Auto tires for winter driving

[riverc0il]

Originally Posted by Marc

Kore gets the same thing whenever he opens a thread about bump skiing.

Win.

[campgottagopee]

Originally Posted by koreshot

So for absolute snow driving safety - not getting into an accident or skidding off a road kind of duty: FWD with snow tires is hands down, no questions asked, safer than an AWD car on non-snow tires. Anyone that will argue that an AWD car with all season tires will brake and generate better lateral traction better than a FWD with snows is either dumb or very uniformed and you should have their head examined.

The only arguement that could be made, is that most AWD cars have VDC which would play a HUGE part in someone avoiding and accident or skidding off the road. Just sayin'

[hammer]

Originally Posted by campgottagopee

The only arguement that could be made, is that most AWD cars have VDC which would play a HUGE part in someone avoiding and accident or skidding off the road. Just sayin'

Don't a lot of 2WD cars also have VDC?

[campgottagopee]

Originally Posted by hammer

Don't a lot of 2WD cars also have VDC?

Some do, but right now you'd find it in higher $$$ cars and most likely an option vs. standard equiptment. Soon it will be standard in most, but I think we're a few years away from that.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by campgottagopee

Some do, but right now you'd find it in higher $$$ cars and most likely an option vs. standard equiptment. Soon it will be standard in most, but I think we're a few years away from that.

Four years to be exact. At least in the US. The NHTSA mandated all new cars sold will have to have some form of electronic stability control by 2012, and it will be phased in process starting with 50% of new cars next year.

In other words, NHTSA is saying, you're all to stupid too avoid accidents yourself, here's an electronic crutch whether you want it or not.

At least in a lot of cars it comes in today there's the option to disable it. Stupid NHTSA.

[campgottagopee]

Originally Posted by Marc

Four years to be exact. At least in the US. The NHTSA mandated all new cars sold will have to have some form of electronic stability control by 2012, and it will be phased in process starting with 50% of new cars next year.

In other words, NHTSA is saying, you're all to stupid too avoid accidents yourself, here's an electronic crutch whether you want it or not.

At least in a lot of cars it comes in today there's the option to disable it. Stupid NHTSA.

You're correct---2012 is the year.

I used to think that it was stupid as well until I went to the dealer meeting intoducing the new LLBean Outback (w/vdc). They had set up a slalom course on a HUGE (maybe 200 yds long) black poly tarp w/ water constantly running/spraying on it, which simulated icy driving conditions. We and a proffesional driver were able to drive thru with a Outback with out vdc and one with vdc. It truely was AMAZING to see and feel the difference in the car with VDC. It really is a HUGE safety feature in certain over/under steer situations. I think what was most amazing was being able to watch the car "snap" back into a "straight line" when the VDC activated. Being that it's a passive saftey feature IMHO NHTSA is doing us all a favor.

I wouldn't buy a car that didn't have the option to turn off the VDC. There are situations where turning it off are neccessary because you can not spin with that thing activated. If you were stuck, and needed to rock back and forth to get out, you would want VDC off.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by campgottagopee

You're correct---2012 is the year.

I used to think that it was stupid as well until I went to the dealer meeting intoducing the new LLBean Outback (w/vdc). They had set up a slalom course on a HUGE (maybe 200 yds long) black poly tarp w/ water constantly running/spraying on it, which simulated icy driving conditions. We and a proffesional driver were able to drive thru with a Outback with out vdc and one with vdc. It truely was AMAZING to see and feel the difference in the car with VDC. It really is a HUGE safety feature in certain over/under steer situations. I think what was most amazing was being able to watch the car "snap" back into a "straight line" when the VDC activated. Being that it's a passive saftey feature IMHO NHTSA is doing us all a favor.

I definitely won't argue its merits in certain situations, beyond the fact that, in my S4, it caused me to drive faster than I probably should have been driving in low traction conditions. In that regard, you have to wonder how much safer it will make the roads for everyone.

Originally Posted by campgottagopee

I wouldn't buy a car that didn't have the option to turn off the VDC. There are situations where turning it off are neccessary because you can not spin with that thing activated. If you were stuck, and needed to rock back and forth to get out, you would want VDC off.

This is my big fear. That it might be hard to find cars in the future without an option to disable it.

[campgottagopee]

Originally Posted by Marc

I definitely won't argue its merits in certain situations, beyond the fact that, in my S4, it caused me to drive faster than I probably should have been driving in low traction conditions. In that regard, you have to wonder how much safer it will make the roads for everyone.



This is my big fear. That it might be hard to find cars in the future without an option to disable it.

I hear ya about driving too fast--that's the reason I don't ride sport bikes anymore. I JUST CAN"T RIDE THEM SLOW!!!!!!

I would think the majority would have an option to turn off. All my stuff does, but you never know.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by campgottagopee

I hear ya about driving too fast--that's the reason I don't ride sport bikes anymore. I JUST CAN"T RIDE THEM SLOW!!!!!!

I would think the majority would have an option to turn off. All my stuff does, but you never know.

Well, my fear stems from the fact that once air bags were mandated, it took an act of God to get the NHTSA to recognize there was a need to be able to disable those things. But, I haven't read the wording in the law so I guess I wouldn't know for sure unless I did that. If I stay on my current car buying habits though, I won't really have to worry about it until 2019 anyway.

[billski]

The early adopter cars (I have an Audi) have a VSC shutoff in them. I've been driving with stability control since last March and it is nice. As I get older and not as responsive as I once was, I am more appreciative of things like this.

I worry that the same idiots that think they are invincible with 4wd/awd will think the same thing when VSC is in their vehicle.