Driving in snow

[ajstan]

Ok judging by the forecast its going to be pretty snowy tomorrow.

Is it a good idea to lower tyre pressures? does that help in any way?

I run mine quite high for better mpg

Cheers

 

[ajstan]

Some great advice here, thanks guys

 

[ajstan]

Do you like uneven wear and dodgy handling?

Its still way under the maximum pressure?

 

[ajstan]

Maximum pressure?

Inflate the tyres to the recommended pressure as per the user guide.

There is no recommended, there is a min and max, and mine are somewhere in the middle.

 

[ajstan]

Surely that's replacing one issue with another? Over inflation = smaller contact patch?

Im now sure it works like that, a smaller/thinner contact patch means that it cuts through snow/ice better. Look at snow rally tyres: http://www.chrisellisonphoto.co.uk/Galleries/2006/Swedish/Snow tyres.JPG

-Very thin

 

[ajstan]

If you have to ask how to drive in snow, you shouldn't be driving in snow.

I think if you read what I said you will notice that I DID NOT ask how to drive in snow, you have read what other people have said and assumed that what I asked.

I simply asked if it is better to lower tyre pressures while driving in snow to get a bit more grip.

 

[ajstan]

I love the way the south of england reacts to snow. I grew up in Glasgow and there was heavy snow most winters - heavier than I've ever seen down here. But the world just carried on, a bit of traffic on the roads pushes the snow out the way so it doesnt last long.

But here, a few inches of snow and the whole world grinds to a halt, the roads get closed, people park up and sleep in their cars because they're "stranded"....big southern pansies!

Couldn't agree with you more, hence why I will be driving tomorrow

 

[ajstan]

My Car handled like it was on rails this morning. Oh wait, I took the train

Mine didn't, was great fun driving to work , getting up a hill was a little iffy though

 

[ajstan]

Or just give it loads of beans, it's all about enough power, but not too much, and getting momentum.

There was a story on Pistonheads back in Feb when we had the last snow. This guy lived at the bottom of a hill, and cars were getting stuck all morning - only 3 cars made it up, leaving dozens of abandoned cars at the bottom.

The 1st car that made it up was an old and battered Land Rover Defender 90.

The 2nd car that made it up... was also an old and battered Land Rover Defender 90.

The 3rd car that made it up was a Renault Laguna on bald tyres with 4 Polish builders in it, who said "Pah, in Poland zis is not bad vether", and just barrelled up.

All very well getting this momentum but what happens when a kid walks out in front of you 10m ahead, usually plenty of stopping distance, not in ice though...

 

[ajstan]

No way im getting to work this morning, the van wont evan move ..... Surrey we have silly amounts of snow ..

GRRR bloody hate the stuff, hurry up and melt please

More still to come...have fun

 

[ajstan]

I managed to haul myself into work in my tiiiiiny 1.0 B reg 205. Main roads were pretty bad, but the connecting roads were lethal. Got into the works car park and spent ten minutes sliding this way and that, since I was so early.

Small and light 205 would have been quite good in the snow I would have thought?