Snow and ascending / descending hills - Page 3

Darrin · 20-12-2010, 20:53

I'll just shut up now...

http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/bo...nowy_drive.wmv

I have found that the entire idea behind driving on snow/ice is drive like there's a full champagne glass sitting on the dash and you're trying desperately not to spill any.

Mark · 20-12-2010, 22:14

I wondered how long it'd take.

That said, I can't think of anyone better (save an expert) to take advice from.

Will · 22-12-2010, 10:03

How fast is that truck going?!!!

volospian · 22-12-2010, 10:54

Downhill I have no real option than to put the car into 2nd and keep my foot on the brake to maintain a slow crawl down. I'm relying on the subzero temps and gentle braking to keep the brakes from boiling, although the brakes are hugely impressive and do seem to be able to take a lot of abuse before they start to fade (unlike the Alfa 155 I took to Italy via the alpine passes... thankfully it was a manual and so judicious use of 1st gear stopped me from hitting the armco when the brakes decided to give up half way down a series of switchbacks. The interesting thing though was that the steering fluid boiled over too. I checked the engine oil later that day and everything was covered in PAS fluid, lol). However, if somebody does something stupid, (including myself) which causes me to begin a slide on a hill, there's very little I can do to stop it. I can perhaps hold it and hope to exploit any increase in grip I can find, but very wide sports tyres, mixed with an autobox, serious low down torque and savage brakes mean that both acceleration and braking are often, no matter how gentle I try to be, still more powerful than the available traction.

As for going uphill, it's a case of switching the TC off and trying to gain momentum before you go up. TC does nothing to assist, it's too sudden to cut the power, so intead of it helping to retain traction by smoothing out spikes in the revs, it often actually causes you to go backwards as the car suddenly loses power and rocks backwards. With TC on I have sat on my hill with the car rocking back and forth, slowly slipping backwards down the hill as it rocks back after each sharp cut of the throttle, and with it off, I have sat there perfectly still with the car in 2nd, my feet off the pedals and the rear wheels still slowly creeping round as they don't even find enough traction to overcome the autobox creep.

IainB · 22-12-2010, 11:04

So last night....I had to go home to get some clean clothes (as im staying closer to work at the minute) and decided, in my infinite wisdom, to go my normal route between 2 A roads.....along a country lane with a climb and descent

Totally aced it

and even went past a couple of cars that were slowing down / spinning / stopped - no worries at all, so my confidence has been slightly restored

Saying that....still dont want to go anywhere near where I had the 'offs' on Saturday until the snow has totally gone!!

Goose · 22-12-2010, 14:33

Winter tires are a winner, too. I've been against them for years but after living in Finland and now Denmark (not much 'regular' snow, but still nearing -20 this morning), I can't recommend them enough. You can really tell who has their 'normal' tires and who has their winter tires. It's not legislation here, but everyone still does it. Most homes have a summer/winter set tucked away.

Darrin · 25-12-2010, 05:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will

How fast is that truck going?!!!

You didn't recognize what I was driving?

Not sure which is worse : a loaded tractor/trailer doing 70+mph in a blizzard on an ice covered two lane road (yes, there was 2 inches of solid ice on that road)? Or me in this hunk of **** (without the wood load, of course)?

20-12-2010, 20:53	#21
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	I'll just shut up now... http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/bo...nowy_drive.wmv I have found that the entire idea behind driving on snow/ice is drive like there's a full champagne glass sitting on the dash and you're trying desperately not to spill any. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern". Last edited by Darrin; 20-12-2010 at 20:59.

22-12-2010, 10:03	#23
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	How fast is that truck going?!!! __________________ *No No!*

22-12-2010, 11:04	#25
IainB Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: May 2009 Location: South Beds Baby Posts: 143	So last night....I had to go home to get some clean clothes (as im staying closer to work at the minute) and decided, in my infinite wisdom, to go my normal route between 2 A roads.....along a country lane with a climb and descent Totally aced it and even went past a couple of cars that were slowing down / spinning / stopped - no worries at all, so my confidence has been slightly restored Saying that....still dont want to go anywhere near where I had the 'offs' on Saturday until the snow has totally gone!! __________________ www.imc-racing.co.uk and www.djiainb.co.uk

22-12-2010, 14:33	#26
Goose The list is long, but distinguished Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Århus, Denmark Posts: 1,643	Winter tires are a winner, too. I've been against them for years but after living in Finland and now Denmark (not much 'regular' snow, but still nearing -20 this morning), I can't recommend them enough. You can really tell who has their 'normal' tires and who has their winter tires. It's not legislation here, but everyone still does it. Most homes have a summer/winter set tucked away. __________________

20-12-2010, 22:14	#22
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I wondered how long it'd take. That said, I can't think of anyone better (save an expert) to take advice from.

22-12-2010, 10:54	#24
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	Downhill I have no real option than to put the car into 2nd and keep my foot on the brake to maintain a slow crawl down. I'm relying on the subzero temps and gentle braking to keep the brakes from boiling, although the brakes are hugely impressive and do seem to be able to take a lot of abuse before they start to fade (unlike the Alfa 155 I took to Italy via the alpine passes... thankfully it was a manual and so judicious use of 1st gear stopped me from hitting the armco when the brakes decided to give up half way down a series of switchbacks. The interesting thing though was that the steering fluid boiled over too. I checked the engine oil later that day and everything was covered in PAS fluid, lol). However, if somebody does something stupid, (including myself) which causes me to begin a slide on a hill, there's very little I can do to stop it. I can perhaps hold it and hope to exploit any increase in grip I can find, but very wide sports tyres, mixed with an autobox, serious low down torque and savage brakes mean that both acceleration and braking are often, no matter how gentle I try to be, still more powerful than the available traction. As for going uphill, it's a case of switching the TC off and trying to gain momentum before you go up. TC does nothing to assist, it's too sudden to cut the power, so intead of it helping to retain traction by smoothing out spikes in the revs, it often actually causes you to go backwards as the car suddenly loses power and rocks backwards. With TC on I have sat on my hill with the car rocking back and forth, slowly slipping backwards down the hill as it rocks back after each sharp cut of the throttle, and with it off, I have sat there perfectly still with the car in 2nd, my feet off the pedals and the rear wheels still slowly creeping round as they don't even find enough traction to overcome the autobox creep.