anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Topic: anyone have to drive in lots of snow? (Read 2212 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #15 – September 04, 2005, 10:35:19 AM

Well I live in salt lake utah (not really what you would call north) and we get a good amount of snow here. My v-8 slide around a bit in the snow, but nothing that you cant handle. And that is with bald tires at least in the back. If you take it slow and careful you will be fine.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #16 – September 04, 2005, 02:49:27 PM

Just out of curiosity, how many of you guys live in hilly/mountainous areas? It's all the hills around here that give me the most problems during the winter, if it wasn't for those I'd have about no problems.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #17 – September 04, 2005, 03:49:54 PM

I have lots of hills in my area. I used to get stuck going up a hill by my house. That was fun. Overall if any rear wheel drive car can do it, a tbird/cougar can.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #18 – September 04, 2005, 06:02:06 PM

We get some pretty good snow here at time. I never put weight in the car. I carry a tow strap, snow shovel, extra pair of gloves, and a set of cover alls.

I drove my 88 Bird through several bad winters when I first got it. I ran 215/60R16 that were bald. I never slid off the road but did have to dig it out of some parking spots at time.

All I can say is know your car, know the roads you are driving, and don't drive like an idiot in a blinding snow storm.

I have seen so many suvs in ditches in the winter because they think they are gods and can drive 80mph ant any givin time becasue they have four wheel drive.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #19 – September 04, 2005, 06:33:03 PM

Quote from: slamedcat

I have seen so many suvs in ditches in the winter because they think they are gods and can drive 80mph ant any givin time becasue they have four wheel drive.

okay first its not an suv, and it wasent a ditch it was a firehydrant :tg:

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #20 – September 04, 2005, 06:34:38 PM

Quote from: Haystack

okay first its not an suv, and it wasent a ditch it was a firehydrant

I realy wasn't aiming that comment at anyone on the board. I was making a genralization about the way they drive around here.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #21 – September 04, 2005, 08:17:02 PM

The driving is the easy part...it's the starting and stopping that can be tough :)

There's this one particularly py hill that I have to go over to get to school (well, I don't HAVE to go over it, but if I go around it takes several minutes extra). They don't really plow this hill at all so its generally just packed down snow. I've NEVER gotten stuck on this hill before including when I was driving my Mustang. The key on it is momentum. If you stop, you're screwed. Last winter I was driving my tempo and some guy stopped on one part of the hill, I don't even know why, and I just BARELY got going (had to put the car in 2nd and majorly slip the clutch). If I woulda been in my mustang I probably woulda never gotten going again.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #22 – September 05, 2005, 11:55:48 AM

I say park it and find another way. My 84 T/C sucks ass in the snow. never know witch way its gonna go on ya, LOL If you can get away with it but with all the hills and corners in the ozark hills I live in I park it when it snows.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #23 – September 05, 2005, 12:33:52 PM

Quote from: ipsd

I say park it and find another way. My 84 T/C sucks ass in the snow. never know witch way its gonna go on ya, LOL If you can get away with it but with all the hills and corners in the ozark hills I live in I park it when it snows.

well id love to,
but its my only set of wheels... so i dont have any choice, really. i mean, im not gonna try to be flyin around corners and stuff so i was hoping id be ok

am i gonna have to do a lot of tapping the brakes?

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #24 – September 07, 2005, 02:56:42 AM

Quote from: Red_LX

Just out of curiosity, how many of you guys live in hilly/mountainous areas? It's all the hills around here that give me the most problems during the winter, if it wasn't for those I'd have about no problems.

I have a really steep hill that turns 90 degrees on to the street to my house never had a problem with it all last winter, made it up every time, had studded winters in the back, almost bald all seasons in the front and 30kg of softner salt under the back seat and another 10kg sack in the trunk as far foreward as I could get it, only got stuck once and that was during the spring thaw when Everything turned to black ice and I ended up sideways in my front yard... One thing I noticed about these cars is that when you start going sideways or fishtailing around if you let off the gas a bit then it'll straighten right out on you and you can keep goin, but if you keep you foot in it you'll be doin loops :D

Quote from: Red_LX

The driving is the easy part...it's the starting and stopping that can be tough :)

lol yeah I Try to avoid coming to a full and complete stop as much as possible, when its safe of course, it makes life much easier

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #25 – September 07, 2005, 01:46:35 PM

I daily drove my '88 for 6 winters. Had BFG Radial T/As for awhile also had a set of Michelins. Pretty much you just have to be cautious pay attention to what you are doing. Think ahead and don't get into something you can't get out of. The worst snow I ever drove in it took me 4 hrs to drive about 50 miles on my way home from college for Christmas break once. Of the few people who had the balls (or were dumb enough) to be driving I was the ONLY rwd car on the road other than cop cars. The only other civilian RWD car I saw was a Mustang and it was in the ditch. But of course all the brain donors with SUVs and 4x4's were flying (and sliding off the road). Basically you have to keep your momentum up and use your throttle to steer at times. I never put any weight in the trunk but that would have helped.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #26 – September 07, 2005, 02:19:04 PM

The first thing I do when it comes time to drive in snow is PUT THE T'BIRD IN STORAGE :flip: . Then I change the tires on my Ranger to the 245-75R16 Goodyear Workhorse Extra Grips complete with studs. While the front wheels are off, I take the hubs and force them locked by removing a spring ( vacuum operated hubs come unlocked just when you need 4x4 the most

). Then after the first snow fall I fill the truck bed with snow for extra weight. :)

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #27 – September 07, 2005, 05:13:53 PM

Live in southern manitoba and routinly drive to northern manitoba for work. Driving in winter is all about common sence and knowing your limits.

Some GOOD all season, or even better winter tires, are a must.
On my tempo I have studded winter tires which works great. (I drive ice roads every winter. For "normal driving" studded tires are overkill). On my work truck (4X4) I have Roughtrider T/A tires year round.

When I used to drive my T-bird in winter I think I had all season tires (Goodyear allegra) and about 100lbs in the trunk or under the back seat.

Living in Ontario, I'm sure you know to make sure everything is in top shape because of the extra demands placed on the vehical during winter.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #28 – September 07, 2005, 11:39:40 PM

My thunderbird has not seen snow except for the day I drove it home (in mid-december). I just feel like there are too many places for me to get hung up or wreck in my thunderbird, plus I don't want it to rust out.

Going in the back entrance of my school can be a challenge in winter. The hill comes down really steep and turns into the school, and there's a "bank" where the two roads intersect (if you know what I'm talking about). I've never really had trouble with this place except one winter when I was driving my mustang, the road was covered with packed snow, I came down this hill and had to do the curve...car turned but kept sliding straight. If there hadn't been a curb on the road I was turning into I probably woulda gone straight over the hill. not fun.

Re: anyone have to drive in lots of snow?

Reply #29 – September 09, 2005, 01:02:28 PM

Well i live in Toronto Ont and i drive to alaston alot and thats right in the snow belt.
I have a spool in mt back of my car and with good set of snows and my tool box and my speeker box i have near 180lbs of dead waight over the rear wheels and i have no probs, I can still kick it out but as for getting stuck i have yet to been stuck to a point i could not get the car out.

Alot is how u drive.