I am sick of hearing about people and snow.

[Rangemaster]

Everytime, I watch the news all I see and hear is people driving crappy small cars stuck or spinning out in the snow. WTF, why do so many people drive these crappy cars in the snow. Why cant they opt for 4x4?, I live in the west and all my cars or 4 wheel drive. This is excuse of choose your home, neighbors, street, city. Come on people get a real vehicle and stop blaming the weather for your own stupid actions. Yes 4x4 cars and trucks cost a little more, but don’t get on tv and blame the weather.

 

[Bender]

This is the first snow in the history of mankind. Didn’t you know that?

 

[isofahunter]

I have 4x4 and I can go 75 in snow and ice no problem. You have to think how dumb the avg person is and 50% are dumber than that. Butchered the quote but G. Carlin gets credit.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

You have just described the difference in living in the West versus living in the East.... Perhaps we should start a list of "differences"...

Hobo

 

[Bender]

You have just described the difference in living in the West versus living in the East.... Perhaps we should start a list of "differences"...

Hobo

No. The east is superior In every way. Go there.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Actually, the biggest problem is marketing. Marketing to the stupidity. That being "all-season tires". At best, when they're brand new, they're only 50% effective for the immediate conditions.

Get proper winter/ice tires, on their own rims, for driving in winter/on ice. Whether its a mazda or a maserati, ford or ferrari,,,, it is only the TIRES that are touching the road.

Make THAT the best you can, and then you'll have "performance". Even if that "performance" is just simple 'family safety' and prudence.

 

[Bradu]

Most people figure they only need it a few times a year so they think that if it's too bad, they will just stay home. The problem is they don't stay home and try to drive like they do on the other 360 days out of the year. I got the wife all wheel drive so I didn't have to drive her to work if there is snow on the ground. It's a little more expensive and a little more maintenance but worth the cost.

 

[abn31c]

Snow is one thing, add wind....
3 inches everywhere, except where I wanna go has 3 feet.
4 hours to plow my drive to get to dirt road. Both intersections blown shut. Go back home.
Repeat as necessary.

 

[powdahound76]

I drove over Berthoud Pass in CO to work a couple days a week for a few years.
Almost all the time in a Honda Civic with studded snows. Never ever got stuck. Or close to it.

Drove my truck a few times when the snow was particularly deep (over 15”).

There is the ability to drive that most people seem to lack as well.
Like, dont start up an icy hill with plans to stop and get going in the middle of it. Momma saw fools doing this today when dropping kids of to school.

I pull a lot of people out. Most for free. Douchebags in SUVs with bald tires get told $50. Trucks with bald tires $75. More if they dont have their own strap.......
Somedays I am my usual nice self and most days kinda pissed at them putting the rest of us at such risk.

Will take mercy on kids and take the opportunity to educate them.
Tires before booze and weed when you live in CO.......

 

[theLBC]

we had "snow" when i lived in Wales. i made it to the office in a piece of schiff 1.3l Golf.
and i was the only one that even tried as far as i can tell. fml

 

[MtnCreek]

I'm in ga. If they start talking about snow I take work home and stay off the road. It's a demo derby down here when snow covers the road.

 

[Milf Dots]

STUDDED TIRES and ANTI-LOCK BRAKES are the answer.

- 4 wheel drive only helps the vehicle get moving- it does nothing to aid in slowing or stopping. It can even give a false sense of traction because of that.
- I've seen plenty of 4x4 vehicles spun off into ditches in WY and MT.
- Some idiots use cruise control on highways and interstates in the winter- as soon as they hit black ice or snow they're off into a ditch or WORSE.

 

[StrayDog]

Snow tires, abs, 4wd and preferably a manual transmission.
Amazing how many folks don't even know they have lower gears to use in their automatics.
Happy snow day from Maine!

 

[ClangClang]

I have 4x4 and I can go 75 in snow and ice no problem. You have to think how dumb the avg person is and 50% are dumber than that.

Dunning-Kruger Effect: Why Incompetent People Think They Are Superior

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which the incompetent lack the skills and cognitive abilities to recognize their own inability. Learn how it works.

www.verywellmind.com

 

[lash]

 

[pmclaine]

Winter of 2015 was one for the records in my at that point 47 years of life in MA.

Scariest shit I ever drove through and at the time it was in a Crown Victoria, rear wheel drive, with summer tires.

Had to stop at times due to the fact I lost all orientation and couldnt tell if I was still tracking the interstate or driving off the roadway.

Crazy but never got stuck once. That Crown Vic was amazing.

Stopped to speak with people having panic attacks miles away from where they thought they were. Governor at the time was promoting such people be arrested or cited for interfering with snow removal. Guess he thought the people that buy the roads and pay his salary are a nuisance.

Today on ride to work guy blew a light to cross a heavily congested road showing green with fully snow covered roads.

Me and guy next to me were in full slide trying to avoid T-Boning him.

It was one of those occasions when there was actually a cop right there and the violator was cited.

 

[thejeep]

My driveway is approx 104yds at -6deg ish. You gotta creep front and rear diffs locked real slow like. Until it’s time to hit the brakes put it in reverse to slow forward speed, until it’s time to go back into d and depending on the which way the rear is sliding properly execute a Scandinavian flick near redline into the road.

 

[powdahound76]

Once had a lifted 2500 diesel with 35 or 37” tires sticking out 5-6” on each side and an 8” exhaust tip go blowing by me (me going 35, him 60+) on the way to the ski area on a big snow day, roads were absolute crap.
2 miles later he was buried into that hard nasty snowbank that lines mountain roads in the winter. What looked like pretty decent body damage to his truck.

I stopped. Hollered over at him he looked real stuck, then drove off in my Honda Civic. ?

One of my favorite stories of douchebags driving in the anow.

 

[powdahound76]

My driveway is approx 104yds at -6deg ish. You gotta creep front and rear diffs locked real slow like. Until it’s time to hit the brakes put it in reverse to slow forward speed, until it’s time to go back into d and depending on the which way the rear is sliding properly execute a Scandinavian flick near redline into the road.

Um, we gonna need a video of this

 

[myronman3]

well at least it’s something other than “orange man bad”.

 

[Inifinty]

Snow makes the floridiots leave tho.

There is that.

 

[thejeep]

Um, we gonna need a video of this

I hope I can resist ever trying to do it again.

 

[MtnCreek]

My driveway is approx 104yds at -6deg ish. You gotta creep front and rear diffs locked real slow like. Until it’s time to hit the brakes put it in reverse to slow forward speed, until it’s time to go back into d and depending on the which way the rear is sliding properly execute a Scandinavian flick near redline into the road.

Paved drive? That's what you get for being a highfalutin hick.

 

[Awesymoto]

From MN passing everyone in AZ during their winter “snow storm” in the Honda Fit wondering why so many 4x4 and AWD cars are in the ditch... learn to drive

 

[The DFC]

From MN passing everyone in AZ during their winter “snow storm” in the Honda Fit wondering why so many 4x4 and AWD cars are in the ditch... learn to drive

Exactly

4x4-6x6-2x4 it doesn't matter if you can't drive.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Actually, the biggest problem is marketing. Marketing to the stupidity. That being "all-season tires". At best, when they're brand new, they're only 50% effective for the immediate conditions.

Get proper winter/ice tires, on their own rims, for driving in winter/on ice. Whether its a mazda or a maserati, ford or ferrari,,,, it is only the TIRES that are touching the road.

Make THAT the best you can, and then you'll have "performance". Even if that "performance" is just simple 'family safety' and prudence.

Since you mention it, I unexpectedly had to purchase a new set of tyres for my car due to stupid folks in the neighborhood leaving construction scrap all over the roads.......

So my car has some summer "energy saving" tyres on it.
Since we are heading into winter and if we happen to get snow and ice, the whole idea of clearing the streets just doesn't happen in the cities here (unlike on the paid toll roads where they are way ahead of the curve on it).

So I ordered some fairly decent rated tires that could also still be fine in the summer (Michelin CrossClimate+) so the idiots over at Costco try to tell me over the phone that these tyres aren't good because they are not summer tyres and I should get their cheap summer tyres because well... they are cheaper....

I'm thinking about eventually just getting more rims and having a dedicated bad weather set for the 20 days a year I need them and then a summer set for the rest of the time.

Now I COULD drive my 4x4 truck when it's icy out, but after trying that a few years I found one slight problem....
Around here when you are driving at "safe" speeds for snow and ice, folks will like to be all bitchy and ride your tail then speed up to maximum and cut back in front of you....... only to slam on their brakes as they realize they are going over a solid sheet of ice on the bridge... and then they begin the spinning in circles & you are hoping they spin out of your way before you hit them. I found it's quicker to get my car to come to a stop on ice than it is a truck which is 2x to 3x the weight.

 

[theLBC]

black ice is worse than snow.

 

[The DFC]

black ice is worse than snow.

 

[W54/XM-388]

black ice is worse than snow.

Frozen rain sucks pretty badly too.

 

[sixtyfournmor]

So there is a problem with snow?

Usually all we hear about in MN is how the west is burning up, houses & land on fire, dying crops no rain, thirsty cattle on water rations, brown golf courses. You know real problems.

Snow? Who woulda thunk?

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Yeah, that 'sleet' definitely is worse than the black-ice. Anyone who's ever tried walking on a curling rink will know that it's much 'slippery'er' than just plain old 'ice'. There are numerous stories of such conditions around here, after all these decades. The best one (for me) though is when during rush-hour in the morning on the way to work, one woman in the left lane 'lost it' and started swerving side-ways. All the traffic continued to go at the same speed, whilst merging/zippering around her, and she eventually completed a full 360 and then continued on her way. Nobody stopped, nobody got hit, and other than a short 'slow-down' zone, everything flowed fine.

Until the next Fall, where it proved that EVERYBODY had forgotten how to drive in winter conditions again. HA.

 

[10ring'r]

Yes, it ceases to amaze me, when it comes to the stupidity of people, especially the ones that LIVE in snowy locals. Buy a F'n vehicle that gives you a good chance of staying out of a ditch, when the wind/snow falls or blows. I've owned 4x4's since the 70's, even when I was stationed in Commiefornia and that was for my off-roading pleasure, at the time. I live in Wisc. now and I still drive 4x4 vehicles. When the wife and I were still working, she had an AWD vehicle and I drove a F'n Jeep. There were no "snow days" where we worked, so we made sure we were able to get there. BUT, there are still people out there that ain't got a clue and want to blame something or someone else for their dumbass choices in life. To coin an old phrase, play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Mac

 

[Ken Burton]

A lot of people who have a 4x4 don't realize that when it's in all 4's, all wheels are driving and you lose almost as much or more when in an icy area and if that outfit starts wiping out your in for a real treat.
It's a thrill not to have any steering while trying to gain control of you outfit.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

A lot of people who have a 4x4 don't realize that when it's in all 4's, all wheels are driving and you lose almost as much or more when in an icy area and if that outfit starts wiping out your in for a real treat.
It's a thrill not to have any steering while trying to gain control of you outfit.

Not enough people know how/remember to "neutral drop".

 

[10ring'r]

A lot of people who have a 4x4 don't realize that when it's in all 4's, all wheels are driving and you lose almost as much or more when in an icy area and if that outfit starts wiping out your in for a real treat.
It's a thrill not to have any steering while trying to gain control of you outfit.

4x4 is NOT a guarantee that you will have traction or not, but, if driven with a little common sense, you've got a better chance of making it to your destination. Any time I get on the road, I don't worry about my driving abilities (over 300k on M/C's, 100k OTR truck driver and God only knows how much in 4 wheelers), I worry about everyone else's driving ability. All it takes (for most people, anyways) is taking their time and paying-the-F attention to what you are doing, pretty simple really. If you have any doubts, stay the F home! Mac

 

[ClangClang]

Who is ready to hear some painful truths?

I'm amazed at how many dudes here think 4x4s and trucks are inherently good vehicles for driving in the snow. 4 wheel drive doesn't mean 4 wheel stop. @W54/XM-388 gets it. Everyone else is basically lucky they haven't rolled their big burly trucks off the highway. Especially that dude who boasts about driving at 75mph because "me have big truck. me drive fast." He's an accident waiting to happen.

An AWD, manual trans sedan with a set of Blizzaks on it will be an order of magnitude safer and more controllable than a 4x4, even with (obscenely expensive because truck) snow tires. Less weight, lower center of gravity, narrower tires to cut through the snow i.e. better ratio of weight-to-contact-patch, etc. The bigger the truck, the worse it is for the snow. If you have a truck for other reasons (construction, landscaping, small dick, whatever) that's perfectly fine, but they're really not that great when it comes to winter driving. Same thing for soccer moms in SUVs. At least they don't have an oversize ego that lets them think they can drive fast, unless they're just dumb.

 

[thejeep]

^Except when the torque biasing system/fake brake biasing traction control in your Mickey Mouse designed sedan/euro trash heats up and fails.

If you can’t lock in 50/50 and control between 1,2,3&4 wheel drive, don’t even bother.

I mean , ahem, unless you gotta get to the mall, on groomed roads.

But you are correct an Impreza STI would be sweet, until it’s beat to shit.

I could also understand if you are talking strictly about trucks equipped with LED light bars in the most vulnerable locations. Do those fuckers not drive through the trees/around limbs ever?

 

[Bender]

Stupid blade operator pushed the snow level with the road so I couldn’t see the ditch. Looked like flat road, put one wheel on the snow and it sucked me right off the road and I buried it. Good thing a co worker was just 10 mins away and I have a nice tow strap. Lol.

 

[forrestgump01]

I'm in ga. If they start talking about snow I take work home and stay off the road. It's a demo derby down here when snow covers the road.

ohhhh god . im having flashbacks of Atlanta's blizzard of 2014. 2 inches of snow left thousands of vehicle's stranded and abandoned . people stuck in there cars for 24 + hrs.
what a cluster fuck that was !!

 

[sirhrmechanic]

I love it when we get 12”’of global warming...

sirhr

 

[Nik H]

No. The east is superior In every way. Go there.

Bought a house down the street from you

 

[Bender]

Bought a house down the street from you

You wish.....

 

[Alpine 338]

Snow? The problem we have is we don't have enough of it. It's only waist deep here.

 

[10ring'r]

Stupid blade operator pushed the snow level with the road so I couldn’t see the ditch. Looked like flat road, put one wheel on the snow and it sucked me right off the road and I buried it. Good thing a co worker was just 10 mins away and I have a nice tow strap. Lol.

View attachment 7197000

Always be prepared...Always! Mac

 

[Jefe's Dope]

Who is ready to hear some painful truths?

I'm amazed at how many dudes here think 4x4s and trucks are inherently good vehicles for driving in the snow. 4 wheel drive doesn't mean 4 wheel stop. @W54/XM-388 gets it. Everyone else is basically lucky they haven't rolled their big burly trucks off the highway. Especially that dude who boasts about driving at 75mph because "me have big truck. me drive fast." He's an accident waiting to happen.

An AWD, manual trans sedan with a set of Blizzaks on it will be an order of magnitude safer and more controllable than a 4x4, even with (obscenely expensive because truck) snow tires. Less weight, lower center of gravity, narrower tires to cut through the snow i.e. better ratio of weight-to-contact-patch, etc. The bigger the truck, the worse it is for the snow. If you have a truck for other reasons (construction, landscaping, small dick, whatever) that's perfectly fine, but they're really not that great when it comes to winter driving. Same thing for soccer moms in SUVs. At least they don't have an oversize ego that lets them think they can drive fast, unless they're just dumb.

The only thing you got right was tires. The rest is bullshit. Physics apply, as usual. Fast = more distance needed to stop just like every other driving situation. A truck or SUV w/ an actual transfer case that's engaged is magnitudes better for traction when everything else is equal. i.e. traction control. I'll take a 4Wheel drive over an AWD any day when it comes to snow or traction limited surfaces. Add a locker and it's not even fair anymore. And I wonder where you live where 6" of clearance trumps 12". it must not snow much there. The only time low center of gravity makes a difference is when it goes tits up and you're spinning. Then, and only then, would I wish I was in a sedan.

 

[HMRamateur]

Not as much to do with tires as it has to do with not being a retard and thinking driving on snow is the same as dry pavement. I live in Canada, have driven countless blizzards, still haven't had a winter accident. My financial situation forced me to sell my 4x4 truck for a small car, with shit tires because I couldn't afford good winter tires. Still haven't crashed or hit the ditch due to road conditions. Only had to be pulled out once because of same problem @Bender had... Idiot plow operators levelling the ditch with the road. We get the same thing though. Cops telling people over the news to slow down because ice is slippery, inbred looking people being interviewed after they crashed

 

[Bender]

Who is ready to hear some painful truths?

I'm amazed at how many dudes here think 4x4s and trucks are inherently good vehicles for driving in the snow. 4 wheel drive doesn't mean 4 wheel stop. @W54/XM-388 gets it. Everyone else is basically lucky they haven't rolled their big burly trucks off the highway. Especially that dude who boasts about driving at 75mph because "me have big truck. me drive fast." He's an accident waiting to happen.

An AWD, manual trans sedan with a set of Blizzaks on it will be an order of magnitude safer and more controllable than a 4x4, even with (obscenely expensive because truck) snow tires. Less weight, lower center of gravity, narrower tires to cut through the snow i.e. better ratio of weight-to-contact-patch, etc. The bigger the truck, the worse it is for the snow. If you have a truck for other reasons (construction, landscaping, small dick, whatever) that's perfectly fine, but they're really not that great when it comes to winter driving. Same thing for soccer moms in SUVs. At least they don't have an oversize ego that lets them think they can drive fast, unless they're just dumb.

Dude. It’s the north. We drive 70 on ice all the time. I’ve done 75 in my Semi with a pup trailer on glare ice. Risky? Yes. Everything is a risk. But, it’s at 2 am on a deserted back road with zero traffic and a full moon clear night where I can see ten miles stretches of highway as I roll over the high mountain plains. I’ve never even been in a close call.

What is more dangerous than glare ice? Lack of visibility. Dense fog will slow my ass down to 30 or less. Yes it takes longer to stop on ice, but when you have reasonable traction and can see well over two miles at a time, let that shit roll out.