your car in the snow, is a stick shift. The only sure way to keep your wheels from sliding is to let roll free, and then you can get control of your car again.</p> I too cannot stand when APS kicks in in the snow. When I'm in control, using threshold breaking (think modulation, but with feathering) I have a much better idea where my car s going, and when it's going to stop. When ABS kicks in, only the computer knows. As someone who I worked with once would say about ABS, is that they don't help you stop faster, they just let you pick what you're going to hit.

The best thing to have in your car in the snow, is a stick shift. The only sure way to keep your wheels from sliding is to let roll free, and then you can get control of your car again.

]]> By: Kurt Collins http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13616 Kurt Collins Sat, 20 Nov 2004 01:51:30 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13616 <p>I agree with Gabe - I grew up in Northern Maine and learned how to drive (1979 Chevy Caprice Classic Station Wagon) in the snow by modulating your brakes and as indicated in this article proper planning and smooth gentle driving.</p> <p>I used to own a 2000 Audi S4 - and I thought that I was pretty invincible with Quattro! Wrong! ABS and 17" low profile sport compound tires do not make a good snow car! Any Audi enthusiast will tell you (especially with an S4) that you need to swap out tires to maximize your car's winter performance and safety on the slick. </p> <p>I absolutely detest ABS in the snow - an ABS computer really shouldn't be controlling your brakes when driving on ice and snow - I found this out with the Audi - which had hypersensitive ABS (on ice and snow) and you couldn't scrub off any speed no matter how you tried to manually modulate brakes. In desperation (before I went over the side of an embankment) I gunned the throttle and was able to shoot the stern of the S4 around and save myself from going into someone's yard. </p> <p>Get snows if you live in the icy and snowy climes - esp if you've got 17" performance run-flats!</p> I agree with Gabe – I grew up in Northern Maine and learned how to drive (1979 Chevy Caprice Classic Station Wagon) in the snow by modulating your brakes and as indicated in this article proper planning and smooth gentle driving.

I used to own a 2000 Audi S4 – and I thought that I was pretty invincible with Quattro! Wrong! ABS and 17″ low profile sport compound tires do not make a good snow car! Any Audi enthusiast will tell you (especially with an S4) that you need to swap out tires to maximize your car's winter performance and safety on the slick.

I absolutely detest ABS in the snow – an ABS computer really shouldn't be controlling your brakes when driving on ice and snow – I found this out with the Audi – which had hypersensitive ABS (on ice and snow) and you couldn't scrub off any speed no matter how you tried to manually modulate brakes. In desperation (before I went over the side of an embankment) I gunned the throttle and was able to shoot the stern of the S4 around and save myself from going into someone's yard.

Get snows if you live in the icy and snowy climes – esp if you've got 17″ performance run-flats!

]]> By: Gabe http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13615 Gabe Sat, 20 Nov 2004 01:03:32 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13615 <p>Judging from most people's winter driving skills I've seen over the years I'd argue that simplistic is probably best. I think the basic theories are still misunderstood by most out there.</p> Judging from most people's winter driving skills I've seen over the years I'd argue that simplistic is probably best. I think the basic theories are still misunderstood by most out there.

]]> By: RHT3 http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13614 RHT3 Sat, 20 Nov 2004 00:58:29 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13614 <p>ABS was invented to facilitate braking while turning. Why not use brakes?Less throttle while turning with tire slip=braking. Why release throttle?</p> <p>A bit too simplistic an explanation.</p> ABS was invented to facilitate braking while turning. Why not use brakes?Less throttle while turning with tire slip=braking. Why release throttle?

A bit too simplistic an explanation.

]]> By: Dave& Stacy http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/19/winter_driving_tips_from_tirerack/comment-page-1/#comment-13613 Dave& Stacy Fri, 19 Nov 2004 23:49:30 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/11/19/#comment-13613 <p>"To most effectively control your car on a slippery road, you should always use only one control at a time. While cornering, for instance, you should be off the brake and off the accelerator, coasting through the turn and using all available grip for steering."</p> <p>Only if you want to be slow. The proper way to drive on a slippery surface is to use your left foot to brake. ;-)</p> <p>-Dave & Stacy ClubRally Omni #585</p> “To most effectively control your car on a slippery road, you should always use only one control at a time. While cornering, for instance, you should be off the brake and off the accelerator, coasting through the turn and using all available grip for steering.”

Only if you want to be slow. The proper way to drive on a slippery surface is to use your left foot to brake. ;-)

-Dave & Stacy ClubRally Omni #585

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