WEEEEEEE Fun in the Snow!

W

White95Max

New member
If you've ever been smiling so much that you start laughing, that's how I feel right now!

ME --> :D --> :woot: --> :lol





I looked outside to see the air filled with large snowflakes, and the roads covered in a slippery substance we like to call "snow" up here in the North. :D As if that wasn't slippery enough, it had been raining for the last 8-10hrs, so the roads were already very wet/icy.

So I did what anyone in their right mind would do...





I ran outside to my car to go for a drive! LOL



This was my first time ever driving on dedicated winter tires, so I was very anxious to see how it would be. I couldn't believe it! The car was transformed!



Compared to all-seasons, the Dunlop Winter Sport M3s allowed:

MUCH better braking on heavy, wet snow.

MUCH better acceleration on snow.

Handling doesn't seem to be affected too much. But that's OK...you don't take fast curves in a snowstorm unless you're an idiot. Handling isn't *bad* by any means.



I decided to go to the grocery store, since most people would be looking out their window and cringing at the thought of driving on this heavy snow. When I was coming out of the store, I found myself thinking, "geez, the traction on this cart sucks!" That d**n cart was fishtailing all over the place. And I couldn't get much traction with my shoes either.



As I was leaving the parking lot, I realized the one thing I didn't like about these tires...



They didn't allow me to do E-brake slides without accelerating to a substantial speed first. And at that speed, I really don't like the thought of sliding sideways! :eek:



On the way home, I was at a red light next to a Geo Prizm. It was on a slight incline too. The light turned, and I look to see the Geo's tires spinning :D I took off, gained dozens of car lengths on him instantly, and just burst out laughing! This was so cool!



So anyway, I can't wait to drive to school early tomorrow and watch all the people fly into campus and slam into curbs and such. It should be some good entertainment while I'm tucked away in my safe little corner. Maybe I should bring some popcorn?



:thx Dunlop!



M3_Tread.JPG
 
i would be worried that the fellow students would be sliding into you... or worse, your car! I'm glad your snow tires work well, ill stick to my high performance summers year round ;)
 
The spot that I always park is in the back corner, and the nearest entrance/exit is 2 rows away. I can't even think of a possible way somebody would be able to hit me (unless it's intentional!). To hit me, they'd have to slide over the curb, over the sidewalk, through the shrubs, and then another 10ft. I suppose it could happen, but I have no idea why someone would slide into that section of curb.



I would love to be riding on my beautiful alloys with the ultra hi-perf summer tires, but right now I'm so glad I have these snow tires! What's even better, is that I'm outside of the urban area, so the roads around here are not high priority for salting/sanding. It's just clean, fresh snow. That means there's no salt on my car right now. :xyxthumbs Just tons of beads, thanks to #16.
 
Keep that snow up in your neck of the woods. I'm hacked off enough it was in the 70s yesterday and we have a freeze warning for tonight. :angry
 
Smart move going out and getting a "feel" for the ride w/the snows on. Last year was my first w/dedicated snow tires as well.



I kept going "come on snow damn it", then "snow some more damn you". The first couple of times it did I would go out for drives for the silly-est reason and really put the tires through thier paces. Esp. in empty parking lots w/unplowed snow.



It's smart because you need to know how your car will act before you have to "find out".



P.S.



Like I said b4, I'm not ready yet so keep that white stuff over there.
 
MorBid said:
Smart move going out and getting a "feel" for the ride w/the snows on. Last year was my first w/dedicated snow tires as well.



I kept going "come on snow damn it", then "snow some more damn you". The first couple of times it did I would go out for drives for the silly-est reason and really put the tires through thier paces. Esp. in empty parking lots w/unplowed snow.
Click to expand...





I always go out in the first snowfall and screw around, to remind myself how my car will react to various situations. This was even more important of course, since they were brand new tires, AND they were winter tires, which I'd never had before.



I look out my window this morning, and see that apparently they don't salt/sand/plow my road at all. :nixweiss

I can hear a small plow going somewhere, but I'm guessing it's just the guy that the landlord hires to plow the parking lots idk.
 
Good for you, smart move to get wintertires. I have tried driving on all seasons in the winter, they are useless IMO. I now have studded Nokian Hakkapelitas, that's the way to go.
 
They don't allow studs here. That's OK though, these tires get me through the snow/ice just fine. I realized that I need new shoes though. Unless I can cut some sipes into my shoe tread... :idea
 
White95Max- Glad to hear the M3s are working out so well for you! I need to get mine mounted on the spare wheels so I can (hopefully) experience something similar in the S8.



White95Max said:
...you don't take fast curves in a snowstorm unless you're an idiot...
Click to expand...



Guilty :o
 
Accumulator said:
Guilty :o
Click to expand...



LOL you take fast curves in the snow?!?!? They must not be that fast if you stay on the road.



Wait let me add...

Unless you use the E-brake and control the slide well. That's different than just flying into a turn and hoping for the best.
 
Well, in the snow "high speed" is a relative term and it's not like I play rally driver the way I did when I was young and immortal. But yeah, I sometimes push it pretty far, especially with the Quattros. But I don't just "fly in and hope for the best" :D I drive the car ;) Regardless of the weather, blowing a curve so badly that you leave the road means you were simply out to lunch (or you hit black ice without Blizzaks).



Those driving schools (especially the skid pad exercises and at-the-limit work on a roadcourse) really do pay off in the bad weather- driving in rain is like just driving faster in the dry, and driving in snow is like driving maybe another 20 mph faster on top of that; same laws of physics apply, stuff just happens sooner and faster. That's with good snows, of course.
 
I plan to take a driver's instruction course sometime in the future. Time and money prevent me from doing so at this time, but I will do it sometime.
 
I had snow tires on for the last two winters (Vredesteins). The difference they make is amazing, and I know that feeling you mentioned :grinno: . I found I could get around easily in up to a foot of snow, and even get over deeper drifts due to the extra bite. As for speeds, well, 50-60 mph on the back roads was still possible, the grip being that good. They suck in the wet though! Unfortunately I can't run 'em anymore, as the new bodykit only gives 4" of clearance at the front, so I'd be a snow plough most of the time! Days off work at home this year methinks when the snow gets deep.
 
White95Max said:
I plan to take a driver's instruction course sometime in the future... I will do it sometime.
Click to expand...



That's good to hear. I know I'm a broken record when it comes to driver training, but I was just astounded at how much my wife and I were able to improve our driving. Nothing beats a controlled environment coupled with professional instruction.



Heh heh I was thinking about this thread and my Jag mechanic this afternoon- Paul Cusato, Bridge City British in Cleveland, the guy who's also chief judge for the Ohio Jag club. He used to be a professional race driver (as in, really did earn his living at it ;) ) and he can *drive*. He gets around just fine in the winter (lake-effect snow, etc., nasty winters) in an older Jag sedan. No ABS, not even snowtires. Whenever I think that I can drive well in snow with my quattros and snowtires, I remind myself that he does it *so* easily with nothing but skillful driving...
 
ha! told you so.



man I'd dig driving school. always wanted to do that. thanks for reminding me.



oh, and, um, guilty as well.
 
Corey Bit Spank- Well, just remember that you can do a whole lot worse than just dying in a car crash ;) Back in the late '70s I read how poor people in northern Europe skip meals to be able to afford snowtires, that sorta put it in perspective for me. Heh heh, snowtires are cheap compared to the "what ifs" ;)
 
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