Negotiating packed snow or ice covered Curves and downhill

[billski]

I want to hear the "correct" way to handle snow covered cures and downhill. I have my way of doing it, I'd like to hear what works for you. There is the book, then their is reality.

Let's assume we have snow tires.

Obviously slow down prior to entering the curve. Next step - let off the gas, maintain speed or gently accelerate around curve? All this assumes you still have traction.

Around the corner too fast, lose traction off pedal the gas and oversteer? Does off the gas the best way to regain traction? How about ABS?

Now, downhill Off the gas. Reduce or maintain speed if conditions warrant. Car may naturally accelerated. Checking speed by gently on the brake, or on ABS, just slam the pedal?

I know advice will vary between 4wd, awd, and rwd. Traction control and ABS also causes variants. So too does uphill and downhill, and kind of vehilce (center of gravity, etc.)

I

 

[thetrailboss]

Moving this to miscellaneous.

 

[ctenidae]

Always be going the speed you need to be going before you need to be going it.

Avoid oversteer at all costs- this will invariably lead to going sideways. Fun on the dry, not fun on ice.

Always apply gas or brake below the limits of adhesion- as soon as you break traction, it becomes harder to get it back.

Smooth, easy adjustments rather than hard sharp moves.

Of course, all of these rules apply to dry or rain driving as well, just with higher limits.

For going downhill through a curve, look for road banking and try to use gravity as much as you can.

 

[Glenn]

Let off the gas, turn slowly. No sudden inputs; steering or brakes. ABS has saved me a few times when things got nicely. You just have to remember that things get a big exagagerated with ABS.

 

[drjeff]

Get to an APPROPRIATE speed before reaching the curve/downhill. Make only subtle, smooth moves with the steering wheel or brakes or accelerator. Try and maintain close to the same speed that you were at at the start of the curve/downhill (if it's a decent length/pitch STRAIGHT downhill with noone infront, I might then use a bit less brake and let gravity do its thing). The biggest thing i'm telling myself though is to avoid any quick/big adjustments in speed/direction if at all possible

 

[bvibert]

Use Cruise Control

 

[wa-loaf]

On hills I downshift and use engine breaking to keep my speed constant or even slow down without breaking. Gotta make sure you aren't shifting too far down or you will break traction.

 

[riverc0il]

BIll... have you skied yet this season?

:lol:

 

[bvibert]

On hills I downshift and use engine breaking to keep my speed constant or even slow down without breaking. Gotta make sure you aren't shifting too far down or you will break traction.

That's the key, get too agressive with the down shifting and you can throw yourself into a slide.

 

[billski]

BIll... have you skied yet this season?

:lol:

No. The roads have been too scary for me 8) I'm having a hard time justifying $50 in gas and a cheap ticket to ski. You've got a great base. My other feeble excuse is that I travel a lot in December, then all the family trips kick in. I should have been out by now.
You blew my cover - all talk, no action!

 

[from_the_NEK]

I usually do it this way....

 

[o3jeff]

I usually do it this way....

Exactly, steer it with the gas pedal!

 

[Nick]

slow & steady wins the race

 

[wa-loaf]

That's the key, get too agressive with the down shifting and you can throw yourself into a slide.

I find on snowy roads (not the highway) I tend to keep it in a lower gear anyway with slightly higher revs on the engine. It helps me control the speed and I get a better feel for the traction.

 

[C-Rex]

As said above, steer with the throttle. Slow in, fast out.

 

[mondeo]

Turn slightly in opposite direction of turn
Apply light left foot brake
While braking, turn into corner
Apply throttle and straighten wheel, applying a dap of oppo where needed

 

[ERJ-145CA]

I slow down before the curve and turn slowly. Approaching a downhill I slow down and downshift (slushbox on my cars) at the appropriate speeds and coast down the hill with engine braking allowing the use of no or very light pedal braking. I've never gotten snow tires on my cars and I rarely skid.

 

[bigbog]

One of my initial decisions towards ascents/descents with a BIG coming uphill, behind me = pull over and let any Bigs pass....their scale of roll is much larger than the ordinary wheel diameter. ...Came out in a much more relaxed state of mind, adopted it for default action when nearing any crest with messy conditions with those things behind ya' .