Winter driving
Discussion
So I've got my trusty, if slightly rusty, R plate 300 Tdi Disco. Been good for 6 months, all tyres marked with M+S so sort of ready for the winter.
Question is; if the snow comes, which I doubt now I own a 4x4, what's the procedure for downhill on ice or compacted snow? There's a few hills locally that are "interesting" when icy, a bit of a white-knuckle toboggan ride in car.
Mine's an auto by the way..
Question is; if the snow comes, which I doubt now I own a 4x4, what's the procedure for downhill on ice or compacted snow? There's a few hills locally that are "interesting" when icy, a bit of a white-knuckle toboggan ride in car.
Mine's an auto by the way..
Start at the top ***slowly*** Gravity only makes things go faster!
4x4's go downhill just like any other car. If your gentle on the brakes you might not be able to lock wheels so readily being 4wd & really use the lower gears especially if its an auto. Assuming it has ABS thats even better. Be prepared to use the soft verges too (sometimes the best place to be)
Ability to stop is 90% down to the tyres, what are they out of interest? most 4x4 tyres are marked M+S but that means little in reality, though some of them are brilliant in the snow & ice others dire.
4x4's go downhill just like any other car. If your gentle on the brakes you might not be able to lock wheels so readily being 4wd & really use the lower gears especially if its an auto. Assuming it has ABS thats even better. Be prepared to use the soft verges too (sometimes the best place to be)
Ability to stop is 90% down to the tyres, what are they out of interest? most 4x4 tyres are marked M+S but that means little in reality, though some of them are brilliant in the snow & ice others dire.
If it's compacted snow/ice... Turn around and go another way. It might be a 4x4 but if there is no grip, you can't magically produce grip out of nothing!!!
However, if there is grip, 1st gear, Low range and keep your feet away from the brakes! Use engine braking all the way down. If there is soft stuff to drive on, use that as it will provide more grip than compacted snow/ice.
HTH
M
However, if there is grip, 1st gear, Low range and keep your feet away from the brakes! Use engine braking all the way down. If there is soft stuff to drive on, use that as it will provide more grip than compacted snow/ice.
HTH
M
camel_landy said:
If it's compacted snow/ice... Turn around and go another way. It might be a 4x4 but if there is no grip, you can't magically produce grip out of nothing!!!
However, if there is grip, 1st gear, Low range and keep your feet away from the brakes! Use engine braking all the way down. If there is soft stuff to drive on, use that as it will provide more grip than compacted snow/ice.
HTH
M
On M/T tyres by any chance?However, if there is grip, 1st gear, Low range and keep your feet away from the brakes! Use engine braking all the way down. If there is soft stuff to drive on, use that as it will provide more grip than compacted snow/ice.
HTH
M
Plenty of seriously steep hills, sheet ice & compacted snow round our way that caused no bother at all on Michelin LTX tyres (winter type tyre as opposed to mud) I would'nt have even attempted it on big knobbly mud terrains.
Tyres are Avon Ranger 70 on the front and Runway HT on the rear, both quite road biased tyres. Having just looked at tyretest it seems the Avons are not good in the snow and the Runways are cheap and even worse. Damn, looks like a trip to the tyre shop might be in order.
So no point in diff lock or anything, just a lowish gear and take it very steady, foot off the brake if possible.
So no point in diff lock or anything, just a lowish gear and take it very steady, foot off the brake if possible.
Keep an eye out on ebay.
I managed to find 5 Pirelli scorpion winters with good tread and a set of snow chains (slight overkill maybe!) for £150. Probably cost me £40 to get them fitted and the disco rims, with tyres that I've used,were £30.
So a little or £200 for a full set (and a spare) including the rims which should last me a few winters I hope.
I managed to find 5 Pirelli scorpion winters with good tread and a set of snow chains (slight overkill maybe!) for £150. Probably cost me £40 to get them fitted and the disco rims, with tyres that I've used,were £30.
So a little or £200 for a full set (and a spare) including the rims which should last me a few winters I hope.
For going down hill, low gear and dont stamp on the brakes. You have 2 tons to control and if it starts to slide, it will slide for a long time till it stops.
Keep your distance for normal driving and if you feel that someone is driving too close behind, pull over and let them past. Ive done it a few times as i would rather they had their smash elsewhere.
Take it easy on corners, you can judge how the grip is and drive accordingly for that.
If you start to skid, lift off the pedals and be smooth with the steering.
Decent tyres are a must. My freeby runs michelin synchrones, the O.E.M spec and its great in snow, the only issue i have is ground clearance after a while.
i had to get a new road to work as the backroad i used got too deep for my comfort, im sure i could have made it but i couldnt be arsed with digging it out. 
Keep your distance for normal driving and if you feel that someone is driving too close behind, pull over and let them past. Ive done it a few times as i would rather they had their smash elsewhere.
Take it easy on corners, you can judge how the grip is and drive accordingly for that.
If you start to skid, lift off the pedals and be smooth with the steering.
Decent tyres are a must. My freeby runs michelin synchrones, the O.E.M spec and its great in snow, the only issue i have is ground clearance after a while.
i had to get a new road to work as the backroad i used got too deep for my comfort, im sure i could have made it but i couldnt be arsed with digging it out. [quote=dfen5
So no point in diff lock or anything, just a lowish gear and take it very steady, foot off the brake if possible.
[/quote]
I used to find difflock could help as by locking the wheels together it makes it harder to lock the fronts if you do touch the brakes. It normally creates understeer though so be aware if you run with it engaged.
So no point in diff lock or anything, just a lowish gear and take it very steady, foot off the brake if possible.
[/quote]
I used to find difflock could help as by locking the wheels together it makes it harder to lock the fronts if you do touch the brakes. It normally creates understeer though so be aware if you run with it engaged.
The guys above said it all really.
I'll add a bit too if i may, if there is an alternative route, use it. If you have to go down the hill try and get a set of wheels up onto the fresh snow as traction will be better there. Oh and if where you live is prone to having the snow packed down into ice buy some snow chains (cheap enough on ebay)the chains will punch through the packed snow and find traction. it doesn't mean you can drive as per normal again but they'll help.
Oh and remember to take them off again once you're back to tarmac.
I'll add a bit too if i may, if there is an alternative route, use it. If you have to go down the hill try and get a set of wheels up onto the fresh snow as traction will be better there. Oh and if where you live is prone to having the snow packed down into ice buy some snow chains (cheap enough on ebay)the chains will punch through the packed snow and find traction. it doesn't mean you can drive as per normal again but they'll help.
Oh and remember to take them off again once you're back to tarmac.
My experience of 4x4's and snow is that you can drive much faster until you reach a corner and understeer off. Every winter the lanes around where I come from are littered with off roaders parked on their sides in ditches. I agree that its best to drive on uncompacted snow, you can also ride slightly on the rougher stuff on the edge of the road or in emergencies on the verge (mind out for the aformentioned ditches).
BTW old landrovers are awesome in snow, they're relatively light, very low powered and the brakes are quite weak so they're harder to lock. The steering is incredibly slow on these though which an issue for opposite lock if the back end comes out.
BTW old landrovers are awesome in snow, they're relatively light, very low powered and the brakes are quite weak so they're harder to lock. The steering is incredibly slow on these though which an issue for opposite lock if the back end comes out.
Get some decent tyres (M+S on the side is misleading).
Get some chains.
4 wheel drive doesnt really help down hill.
Stick car in a manual gear and try and coast down hills in the ice very slowly. I tend to go right next to the edge so I can use the deeper snow (rather than ice) and can potentially use the kerb/verge to slow a slide.
Get some chains.
4 wheel drive doesnt really help down hill.
Stick car in a manual gear and try and coast down hills in the ice very slowly. I tend to go right next to the edge so I can use the deeper snow (rather than ice) and can potentially use the kerb/verge to slow a slide.
warch said:
My experience of 4x4's and snow is that you can drive much faster until you reach a corner and understeer off. Every winter the lanes around where I come from are littered with off roaders parked on their sides in ditches. .
That made me laugh, its exactly what happened to a friend last winter in his Lexus r400!Gazzab said:
Get some decent tyres (M+S on the side is misleading).
Get some chains.
4 wheel drive doesnt really help down hill.
Stick car in a manual gear and try and coast down hills in the ice very slowly. I tend to go right next to the edge so I can use the deeper snow (rather than ice) and can potentially use the kerb/verge to slow a slide.
I did think about the chains route but it says on the snowchains website 'check owners manual to see which wheels to fit them to'. I'd have thought all four..Get some chains.
4 wheel drive doesnt really help down hill.
Stick car in a manual gear and try and coast down hills in the ice very slowly. I tend to go right next to the edge so I can use the deeper snow (rather than ice) and can potentially use the kerb/verge to slow a slide.
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