How to drive in snow

1. If you don’t have to, then don’t. Seriously, the more cars on the road, the bigger a chance of an issue, even if you are a pro, because more cars = more opportunities for errors.

2. Find a wide open space that before it gets cleared, like a parking lot. Practice flooring it, slamming on the brakes, hard steering inputs, etc. where you have plenty of room. The point is to feel what out of control is like.

3. As you learn what out of control is like, practice pulling yourself back into control. If you are in RWD, that means getting some opposite lock on, and with FWD keeping those front tires pointed where you want to go. Sometimes it means giving it the beans when you want to hit the brakes. You don’t need to get to where you can execute a perfect Scandinavian flick, but you should feel like you understand how your vehicle feels and what you need to do when things go wrong.

4. Slow the hell down. It’s not a race.

5. Be smooth. Smooth on the steering, smooth on brakes, smooth on gas.

6. Use the transmission’s gear selection feature to help keep you aware of your speed. Don’t bother going to S1 unless you are going down a steep hill from a dead stop.

7. If you can’t see pavement clearly, go ahead and throw on 4H.

8. If 4H is making it hard to turn, then just be ready to pull it into 2H and take turns slower.

9. A dedicated winter tire is the best choice. Then an AT tire with the little mountain and snowflake symbol, then an AT that is rated for M+S. Frankly, mud terrains might be even worse than the stock tires - they clear out the treads really well, but snow in your treads provides traction, and mud terrain compounds can be too hard for cold weather conditions.

10. Stay home.

 

Tell me more about the Scandinavian flick! Lol

 

Number 10 is good advice. I'm retired and go look out my window at the snow. When I worked my boss knew I wouldn't drive in the snow and he would come pick me up.

 

Start on the inside of the turn, steer hard towards the outside while lifting throttle and lightly applying brakes.

That’ll start the car rotating.

You’ll then steer into the turn, lift brakes and give it the beans. You might have to do a counter steer if you give it too much, but the goal is to both scrub off some speed while allowing momentum to carry you through the turn.

Watch Finnish rally drivers on snow to see it done well.

 

If you are unfortunate to find yourself in a 4 wheel skid, you want zero brakes as it will only prolong the skid. Instead, use gentle accelerator to regain steering control and only then use brakes. If you have 4WD on or AWD vehicle, then front wheels will pull you out of a skid so you steer toward where you want to go. if you are in RWD (2WD) mode, then counter steer as rear wheels will push you forward.

Also, do not use brakes while turning in low traction situation. Slow down first, then turn. This is because weight transfer while applying brakes changes traction and may result in a skid. Think of traction as a limited resource, you can spend all of it on turning or you spend some on turning and some of slowing down - if you run out then you get into a slide.

 

11. Move south.

 

That makes it worse!

Seriously, I have to laugh at everything shutting down in the mid-Atlantic.

In the upper Midwest, it’d be life as normal.

 

First snowfall this year in Dallas is scheduled for Thursday. Seems like no one here knows how to drive in the snow since its very rare.

I am excited for empty parking lots. Might finally get a video doing some four wheel drive donuts.

 

I heard southerners are typically afraid of snow until you tell them it's just like white mud. Is that true?

 

^I'll have to try that trick

We don't salt the roads here and most vehicles and drivers are not equipped to handle the conditions.
Still, it seems like most accidents don't happen on the initial snow. It's the ice lurking beneath.

If the day is hot enough to start the melt, and night is cold enough to refreeze, the streets will be littered with crashed cars the next day.
My guess is people gain some confidence on the soft snow, and lose it when they encounter sheets of ice.

 

I've noticed less snow but a bit more ice down here in Dallas a couple years ago compared to Virginia. Generally I stay in just to avoid other drivers.

 

#4 need be #1!

Im not sure that the Scandinavian Flick would end well with an underpowered brick compared to a Rally Car!

@1SilverRunner, we will await your video!

 

You can do it in a really low powered vehicle. It’s all a matter of physics!

 

oh I know it can, I’m just wanting to watch someone do it (wink wink).

 

Lol it's difficult to do in a Toyota because of the brake override function:



The instructor pulled the ABS fuses for this run, but in the process losing brake assist altogether:

 

First time ever hearing the term Scandinavian flick.

 

Scandinavian flick sounds like a sexual finishing move

 

To me it sounds like a rare STD.

But I've never thought of it in that context since I'm a rally fan and drifting old shit boxes used to be a hobby of mine.

 

Porn movie with all white blonde girls.

 

I guess "flick" is also slang for movie. I was thinking more of pinch or swirl

 

Dallas is going to get 5 - 8 inches on Thursday. Not gonna lie, this will be me mid-day when I spot an empty parking lot:






Oh yeah, and I'll record it on my dash cam.

 

Watch out for those hitch-mounted dicks.

 

Make sure to hang some flags on the back so we can see you pirouetting

 

Dinosaur sized - they're monstrous and dangerous

 

That’s what she said.

 

I'll mount this flag to the back bumper, you know...so you KNOW it's me.

 

Does dinosaur penis mean old and not working anymore?

 

There's a boat launch not far from me that tends to be deserted this time of year. I might have to visit soon.

I remember stopping there a few years ago with the dog in the 4Runner. He was probably wondering WTF was wrong with me, and why we kept driving in circles.

 

That course looks so fun. I’d like to do one of their winter clinics with my kids when they get their licenses.

 

You need to watch The Grand Tour.