What are YOU doing to ensure safe driving in snow/ice

Gloomendoom

Beastface wrote: »

Working from home until it's all gone is what I'll be doing. We have an automatic, rear wheel drive car with 400nm of torque and 18" low profile run flat tyres... I'm not even going to try it.

I drove mine in the snow last year with no drama. Rear wheel drive auto, low profile tyres on 20" wheels and nearly 600nm of torque.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to top that.

sunshinetours

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I drove mine in the snow last year with no drama. Rear wheel drive auto, low profile tyres on 20" wheels and nearly 600nm of torque.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to top that.

Can't top it but 560nm of torque, RWD, twin turbo and auto box on 19" wheels - however in winter I run 17" wheels with winter tyres

You may have had "no drama" last year but there is no way that your car would not have been transformed with winter tyres. A car like these will always get a little "twitchy" in cold conditions as the rear wheels struggle to get that sort of torque through them even with a gentle right foot!

Gloomendoom

sunshinetours wrote: »

Can't top it but 560nm of torque, RWD, twin turbo and auto box on 19" wheels - however in winter I run 17" wheels with winter tyres

You may have had "no drama" last year but there is no way that your car would not have been transformed with winter tyres. A car like these will always get a little "twitchy" in cold conditions as the rear wheels struggle to get that sort of torque through them even with a gentle right foot!

I have 'all-weather' m+s tyres on year round and, yes, it did require a delicate touch on the pedals at times. Given the choice, I'd definitely stay at home. It's tiring driving with your bum clenched.

sunshinetours

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I have 'all-weather' m+s tyres on year round and, yes, it did require a delicate touch on the pedals at times. Given the choice, I'd definitely stay at home. It's tiring driving with your bum clenched.

If they are snow flake marked all season tyres then that would be a large factor as to why you had no drama then. Many still don't have this type of tyre and such cars become almost undriveable on any inclines in severe weather and as you say rather "bum clenching" even in frosty or generally cold weather !
My regular 19" Conti Sport Contacts are quite scary in icy weather with virtually no lateral grip and as for getting up even slightest of hills, then forget it. This is why so many think RWD cars are swful in the winter - they aren't, with the right footwear

scooby75

After last year, not driving when everybody else is.

Despite having a 1.2 automatic, I found getting through the snow easy enough - even hills. The only problem I had were other drivers who didn't know how to control their vehicles or simply didn't give a s h i t for other road users.

cleggie

Hi all.
I have heard that under inflating your tyres a tiny bit when its icy helps the tyres to grip the road better- does anyone know if thats true?
If so, how many PSI under the correct amount should i under inflate?

cleggie

Anyone? Pretty please?

rictus123

Yep its true...not sure how low but better not go too low and do more harm than good.

epninety

Running low pressures can help a little bit by increasing the size of the contact patch between the tyre and the road, and helping the tyre to conform to the shape of the surface. On the flipside, at speed the tyre will run hotter than normal, and could come off the rim more easily. I don't think you'll get anyone to give you a number for what low pressure to run, there are far too many variables.

It certainly works with high profile tyres on sand or mud, but with low profile car tyres, I doubt you'd get enough benefit from dropping a few psi. The pressures needed to make a significant difference are probably unsafe for use in normal driving...best saved as a trick for use when you really need it, and you've tried everything else to get moving / keep moving. And make sure you have a pump on board!

cleggie

Thanks for the replies. I dont think i'll bother underinflating. Thanks again.