Driving in snow

I just got my new snow tires installed. Nokian Hakkapellitta 8's. Studded.

Makes driving on snow and ice like it is just a wet road.

Best tires I've ever had.

For winter.

Will try some Continental DW for summer next year, May to October.

I just need a new battery and to install a block heater in a car not designed to have one. But that is easy.

Lord Skimper wrote:I just got my new snow tires installed. Nokian Hakkapellitta 8's. Studded.

Makes driving on snow and ice like it is just a wet road.

Best tires I've ever had.

For winter.

Will try some Continental DW for summer next year, May to October.

I just need a new battery and to install a block heater in a car not designed to have one. But that is easy.

I hear you on the block heater. My car is being a pita this winter. If it is colder than 10-15 degrees,s it doesn't want to start, but as soon as it warms up over that, it starts. Which means it starts when its warm enough to snow.

Which parts of the USA have the most unpredictable weather?

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/whi ... e-weather/

Zakharra wrote:

Lord Skimper wrote:I just got my new snow tires installed. Nokian Hakkapellitta 8's. Studded.

Makes driving on snow and ice like it is just a wet road.

Best tires I've ever had.

For winter.

Will try some Continental DW for summer next year, May to October.

I just need a new battery and to install a block heater in a car not designed to have one. But that is easy.

I hear you on the block heater. My car is being a pita this winter. If it is colder than 10-15 degrees,s it doesn't want to start, but as soon as it warms up over that, it starts. Which means it starts when its warm enough to snow.

Block heaters are recommended to use if the temperature drops below 5C/41F for longer periods since it drastically reduces the wear on your engine and it also improves your fuel economy. To further increase your comfort, you can always invest in a cab heater too.

In northern Europe a block heater is usually mounted on new cars as standard with an outlet for a cab heater. Most modern heating solutions today can be remotely controlled too which is very practical.

The only downside with using a cab heater when it snows is the ice-buildup on the car.

For all of you people snowed in, I'll be thinking of you this evening while I am attending Las Noches de Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The temperature is expected to get down in the high teens (Centigrade).

Cheers

fallsfromtrees wrote:For all of you people snowed in, I'll be thinking of you this evening while I am attending Las Noches de Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The temperature is expected to get down in the high teens (Centigrade).

Cheers

Hey fallsfromtrees, it's a balmy 11°
Centigrade here.

TN4994 wrote:

fallsfromtrees wrote:For all of you people snowed in, I'll be thinking of you this evening while I am attending Las Noches de Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The temperature is expected to get down in the high teens (Centigrade).

Cheers

Hey fallsfromtrees, it's a balmy 11°
Centigrade here.

Well, you do live in Arizona, even if it is the North east portion of the state.

Frost on the windshield is another winter problem.

A few decades ago I spotted a parked car with the windshield wipers up, and something across the front windshield. A little testing showed:

Start the wipers moving. When they are in the wanted position, turn the ignition key off. Put something under them. No matter how much frost accumulates at night, you will have a large frost free patch on the windshield.

I'm using an 18" by 24" linoleum, but many other things will work. You still need to scrape the side windows. This trick can be used for the rear window also with the problem of synchronizing the wipers. Once a strong wind blew the cover free, but otherwise no problem.

Did I not mention the ice scraper and snow brush?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/scrap ... IXQyjHF98E

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mallo ... IXQ_zHF98E

Pretty standard equipment around here, everyone has one two three...

Always remove the snow from your car or truck, all of it, except if you have a pickup with open bed but that would be helpful too. Roof Hood/Bonnet Trunk/Boot windows sides bumpers head and tail lights...

remove all the snow, usually after you start your car and while getting it warmed up, defrost on low until the temperature builds up. seat and steering wheel heaters on, once the revs even out. rear defrost on. Depends how cold it is. When really cold you will want to get into the car and warm up a couple times.

1. Remove snow.
2. Scrape Ice off windows.
3. All the snow and ice, except the ice on painted parts.
4. Do not make a port hole to peer out of.
5. Remove ice from wipers and clean the wipers with paper towel or a cloth rag. Wack window with wipers to free up frozen wipers.
6. Scrape ice off headlights and tails if possible.
7. Scrape ice off and wipe side mirrors.
8. Make sure you have wiper anti-freeze in your wiper system if it gets cold.
9. if you have an Ice Fog or Ice Storm, use Wiper Antifreeze in a Windex or similar spray bottle and spray windows to start or make the scraping process easier. Try not to get it on the paint. works good for lights or mirrors that need to be wiped.
10. Shovel snow away from car after you wipe the car off, unless you need to dig a path to the car. After you wipe the snow off you will need to shovel again. Note walked on snow is harder to shovel than non walked on snow. Particularly if you don't do it right away.
11. You do not have to remove snow from tires unless it builds up to a point where it gets in the way. Snow on tires is how tires grip snow best. Snow tires attract snow. Snow grips snow, this is good. Snow on disc brakes is bad... You will figure it out.
12. Keep one snow brush inside your house and second in car.

13. Handy new style round scraper only works when ice is not too hard or if using a spray. It also is a funnel.

Lord Skimper wrote:Did I not mention the ice scraper and snow brush?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/scrap ... IXQyjHF98E

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mallo ... IXQ_zHF98E

Pretty standard equipment around here, everyone has one two three...

Always remove the snow from your car or truck, all of it, except if you have a pickup with open bed but that would be helpful too. Roof Hood/Bonnet Trunk/Boot windows sides bumpers head and tail lights...

remove all the snow, usually after you start your car and while getting it warmed up, defrost on low until the temperature builds up. seat and steering wheel heaters on, once the revs even out. rear defrost on. Depends how cold it is. When really cold you will want to get into the car and warm up a couple times.

1. Remove snow.
2. Scrape Ice off windows.
3. All the snow and ice, except the ice on painted parts.
4. Do not make a port hole to peer out of.
5. Remove ice from wipers and clean the wipers with paper towel or a cloth rag. Wack window with wipers to free up frozen wipers.
6. Scrape ice off headlights and tails if possible.
7. Scrape ice off and wipe side mirrors.
8. Make sure you have wiper anti-freeze in your wiper system if it gets cold.
9. if you have an Ice Fog or Ice Storm, use Wiper Antifreeze in a Windex or similar spray bottle and spray windows to start or make the scraping process easier. Try not to get it on the paint. works good for lights or mirrors that need to be wiped.
10. Shovel snow away from car after you wipe the car off, unless you need to dig a path to the car. After you wipe the snow off you will need to shovel again. Note walked on snow is harder to shovel than non walked on snow. Particularly if you don't do it right away.
11. You do not have to remove snow from tires unless it builds up to a point where it gets in the way. Snow on tires is how tires grip snow best. Snow tires attract snow. Snow grips snow, this is good. Snow on disc brakes is bad... You will figure it out.
12. Keep one snow brush inside your house and second in car.

13. Handy new style round scraper only works when ice is not too hard or if using a spray. It also is a funnel.

I would add another tip.
In cold weather, ensure that you have the compartment controls set on low to medium fan to heat the inside of the vehicle. Nothing ruins your day like heating the engine, getting inside an ice chest, and cracking the windshield by turning on the defrost vent too quickly. Allow the windshield to warm slowly.