Thanks for all the advice. I only have one wheel peel and that helps. I had a 04 f250 with posi and It would go nowhere in the snow.
Winter driving tips
- Thread starter jtr1800
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I swap to dedicated snow tires all around on a spare set of wheels. I also add a 150 lb chunk of steel that I clamp down under the spare tire in the trunk. In the case of my wagon it sits on top of the spare down in the well. I only have single wheel drive. I also carry a logging chain in a tote. Knock on wood, I've not been stuck. But if I am, it's much easier to find a 4X4 who will pull you out than it is to find a 4X4 who will pull you out who ALSO has some sort of tow strap.
I spray the underside and inside the doors of all my winter cars with oil every Thanksgiving weekend. The excess leaks out the drain holes. On the cars with chrome trim, I coat that with a mixture of roofing tar diluted by gasoline. This thins it out enough to brush on. In the spring, kerosene and a little elbow grease cleans it back off. Or if the trim removes easily, I just take it off. For example, I'm running without the headlight trim rings this season.
I also try to wash the cars twice a week during the winter. I have hot and cold water in my house garage along with a floor drain.
I spray the underside and inside the doors of all my winter cars with oil every Thanksgiving weekend. The excess leaks out the drain holes. On the cars with chrome trim, I coat that with a mixture of roofing tar diluted by gasoline. This thins it out enough to brush on. In the spring, kerosene and a little elbow grease cleans it back off. Or if the trim removes easily, I just take it off. For example, I'm running without the headlight trim rings this season.
I also try to wash the cars twice a week during the winter. I have hot and cold water in my house garage along with a floor drain.
Not so long or 20 years ago, when I was young, dumb, and full of... ummm, vigor, I drove my lowered 79 Trans Am (403/185hp+30 for the Flowmaster) in WAAAAY more snow than should have been possible. It actually went pretty well in the snow. Come to think of it, only thing better has been 4wd...
yup as others mentioned , good tires and a little weight over the axle helps. These cars are nose heavy with no ABS so pump them brakes and gently steer around whatever you need to avoid. When I would drive my cutlass in the winter I would tend take the car to a coin op with a bunch of quarters and stick the wand anywhere I could in the frame rails to blast all the crap out.
Maybe FF could help you out if you have to drive your car in the winter
http://www.kellsportproducts.com/
Maybe FF could help you out if you have to drive your car in the winter
http://www.kellsportproducts.com/
I ran a lot of cars in snow I shouldn't have 75 Buick Pace car small block Chevy powered 83 olds Cutlass street car with a posi and bald eagle gt's 73 Buick Century 71 dart Lauren's Hurst Olds but I was the crazy kid in the neighborhood no weight no snow tires just pitched it sideways and played everywhere I went never had a problem rode a klr 250 to pick up a plow truck in the blizzard of 96. All I can say is feal it out steer it don't over correct don't lock the brakes that makes you slide straight go easy and learn the slide of the car
yup as others mentioned , good tires and a little weight over the axle helps. These cars are nose heavy with no ABS so pump them brakes and gently steer around whatever you need to avoid. When I would drive my cutlass in the winter I would tend take the car to a coin op with a bunch of quarters and stick the wand anywhere I could in the frame rails to blast all the crap out.
Maybe FF could help you out if you have to drive your car in the winter
http://www.kellsportproducts.com/
Maybe FF could help you out if you have to drive your car in the winter
http://www.kellsportproducts.com/
I forgot to mention that I also try to keep the gas tank full. A gallon of gas weighs roughly 7 lbs. So the full tank in my wagon is right around 125 lbs. That weight helps traction in addition to not having to fear running out if you get stranded somewhere.
Something to add for the snow tires, run 195-75-14's but don't go bigger than 205-75-14's. Narrow tires get better traction than wide ones, smaller contact patch, less rubber to break traction to spin. I ran the 235-60-15's one winter & never will again cause of the endless spinning.
Until I got my Camry about 3 years ago, I've driven RWD almost exclusively in the snow. I drove a Lincoln Town Car, drove my BMW for one year, and my 1999 Suburban too. The Suburban was 4x4, but I never used it on-road. I've never really had any issues driving in the snow. The Lincoln and the Suburban didn't have functioning ABS either. All of these vehicles had good quality all-season tires on them, no dedicated snow tires.
Just watch your speed, if it's slushy or slick out, slow down, allow yourself extra braking distance, and don't accelerate hard. Make sure your headlights and taillights are all working. Make sure you've got good wipers. Visibility is important, make sure you can see others and others can see you. Sandbags in the trunk and a full tank of gas are a good idea.
Just watch your speed, if it's slushy or slick out, slow down, allow yourself extra braking distance, and don't accelerate hard. Make sure your headlights and taillights are all working. Make sure you've got good wipers. Visibility is important, make sure you can see others and others can see you. Sandbags in the trunk and a full tank of gas are a good idea.
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Look twice as far ahead of you as you normally do and look where you want to go, not where you are going. Leave early and get out on the fresh stuff before everyone else spins their tires on it and makes it slick.
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