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Question about driving in the snow..

D

DarkLight

Member
I have a Nissan Maxima SE, 18 inch tires in the back and 17 in the front. They are lower profile not sure 55 I think. Anyway it finally snowed here in NYC and I was wondering what I would do if I went into a spin. I have been driving a couple of years like 2-3 but was never really confronted with that situation. Once I remember sliding and I hit the ABS breaks that shake pretty hard making it difficult to break but I know that it does it on purpose to let me control the car better. My question is if I went into a spin what should I do turn the steering wheel in the direction of the spin and hit the gas? Hit the breaks and turn the steering wheel. I just want to know in case it ever comes up and I hope it wont. I was driving today and made a turn too fast having my car slide on the icy road but it was nothing big.
 


<< and I hit the ABS breaks >>

(rolls up old newspaper) whap whap BAD... BAD... whap
hitting your brakes is a BIG no no
 
Honestly, we could give you perfect directions on what to do, but you'd probably still mess it up. The best idea is to find a snowy empty parking lot and have some fun 🙂 Get used to going into and coming out of spins and see what your car can handle. Find out how far you have to turn your wheel, how much gas to use etc... (and have FUN)
 


<< Honestly, we could give you perfect directions on what to do, but you'd probably still mess it up. The best idea is to find a snowy empty parking lot and have some fun 🙂 Get used to going into and coming out of spins and see what your car can handle. Find out how far you have to turn your wheel, how much gas to use etc... (and have FUN) >>



In NYC...you must be joking.
 
Basically DO NOTHING! Don't touch the gas, don't touch the brakes, just aim the wheel towards where you should go. Be careful with how far you turn the wheel though, people have a tendancy to turn it too much & end up overcorrecting & going in the opposite ditch. Oh, also GO SLOW! If it's hard to stop at 10mph, imagine 30mph (3x as fast!), and 60mph is just out of the question.

I would reccomend the parking lot idea as well, just make sure there are no curbs hidden under the snow, or you'll have an expensive surprise.
 


<< I have a Nissan Maxima SE, 18 inch tires in the back and 17 in the front. They are lower profile not sure 55 I think. Anyway it finally snowed here in NYC and I was wondering what I would do if I went into a spin. I have been driving a couple of years like 2-3 but was never really confronted with that situation. Once I remember sliding and I hit the ABS breaks that shake pretty hard making it difficult to break but I know that it does it on purpose to let me control the car better. My question is if I went into a spin what should I do turn the steering wheel in the direction of the spin and hit the gas? Hit the breaks and turn the steering wheel. I just want to know in case it ever comes up and I hope it wont. I was driving today and made a turn too fast having my car slide on the icy road but it was nothing big. >>



Just curious, why do you have bigger wheels in the back of a front wheel drive car? 😕
 
Just curious, why do you have bigger wheels in the back of a front wheel drive car?

Hits himself =) I plan on making them all 17's when I get enough money. Its so expensive these tires 🙁
 


<<

<< and I hit the ABS breaks >>

(rolls up old newspaper) whap whap BAD... BAD... whap
hitting your brakes is a BIG no no >>



Not if you have ABS right? they pump the brakes for you, right?
 
What year maxima?? Are you a member of Maxima.org ??

Also, I'd suggest you get a cheap set of 15inch steel rims with either all-seasons or winter tires because a) you'll damage your nice rims by driving them in the snow (the salt will kill it) b) tires that big (and are probably wide too) are dangerous in the snow because they cannot cut thru the snow.

Trust it me its a small investment to get the right tires for the winter.

Also if you do get into a skid, counter steer and gently press the gas. DO NOT PRESS BRAKE! You'll just spin. I second going to an empty parking lot and safely practicing there.

Alternatively you can park your car in the winter and use the public transportation.
 


<<

<<

<< and I hit the ABS breaks >>

(rolls up old newspaper) whap whap BAD... BAD... whap
hitting your brakes is a BIG no no >>



Not if you have ABS right? they pump the brakes for you, right? >>



If you're in a skid hitting the brakes at all is a bad idea. When trying to stop it used to be that you pumped your brakes to prevent a skid, however anti-lock brakes helps this. NEVER pump your brakes with anti-lock brakes though.
 
abs in the snow is a bad thing. ABS pumps the brakes 15 times a second. There is just one problem. in sow, there is nto enough traction/friction with the road to get your wheels spinning again in the pauses between the pumps.

If you go into a spin, forget the brakes and the gas. Just steer. Every vehic I buy gets a test in the snow. I find a parking lot and test just as was recomended above. Once you get used to driving in the snow, it becomes no biggie. I have only gone off the road once in the snow, and if I was not prepared, I would have hit a tree in my mothers brand new Astro Van ( this was about 5 years ago 🙂 )

I whought all wheel drive would enable me to do a 4 wheel slide ( I was 16 then, gimme a break 🙂 ) and I thought that would be cool. So I stood on the gas around a corner in my neihborhood. ( going about 15 MPH ) all that happened was the inside front, and outside rear spun as fast as they could. It did point me right at atree pretty fast 🙂 I stomped on the brakes trusting the ABS to do it's job, but no, I just slid sideways. About 3 feet from the tree, I took my foot off the brakes, and steared to the left of the tree ( further offroad ) as the truck would not have tuned right fast enough. and drove over a nice little bush in the guys front yard. Poor bush. Then I made tracks outa' there. I was scared crapless. Just hold your wits about you, and you will be fine.

Oh, and as I illiterated to above, if you are in a skid and are going to hit something, aim for the softer thing. Trees and ouses are not soft. Aim for bushes and fences, not the parked car 🙂

I drive a 2500 dodge now that might as well be a tank. only bad thing is that I make enough torque at idle to spin the tires and not get up my driveway. ( in the snow ) I need a running start or I have to pop it in 4 wheel. And yes, I have driven over 70 MPH in the snow on a deserted highway to see how my truck handled. With the pallet of sand, I might as wekll have been on blacktop 🙂
 


<< And yes, I have driven over 70 MPH in the snow on a deserted highway to see how my truck handled. With the pallet of sand, I might as wekll have been on blacktop 🙂 >>



Unless you tried to stop. I know you were on a deserted highway, but still remember that just because you have a lot of traction to start with, doesn't mean you have ANY to stop with. I've seen plenty of garbage trucks end up in ditches (and trust me these guys have some good traction when they're fully loaded).
 
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