I guess that makes sense in a strange and not very useful sort of way. I mean, if you can't even get the car moving, you won't be rear-ending anyone and risking a concussion, right?

With a certain summer performance tire that's no longer available, my thumbnail car would not climb a 2% grade from a dead stop under certain weather conditionswithout a little extra weight in the trunk, 100 lbs or a little more. Found that out the hard way - almost couldn't get out of the parking lot at work once, and I was not parked on the hilly part. I know all about the physics involving weight distribution, traction, and what is required to get going in slippery conditions. Grew up in New England when there were hardly any FWD cars or radial tires for domestic cars.


Anyway . . .

A little bit of "practice" with sliding & spinning in a deserted parking lot helps get you mentally ready for low-grip conditions. You really do need to adjust your thinking a bit. Get so that you can halt a spin when you're pointed in a particular direction and drive off in that direction, not just go from wherever the car ends up being pointed when it runs out of momentum. But if you learn nothing else, you'll be far less likely to panic and do the absolute wrong thing when you start to get a little "loose" for real. Give yourself at least one"refresher course" at the beginning of each snow season. You can also practice with a FWD car, though you may have to use the e-brake to get the tail to rotate.


Norm

[IMG]local://upfiles/62186/16745626A93545EC918A64452349C18E.jpg[/IMG]

 

Very interesting..


Gidyup- I did not attack you. If you took it that way, I'm sorry. I was pissed at the fact that I voiced my opinion and gave a little info on how bad Chicago's weather was like,and more or less the first you come off and say is, no one has weather like we do, blah blah blah. Now, am I not entitled to my opinion? My age has nothing to do with it. I can go on and on about that comment, but I'll just say I have more crap under my belt then most 40 years old No offense....

PS~ hopefully I do learn something....To keep my thoughts to myself in this section. I'll stay in the S&S section.

 

Please do.

 

Yes, you are most certainly intitled to your opinion but know that when you say that the things others do is "stupid", most folks are going to take exception to that. My discription of our winter weather was not meant to belittle your conditions. I was mearly stating the facts and then you say 13 feet of snow wasn't shi*. Again, perhaps some better word choices were appropriate. I have always used added weight for traction. To me, a 25# bag of sand isn't much of a threat at 20 mph. Not only is that speed minimal, but by the time it looses momentum by sliding across the trunk, crashing into the vertical sump area of the trunk, breaking through a secured back seat, continuing on to impact a seated driver, I just don't see an impact great enough to cause bodily harm IF it can get there in the first place. This is a good lesson however for possible projectiles place on the back deck or in the rear seat. Those are known to be dangerous. While we are on the subject of winter weather, I would like to share my idea of a multi-tasking tool. Out here, we mostly get the dry, snow pellet type of stuf. It is as light as feathers and when you drive through it, it just pushes to the side out of the way. NOT like the nasty wet snow we used to have to deal with in Missouri. I use my 200 mph snow blower out here to clean off the cars and to blow snow off the driveway. It takes about 1/3 the time to do than shoveling and no sore back afterwards.

 

ok mr 149 post.....Smart a$$

 

I understand that can help some people. I guess it is personal preference then...Either way, no hard feelings, and safe driving over there bud.

 

Screw all that, I bought a beater/daily. I'm sporting a 94 grand marquis! Nothing more boring than driving a car the size of the titanic for the winter.

 

Wow... I just jumped on here to look at driving tips...and found a warzone. geez guy, c'mon....play nice....... . We have had a very mild winter here in NJ so far. (Central NJ area) However did get snow yesterday (about 3 inches) and it has been raining on top of that since midnight. makes for quite a messy commute for anyone around here since they do not clean the roads worth a darn. I do not envy any of you with more snow than we get!I wish you all had a beater to drive so you could leave your Stangs at home safe and sound in that kind of weather.....My DD is a Ford Explorer, so at least I do not have to take my Gt out in it. -- and on top of that I only work 2 more days before my severance package kicks in, so no more commute for me, at least for a year or so......

 

War???? This ain't no war. Just a little beeaatch slappin back and forth. It all worked out. Don't get your panties in a wad. I have a DD Jeep that my wife uses to commute 35 miles one way if it gets REAL bad. But, the GT goes out rain or snow to get groceries.

 

< 2000 RPMs.