Driving in snow

[Fermn]

I have never driven or even seen snow. I'm taking a trip up to the mountains in December and I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous about driving in the snow. Specially after reading some comments about my KO2's not being the best tire for snow.

Is it like driving in the rain? Do I need to adjust my tire pressure? Is there a specific speed limit?

What tips would you give to someone that has never driven a car in snow :noidea:?

 

[RichinRidgewood]

I have never driven or even seen snow. I'm taking a trip up to the mountains in December and I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous about driving in the snow. Specially after reading some comments about my KO2's not being the best tire for snow.

Is it like driving in the rain? Do I need to adjust my tire pressure? Is there a specific speed limit?

What tips would you give to someone that has never driven a car in snow :noidea:?

Depending where you are going in the mountains you may be required to have a "Snow Flake" on the tires (aka winter tires) before you can drive on some mountain roads.

Accelerate gently, brake gently, be smooth with the steering, leave yourself a lot of room, take your time, stay away form other cars, engage 4wheel drive before the snow is causing you to slip and slide, you can reduce your tire pressures it does help.

 

[Fermn]

Depending where you are going in the mountains you may be required to have a "Snow Flake" on the tires (aka winter tires) before you can drive on some mountain roads.

Accelerate gently, brake gently, be smooth with the steering, leave yourself a lot of room, take your time, stay away form other cars, engage 4wheel drive before the snow is causing you to slip and slide, you can reduce your tire pressures it does help.

Thanks!

I'll be going to the Smoky Mountains by North Carolina/Tennessee area. I don't think snow will be bad, if any, at that time of the year... but it's 2020, never know.

 

[ASUMTNEER]

Thanks!

I'll be going to the Smoky Mountains by North Carolina/Tennessee area. I don't think snow will be bad, if any, at that time of the year... but it's 2020, never know.

I live on the TN/NC line here in Boone! You should be good in December with any tires as long as they have tread. Sometimes we'll get a decent December snowfall, but the roads are scraped and salted quickly. Enjoy!

 

[Scowling Tuna]

If you have the option, find a snow covered (empty) parking lot or similar. Don't turn into Ken Block and start drifting everywhere, because before you know it you're hitting curbs or parking lot lights. But it does give you a small sense of what driving in the snow is like.

Roads are obviously different. Be mindful of the potential for ice under the snow too. But the above advice is good. Smooth and gentle. Remember, 4WD doesn't always mean 4WSTOP, so be smart.

 

[blackened_offroad]

Thanks!

I'll be going to the Smoky Mountains by North Carolina/Tennessee area. I don't think snow will be bad, if any, at that time of the year... but it's 2020, never know.

oh. don't even worry about it. it's extremely unlikely you'll encounter any real snow. I've ridden my motorcycle in that area in December many times.

 

[ScoMey]

With 40+ years of winter driving in the upper midwest (MN, WI)... I'd suggest the following 'rules' to follow:

1) Slow down. Your 4WD vehicle, regardless of your tire choice, is not impervious to spinning out and winding up in the ditch. I love my 4Runner in the winter, but it's not impossible to loose control of it. Slow down.

2) Give yourself plenty of room to maneuver - double (at least) your distance between the vehicle ahead of you, and give yourself an 'out' if you have to get out of somebody else's way if they loose control. And see rule #1.

3) Carry some basic survival gear, and please remove the snow that builds up on your vehicle overnight before getting on the road. Don't be that person who lets it all blow off when they get on the highway - you all know who you are. And see rule #1.

4. See rule #1.

5. Seriously... slow down, take your time, and watch out for all the other drivers who can't seem to follow Rule #1.

Be safe. Slow down. Enjoy the trip.

 

[Fermn]

I live on the TN/NC line here in Boone! You should be good in December with any tires as long as they have tread. Sometimes we'll get a decent December snowfall, but the roads are scraped and salted quickly. Enjoy!

Thanks ! I hope I get at least 1 day of snow... I'll be there around late December.

If you have the option, find a snow covered (empty) parking lot or similar. Don't turn into Ken Block and start drifting everywhere, because before you know it you're hitting curbs or parking lot lights. But it does give you a small sense of what driving in the snow is like.

Roads are obviously different. Be mindful of the potential for ice under the snow too. But the above advice is good. Smooth and gentle. Remember, 4WD doesn't always mean 4WSTOP, so be smart.

Good idea, hopefully I encounter a spot on my way there to see how the car reacts.

oh. don't even worry about it. it's extremely unlikely you'll encounter any real snow. I've ridden my motorcycle in that area in December many times.

I hope there's some snow at least !!

With 40+ years of winter driving in the upper midwest (MN, WI)... I'd suggest the following 'rules' to follow:

Thanks ! Always refer to rule #1 ... haha

 

[MaddoxPics]

With where you are going I'd be more worried about ice than snow, but with that said it's usually not too bad down there. I went through Nov-Jan and never hit anything. I did hit ice around Arkansas though.

Regardless just remember the law of the road and slowing down as conditions change. If you need to go slow slow just make sure you're in the slow lane with your flashers on and people will know to pass you. If they get mad let them be mad.

Regardless you aren't snow wheeling, your KO2's will do just fine, and they aren't bad in snow either. I have Falkens, but a buddy had KO2's at the end of their life and he stayed with me pretty good. He did have issues, but we were also in 2-3ft of snow.

Dropping tire pressure does increase traction, but I would only do that as a last resort and where you aren't going to be going fast. Again, highly unlikely this is going to be needed.

 

[CO-Cygnus]

Thanks!

I'll be going to the Smoky Mountains by North Carolina/Tennessee area. I don't think snow will be bad, if any, at that time of the year... but it's 2020, never know.

Go slow downhill. The last thing you want to do is come in to a turn too fast and try to stop the brakes. The shaper the turn, the slower you need to be going BEFORE you get there.

Leave Distance between yourself and the next car.

Easy throttle and brake inputs.

Don't freak out if the car gets very slightly sideways on you. Gently counter steer and let stability control work.

If in doubt, get some Blizzaks or Nokians.

 

[mteolus]

I rented a car from Charlotte a few years ago over MLK Day mid-January. Being a stupid Texan I thought the Blue Ridge Parkway would be ok to drive. Nope, ice and snow as they don't clear that road. Otherwise roads were clear. Even the roads around Ski Sugar were clear. We skipped the first day of skiing because it was raining but the second day we got some wet snow so skied. In December even the Blue Ridge Parkway may be open.

 

[llDemonll]

Finding an open area to at least test braking is always a good idea. I always do it and I've familiar with snow. Gives a rough sense of just how "slippery" the snow is for stopping, plus more importantly it'll give you what stopping in snow really feels like. If you've never hit ABS before it feels like the car isn't doing nice things, and the pedal will pulse, but it's normal.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you're going downhill, as others said go extra slow, but if you do start sliding don't jab the brakes more. It's counter-intuitive but you should let off the brakes a little to try and get the wheels spinning so at least you have steering input and aren't just sliding. From there it's just luck mostly whether you'll be able to stop again at that point without hitting anything.

Also, if the weather is real bad I'm a fan of "manual" for the transmission, especially when going downhill. Having the car stay in a higher gear and using engine braking will leave you doing less braking and using the tires for more steering instead of stopping.

 

[blackened_offroad]

Go slow downhill. The last thing you want to do is come in to a turn too fast and try to stop the brakes. The shaper the turn, the slower you need to be going BEFORE you get there.

Leave Distance between yourself and the next car.

Easy throttle and brake inputs.

Don't freak out if the car gets very slightly sideways on you. Gently counter steer and let stability control work.

If in doubt, get some Blizzaks or Nokians.

dude. He's not going over Vail Pass. He's going to Tennessee. I can't count how many times I've been through that area in winter and there was zero snow, even on the mountains themselves. If anything, it will be raining. Buying an $800+ set of tires for one trip is complete overkill. Plus Blizzaks burn up on dry pavement, it would be a complete waste of money.

 

[Scowling Tuna]

Hey Fermn, don't forget:

 

[the_fornicator]

Canadian here.

A few key things in the snow:
1) Know your transfer case speeds -know when you can and cannot switch in and out of 4H. e.g. if you're in RWD and it gets slippery but you're on the highway doing over 60mph, you'll know you have to slow down before switching into 4H.
2) If you find yourself slipping when braking, don't rely on the ABS -pump your brakes. I ****ing hate the 4runner ABS system because when you begin to brake and it feels a slip, the 4runner automatically does a pump for you but the amount of time it releases the brake for is concerningly long. So use your foot to pump the brake instead.
3) If you're sliding into something you don't want to, it seems counter-intuitive but you gotta take your foot off the brake in order to make the turn.
4) If somewhere is slippery and you're in a parking lot or side road or something, play with the vehicle. e.g. accelerate to like 15 mpg and then hammer on the brakes to test how slippery it is. Then I'll try it at maybe 20-25-or-30 mpg. Keep doing it until you're confident you know the condition of the road (safely of course -don't do it with cars around or behind you lol). I do this almost every time I leave my neighborhood. I even got my wife to do this. It's a nice check to see just how slippery things are vs how they look.
5) If you're slowing down at a light and begin to slide because of ice:
.....5a) Look where you want to go -often people target fixate and stare at what they're going to hit which actually makes them drive into it. Put your eyes on the exit plan and keep them there. Your car will steer where you're looking if you have enough fiction.
.....5b) Addressing the "look where you want to go": Get your tires off of the ice and move them over 6-12". If you're sliding, you're on ice. Generally, get off the brakes and just a few inches beside tire tracks is soft snow i.e. not ice. Get your tires on the snow so you have some traction to slow down/stop.

 

[fkheath]

Really good advice given above. One thing that was hinted at but may not be clear: If you do start to slide, steer in the direction of the slide, i.e. if you slide right, steer to the right. If you steer to the left, you WILL spin. This should also be part of your practice in an empty parking lot.

 

[Big B]

cant believe it hasnt been said yet....use your GEARS w/ 4wd down hill instead of the brakes.

 

[DAW89446]

* 4WD doesn’t mean that your vehicle has the ability to make a 35 mph curve at 75 mph. I know. I lived in and near ski resorts for decades and watched many a brand new crunched SUV go back toward the cities on the back of an AAA flatbed. 4WD is great for going forward and backwards on snow and ice, but does little in turns except for those experienced enough to know how to correct with the throttle and not the brakes in snow (for older vehicles without traction control). City flatlanders get a new SUV and drive like they see on the commercials without knowledge and skill to know better. Especially adolescent ones, which can and will take out the most experienced snow and ice driver along with them.

* As mentioned before, get some practice if you can. Learn how your rig handles snow and relax and don’t white knuckle it. Quick and erratic steering inputs often lead to negative results.

* In most states, there are special speed limits imposed when there is snow on the road. They are there for a reason. Unfortunately, many flatlanders tailgate those who are sticking to the rules, with negative results mentioned above.

* It sounds as if where you are going will receive little snow or if it does will be quickly plowed. Actually, all terrain tires do best in deeper snow, as unpacked snow actually enhances traction. Plowed roads lead to ice, which is more likely to lead to driving issues. If it’s sunny, ice will have a melting ice water coating, making things worse.

* As said, put it in 4WD HI as soon as you encounter ice. It doesn’t hurt to have your vehicle in 4WD HI for short stretches of dry highway if the road doesn’t have sharp turns (I know, I’ve more than once accidentally knocked my old 2002 Tacoma, with an electronic 4WD activation button on the side of the transfer case shift lever, into 4-HI while vacuuming and went on my merry way for tens and dozens of miles at highway speeds before making a 90º turn onto another street and then encountered drivetrain wind up). I often leave my old trucks and current 4Runner in 4-HI on stretches of highway and interstate with stretches of alternating dry/snow/ice/wet conditions without issue.

* And if you feel you are getting in over your head, there is no dishonor in turning around and getting out of the snow and ice.

 

[Fermn]

If you need to go slow slow just make sure you're in the slow lane with your flashers on and people will know to pass you.

Is this a thing?

People in Florida make fun of people who drive slow with flashers on during heavy rain. You're actually not supposed to turn on flashers unless you're pulled to the side of the road. The department of highway safety even puts messages on the billboards like "headlights on flashers off"

 

[Fermn]

I feel a lot more confident now... You guys have no idea how much this helps!

I appreciate everyone who has contributed to the thread:trophy: