My first snow drive

Not that bad. Not pretty.

 

I don’t need to argue the point because we do agree on a lot of points, but we’re talking about winter conditons...fish tailing does not mean you lose steerage and it’s not a bad thing like oversteer if you can handle it. When ice racing on lakes, we would induce a fishtail ( oversteer) with hand brakes on our SAABs and negotiate corners faster then just slowing down. Weighting down the rear Really helps. But I digress.

 

Ranting is good !

 

Some thing like a girl friend with a big asteroid who can push you out of snow drift. Not that bad, not pretty.....

 

Ain't that the truth. Though the Duratracs I've been using in the winter when it gets deep out there don't look too bad.



*Disclaimer: I realize there are lots of folks around here, particularly up north, who recommend delicated snow/winter tires over all-terrain/off road tires. And for the most part I agree. In deep snow the Duratracs are just as good as any snow tire I've used (and I've owned a lot of snow tires over the years). But certainly snow tires have the edge in slush and lighter snow...hands down. Plus the softer compound is better suited for the colder temps

 

Exactly. Many AT tires are rated excellent in snow. I had a SideKick with Goodyear Wranglers, awesome in snow !!
They are 9/10 on the fugly scale too.

 

I remember reading somewhere that the AWD system on my wifes Jeep Patriot disengages at speeds over 55mph. Presumably to prevent inducing the stability problems a locked center diff can cause as other posters have noted.
Partly why I bought a Taco was that my previous car (Fiat 500) absolutely sucked in the snow/slush. Even with dedicated snow tires, they were just too wide for a vehicle that light.
Another big thing for me was ground clearance. I start work rather early and drive in before most of the roads by me are plowed. I got stuck twice in the Fiat, once was stopping to help another stuck car and mine sank through enough to get stuck.

At the risk of hijacking this thread does anyone have a recommendation for recovery straps?

 

This is usually because people who own AWD/4x4 vehicles think that they have more grip. It's a false sense of confidence.

It's all about tires... it's always all about tires. TIRES TIRES TIRES!

 

The patriot is a front wheel drive based all wheel drive. It only kicks power to the rear when traction is lost in the front.

opposite the rear wheel drive, 4wd argument in some ways

 

That was very very dumb. Count your blessings that you came out on the other end in one piece.

 

I like rescuing douchebags. They sometimes learn their lesson and I get to hone my skills.

 

My 1st gen handled like shit even on snow tires. Fuckin Rachel would pass me in her Subaru on her way to buy oil and dog treats

 

Why did you have a 4 cylinder 2wd? And she had a wrx LOL

 

3.4 aka the sewage pump motor

 

I need some dura meats

 

Seems reasonable. Suddenly kicking power into the rear wheels in snow above 55 would scare the s.h.i,t out of me. IMO, it’s a poorer system that doesn’t do it seamlessly and the Fiat owned company is just using an older system.

 

It’s ok bro.

 

It’s a scary thought driving the dry surface speed limit of 65 - 75 on a snow covered road. We have roads posted 75 here too, but when snow covered the 45 mph inclement weather signs light up.

 

I live in CO. And the first snow, I never go out. There are too many people that never drive in snow before and wind up crashing. 65 in the snow where you can’t see the lanes, I have personally seen others pass me and two miles later crashed with no front end.