Snow - Safe Speed?

[BDollas]

Hey all,

Great forum you've got going here. I'm excited to be a part of it. I already got some tips on roof racks from the accessories area (I went with the Thule 925).

I'm going up to the mountain this weekend and was wondering what's a safe speed to hit in 4-6" of snow? I felt comfortable up to about 35mph in my '01 Frontier, but I'm sure my new 4Runner (06 SR5 4WD) is up the challenge.

Thanks!

 

[TeCKis300]

There is no one safe speed in snow. Snow tends to go though different compositions in varying temps and freezing/thawing stages. It's by far the most dangerous when the runoff freezes at sundown (black ice). I would always drive slightly slower than what your comfortable with if you are not familiar with the conditions. And it's probably not yourself you have to be really concerned about. Drive defensively and watch for the others.

 

[jharris2]

And it's probably not yourself you have to be really concerned about. Drive defensively and watch for the others.

Great advice!! Many people think they can drive better on snow than they really can....they are the ones to watch out for.

 

[rugger bugger]

lots of space between cars is key...dont tailgate...twice as much room as u would usually leave is a minimum...and more if u usually tailgate...4WD doesnt help brakin either...just acceleration...take er slow...and if u get a chance...and there is a safe place...practice in a parking lot with no cars...accelerate...slam on the brakes...work on your reaction...thats how my step dad taught me...a little scary at first...specially when i was 13...

 

[Ulfr]

Well, there's no such thing as safe snow driving. I've seen quite a few crashes, roll-overs and other scary stuff in snow. (But then again, I've got over 10 years of snow traveling in Iceland)
The only thing I can tell you is that keep space between cars, take no risks that you don't think you can deal with later, and watch out for ice.

Also, a lil hint on the tyre pressure.
When you drive in snow with low psi, the sides of your tyres start heating up, be careful that they don't overheat, cause that damages the tyres.

I've driven with 8-15psi in tyres on about 50-120km/h in snow, and I haven't damaged a tyre yet.

Lower than 8psi should be attended abit, 4psi is about max 50km/h and watch out if the tyres start to heat up.
1,5-3 should be under 40km/h

What kind of tyres do you have?
Height and wide.

Also, watch out for side pressure (ie, driving in a hill or when something puts pressure on the tyres from the sides) they can fall of the wheel pretty easily when under 10psi. Unless with abit bigger wheels than fit the tyre. 1-3mm (c.a. better ask someone at a workshop 'bout that) smaller tyre than wheel is a good thing, and glue can help.

And remember to keep some tools to get the tyre back on the wheel.

But besides, enjoy drivin' in snow.

Sinc, Ulfr - Undanfari

 

[Ulfr]

4WD doesnt help brakin either...just acceleration

Not quite right, you can shift down gears to use the 4wd to help with braking. Just remember to brake easy and slow, to avoid digging the tyres in the snow.

Sinc, Ulfr - Undanfari

 

[rugger bugger]

when i said "brakin"...i figured it was clear i meant applying pressure to the brake pedal...yes...downshifting will help reduce speed...but can also be dangerous...if u shift at the worng time...it can cause u to loose control...

 

[Net4n6]

Hey all,

Great forum you've got going here. I'm excited to be a part of it. I already got some tips on roof racks from the accessories area (I went with the Thule 925).

I'm going up to the mountain this weekend and was wondering what's a safe speed to hit in 4-6" of snow? I felt comfortable up to about 35mph in my '01 Frontier, but I'm sure my new 4Runner (06 SR5 4WD) is up the challenge.

Thanks!

As other members have mentioned, keep distance from car infront of you so you have more time to react. Follow common sense.

There will be lots of snow this weekend. It's my son b-day this weekend. Otherwise, I will head to big bear too. I am in OC too.

 

[TeCKis300]

I was just in big bear this weekend and there was a huge storm sat night on the way back. Having the 4runner was confidence inspiring! What was not however was all the So Cal drivers around me. I was driving into a particularly tight and icy area and of course, the civic following me is following too close. Luckily, I had gone around a bend while he does a nice slow motion spin into the oncoming lane behind me.

There were at least 7 more wrecks that I saw going down the mountain, of which several were trucks and SUVs. One was a huge lifted 4x4 chevy. There was another female driving her MB ML and following way too close for the conditions. I had let her by so she wouldn't tailgate. So Cal people seriously do no know how to drive in weather and think they're fixed up, lifted or dubbed out SUV can handle anything.

 

[mole177]

I was just in big bear this weekend and there was a huge storm sat night on the way back. Having the 4runner was confidence inspiring! What was not however was all the So Cal drivers around me. I was driving into a particularly tight and icy area and of course, the civic following me is following too close. Luckily, I had gone around a bend while he does a nice slow motion spin into the oncoming lane behind me.

There were at least 7 more wrecks that I saw going down the mountain, of which several were trucks and SUVs. One was a huge lifted 4x4 chevy. There was another female driving her MB ML and following way too close for the conditions. I had let her by so she wouldn't tailgate. So Cal people seriously do no know how to drive in weather and think they're fixed up, lifted or dubbed out SUV can handle anything.

actually, so cal people forget how to drive when anything other than warm sun happens... and thats even pushing it.

 

[Ulfr]

Heh, we had one minor crash when we went up to Skjaldbreidur last weekend, my nephew kissed the rear bumper of my friend's 4runner. No damage tho, hehe.