Ontario should make winter tires mandatory.

[suzuki2000]

Gave up my forester this past spring as it was getting a little high on mileage and it was time for a newer "new to me" car...

This morning, i missed the AWD and my Forester when I got stuck at the end of the driveway with my snows

 

[SunnY S]

Gave up my forester this past spring as it was getting a little high on mileage and it was time for a newer "new to me" car...

This morning, i missed the AWD and my Forester when I got stuck at the end of the driveway with my snows

I hear you. For this reason is why I will always have at least one AWD vehicle with snows in my fleet. Unfrigginstoppable.

 

[Torren]

Sometimes winter tires are just not enough. You have to install tire chains. This is a MUST watch demo video about how to install chains.

Very good tips, Very helpful

http://youtu.be/OeZYqwlgUUE

 

[Jayv]

Very good tips or tits lol.

 

[Gary]

I wouldn't drive my truck at 60+ in 4 wheel.

Whaaaa?
I headed from Brantford to Hamilton this morning at 2am (supposedly the worst roads around).
4x4 on all the way, blazing a trail to my driveway. I drove a constant 105kph - 120kph on the 403 waving to the couple cars (with snow tires) in the ditch, and passing a few that were doing 50kph, at best. Odds are, at least 1 of them must have had snow tires?
I had to pass a cop in Brantford. He had snow tires, and could hardly get above 5kph on W Gretzky Prky as his car was going every which way, but straight. I was thinking of this thread while giving him the finger as I blew by him.
I had NO probs doing 80kph once I passed him.

I hope you're referring to 4x4 low, and keeping it under 60?
I'll push mine to 149kph (in 4x4 high), if and when I feel the need. (it's not my 1st 4x4).
If it "hurts" anything, it's under warranty.

 

[daught]

4 wheel drive does nothing to help you stop or turn.

Its a lot of extra wear on a lot of expensive parts.

If you need 4 wheel drive to go 80.....you shouldnt be going 80.

Lol 4x4 helps you turn more than any electric stability control and even winter tires. It has that perfect balance of under steering from the front and over steering from the back. Clearly you never drove 4x4.

most truck 4x4s are not true 4x4 in the sense that most people think....they usually dont have posi differentials and although technically all 4 wheels get power, one of the back wheels and one of the front wheel will spin.

TRUE 4x4 has locking differentials and transfer boxes....Cant turn on asphalt with those engaged without tearing up the rubber....Those are meant for true offroading.

Most pick-up and SUV tires now are designed with quiet, comfort and longetivity in mind...hence thread pattern and tire harness which doesnt work well with snow and ice.

It's not that cut and dry. ONLY if one wheel has absolutely no grip than the other won't spin at all. Most of the time all wheels put power down.

BTW any idea what drivetrain gmc Jimmy has? With 4x4 enabled I can't turn on pavement, but I can't tell if both the front and rear diffs are locked. I kind of miss my Quattro. Can't beat a Torsten diff.

 

[f1mauro]

BTW any idea what drivetrain gmc Jimmy has? With 4x4 enabled I can't turn on pavement, but I can't tell if both the front and rear diffs are locked. I kind of miss my Quattro. Can't beat a Torsten diff.

WTF??? Quattro to a Jimmy? That's like one step forward, 10 steps back no?

 

[daught]

WTF??? Quattro to a Jimmy? That's like one step forward, 10 steps back no?

Nope, except for clearance my Audi 90 was better on snow. Torsten center diff, lockable front and rear diff. The
Audi suspension made a huge difference on snow too.

 

[SunnY S]

Sometimes winter tires are just not enough. You have to install tire chains. This is a MUST watch demo video about how to install chains.

Very good tips, Very helpful

http://youtu.be/OeZYqwlgUUE

Very good tips or tits lol.

:laughing3:

 

[rmemedic]

Lol 4x4 helps you turn more than any electric stability control and even winter tires. It has that perfect balance of under steering from the front and over steering from the back. Clearly you never drove 4x4.



It's not that cut and dry. ONLY if one wheel has absolutely no grip than the other won't spin at all. Most of the time all wheels put power down.

BTW any idea what drivetrain gmc Jimmy has? With 4x4 enabled I can't turn on pavement, but I can't tell if both the front and rear diffs are locked. I kind of miss my Quattro. Can't beat a Torsten diff.

What year of jimmy?

Check the glove box for a code "G80" on a white decal full of 3 digit codes. If you have that code then you have a limited slip differential in the rear. The front doesn't have locking hubs unless it's an older jimmy with a solid front axle, but then chances are those would be manual locking hubs (gotta get out and turn them at the hubs) unless someone put in an air or electrical locker in it.

Another way to see if you have the limited slip in the rear, is to take a quick look for a square bottom diff cover looking at it from the rear. If so then it's a limited slip. (or there might be a relief in the cover for the main ring gear, but I can't remember if that was the case for my canyon or my Sonoma.)

 

[crankcall]

I could be wrong but I thought all the Jimmy/Blazer 4x4 pkgs came with a limited slip diff on the rear as std part of the pkg. I had an '01 jimmy, the 4x4 was pretty good but not up to Quattro spec for smooth power all around. It was certainly better than the J10 jeep pickup I had or the CJ7 autotrack.

Years ago I had a job driving a tow thruck, a 4X4 call meant bring another 100' of chain because he got that much further in before he buried it.

 

[BLUE_KAWI]

I drove yesterday during the storm. I was surrounded by the Sheeple and their snow tires.
In the corners, braking and standing starts I kept up and out performed all of the cars (some were AWD) with the snow tires. Some of that is that I know how to drive in snow.

Whatever advantage snow tires offered, I didn’t see it yesterday in my 1999 TL with All Season Yokohama Envigor. Did I mention it has been lowered as well?

Check out the red truck in this vid. Proves that there is no substitute for driver skill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sw19pJscCk

 

[01cbr]

Lol 4x4 helps you turn more than any electric stability control and even winter tires. It has that perfect balance of under steering from the front and over steering from the back. Clearly you never drove 4x4.

Two 4x4 trucks in the driveway. They only go into 4x4 off road or to plow. The 1500 doesnt steer as well in 4 wheel while the 3500 just wants to go straight.

I think its you 4x4 experience thats lacking.

 

[Motorcycle Mike]

Of course winter tires aren't a substitute for experience or skill, but why wouldn't you want to give yourself every advantage?
What is the purpose of living with a handicap when for a few bucks you can have better performance?

If you entered a race, would you settle for less than the perfect tire for that track?

I drove yesterday during the storm. I was surrounded by the Sheeple and their snow tires.
In the corners, braking and standing starts I kept up and out performed all of the cars (some were AWD) with the snow tires. Some of that is that I know how to drive in snow.

Whatever advantage snow tires offered, I didn’t see it yesterday in my 1999 TL with All Season Yokohama Envigor. Did I mention it has been lowered as well?

Check out the red truck in this vid. Proves that there is no substitute for driver skill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sw19pJscCk

 

[Aslan]

I drove yesterday during the storm. I was surrounded by the Sheeple and their snow tires.
In the corners, braking and standing starts I kept up and out performed all of the cars (some were AWD) with the snow tires. Some of that is that I know how to drive in snow.

Whatever advantage snow tires offered, I didn’t see it yesterday in my 1999 TL with All Season Yokohama Envigor. Did I mention it has been lowered as well?

You didn't see it because you didn't have them, it's not a race. If you are running from a black bear, you only need to be faster than the slowest guy to survive, but in
ice-capades/bumper-cars you need to out-maneuver everyone and their grandmothers.

Skilled drivers can 'get away' with inferior tires for years, I know I did, and they can fair even better with a good snow setup.

Check out the red truck in this vid. Proves that there is no substitute for driver skill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sw19pJscCk

The Ford at the end shows that incorrect tire pressure can also play a large role, unfortunately poor skills and poor maintenance often go hand-in-hand. Perhaps
what Ontario really needs in mandatory winter drivers-ed, let's consider some of the benefits:
- One time cost per driver
- Jobs
- Money stays in Ontario
- Good drivers can learn the real benefits of good tires first-hand
- Poor drivers can learn just how poor they are in controlled conditions
- Participants can get a good primer on how other drive-trains and tires perform
- ???

 

[nfq]

You didn't see it because you didn't have them, it's not a race. If you are running from a black bear, you only need to be faster than the slowest guy to survive, but in
ice-capades/bumper-cars you need to out-maneuver everyone and their grandmothers.

Skilled drivers can 'get away' with inferior tires for years, I know I did, and they can fair even better with a good snow setup.



The Ford at the end shows that incorrect tire pressure can also play a large role, unfortunately poor skills and poor maintenance often go hand-in-hand. Perhaps
what Ontario really needs in mandatory winter drivers-ed, let's consider some of the benefits:
- One time cost per driver
- Jobs
- Money stays in Ontario
- Good drivers can learn the real benefits of good tires first-hand
- Poor drivers can learn just how poor they are in controlled conditions
- Participants can get a good primer on how other drive-trains and tires perform
- ???

Winter driving course = insurance discount, I'm in!

My insurance company already discounts $$ if you have dedicated Winter Tires. Pretty much off-sets any cost difference. All it takes is a half hour (and a 6 pack of your favourite brown pop) to swap the rims/tires.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

I drove yesterday during the storm. I was surrounded by the Sheeple and their snow tires.
In the corners, braking and standing starts I kept up and out performed all of the cars (some were AWD) with the snow tires. Some of that is that I know how to drive in snow.

Do you have a link to the YouTube video where you learned all these mad snow driving skillz?

 

[Gary]

Winter driving course = insurance discount, I'm in!

My insurance company already discounts $$ if you have dedicated Winter Tires. Pretty much off-sets any cost difference. All it takes is a half hour (and a 6 pack of your favourite brown pop) to swap the rims/tires.

Insurance discounts 5% for winter tires providing your cage wears them from Nov 15 to Apr 15 every year.
In my case, the 5% would barely cover the cost of the 6 pack, and I don't drink.
A couple weeks ago, just for fun, I picked up a set for my car. They came with TPMS valves. Doing it myself would have meant the "TPMS" light would be lit up on the dash = annoying, as the dealer must initialize the system on all 4 wheels. That's about a $120 kick in the nuts every winter, and another $120 every spring when I'd have to put the 'summer' tires back on. **** that.
To leave the TPMS light on, and not bother getting it set up at the dealer means: the traction control shut off is disabled. So - If the car happens to get stuck in a snow bank etc, there's no getting out of it, without assistance.
I sold the winter tires the other day, and will drive my truck (4x4) if and when 'they' forecast snow.

Forget winter driving courses. Drivers that don't have a clue, will never catch on and they'd probably crash and burn on the way to the course, as it would have to be taught on the most inclement days.

Rather than all this yip yap about "snow" / "winter" tires............let's start a campaign to get rid of ABS - quite possibly the most evil invention ever installed on a car for winter driving.

 

[LePhillou]

Insurance discounts 5% for winter tires providing your cage wears them from Nov 15 to Apr 15 every year.
In my case, the 5% would barely cover the cost of the 6 pack, and I don't drink.
A couple weeks ago, just for fun, I picked up a set for my car. They came with TPMS valves. Doing it myself would have meant the "TPMS" light would be lit up on the dash = annoying, as the dealer must initialize the system on all 4 wheels. That's about a $120 kick in the nuts every winter, and another $120 every spring when I'd have to put the 'summer' tires back on. **** that.
To leave the TPMS light on, and not bother getting it set up at the dealer means: the traction control shut off is disabled. So - If the car happens to get stuck in a snow bank etc, there's no getting out of it, without assistance.
I sold the winter tires the other day, and will drive my truck (4x4) if and when 'they' forecast snow.

Forget winter driving courses. Drivers that don't have a clue, will never catch on and they'd probably crash and burn on the way to the course, as it would have to be taught on the most inclement days.

Rather than all this yip yap about "snow" / "winter" tires............let's start a campaign to get rid of ABS - quite possibly the most evil invention ever installed on a car for winter driving.

Sorry but
ABS
vs
one of the idiots aforementionned slamming the brakes and locking them
...
i prefer them to have abs, because locked brakes on snow/ice = useless as fok
maybe if theres a way to DISABLE it okay, im all up for it...but most unskilled drivers in panic just slam and close their eyes hoping for the better.

Winter driving courses would def be a good idea... if given the privilege to drive during winter, they should KNOW how to drive during winter, right?
I know its all utopic and all as its not really feasible... but one can dream.

 

[Gary]

Do you have a link to the YouTube video where you learned all these mad snow driving skillz?

I'd show you mine, but there was no youtube 45 yrs ago
Next major snowfall, be waiting for me at your door with your video cam...........I'll drive, you record, you upload!!
We'll hit Snake Rd. Let me know if you want FWD, RWD, or 4x4........I'll bring your choice with NO snow / winter tires.

if given the privilege to drive during winter, they should KNOW how to drive during winter, right?
I know its all utopic and all as its not really feasible... but one can dream.

Right.........in a perfect world.