Well, it is colder than usual for November, but is it that unusual? Back in the late '70s/early '80s, I always made sure to get my winter tires put on the car before the end of October. We have had -13 C (9 F), but no snow to speak of.
Is that your gas meter way over there? Is that what they do with gas meters nowadays? I haven't lived somewhere with gas since 1989.We received over 12 inches of snow with this last storm. I just walked down to the house site, wasn't going to start my car in 9*F if I didn't have to. There was a whole flock of pick-up trucks there, mostly associated with the new construction next door.
...I always made sure to get my winter tires put on the car before the end of October...
Is that your gas meter way over there? Is that what they do with gas meters nowadays? I haven't lived somewhere with gas since 1989.
My all season tires and my winter tires are Swedish. The all seasons work OK in snow, but I would put winter tires, even if they weren't legally mandated in Quebec.Winter tires. I haven't bought winter tires since the advent of All Season radials decades ago. Of course, I don't live as far north as you. I've always been able to do OK with All Season tires and front wheel drive. My last car was rear wheel drive and that was an adventure in the snow.
A great deal depends on your tire brand. It has been my experience for some time that Bridgestone tires absolutely suck in wet/snow conditions. On my previous rear drive car, it was like magic when I replaced the Bridgestones that came on the car with Michelins. All of a sudden I had traction!
I vote that you go buy some winter tires. They really make a difference in handling and stopping. See my post about them above....
I had new tires put on my car a few weeks ago and was asked if I wanted snow tires or all season tires. I'm thinking I should have learned more about what folks use here. I went for the all season, but have not driven in the snow yet. I really need to learn how to do that.
I vote that you go buy some winter tires. They really make a difference in handling and stopping. See my post about them above.
To save wear and tear on my tires (from having them pulled off the wheels twice a year), I bought winter wheels. Because of a tip on the Brickboard (Volvo owners forum), I bought used alloy wheels for winter. They only cost a little more than new steel wheels, but they don't corrode and they weigh less. They also look nicer.
Something funny: The one time I hit black ice and fish tailed, I had rear wheel drive. The fact that the rear wheels were slowing as I worked to regain control of the car meant that they helped to straighten out the car.
Nope, never drove a Subaru; never been to Russia.
I was pleasantly surprised that time slowed down. I had always wondered how anyone could be expected to remember the instructions for what to do in a skid (ease off the gas; steer gently in the direction you want to go; don't touch the brakes) while skidding. I had plenty of time to remember and follow those instructions and they worked.
Practice. I don't have to think about it now.Odd...I skid and it is all there automatically. I never worry about having to use the skill, it's just there.
Odd...I skid and it is all there automatically. I never worry about having to use the skill, it's just there.
Practice. I don't have to think about it now.
That incident I mentioned was my first experience with a big time fish-tailing event. If the car had fish-tailed any more than it did, I would have been spinning around. I was on a highway with freezing rain. There was no other traffic, but there was a truck in the ditch. I changed lanes, just in case I skidded, so I wouldn't end up on top of the truck. It was the salt truck. So, I was changing lanes as I hit the black ice. I stayed calm until I had the car under control. Then, when I was driving at about 10 mph, I had the panic reaction. I finally got to a rest stop. I nearly fell on my arse when I got out of the car, it was so slippery.
I think that may be one of those things you sort of absorb from living in an area where snow and ice are common. You probably heard people talking about it and watched them handle it when you were growing up. Here in SE VA, snow is scarce and we often see people driving as if the weather was normal - sometimes they don't even slow down.
We got about 4 inches of snow overnight. Going to change to sleet/rain for a while then back to snow again tonight.