Subaru snow driving tips for n00bs and everyone!

[Weasel 555]

Tip #1 and the most important

YOU ARE NOT INVINCIBLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE MIGHTY AWD!!

2. AWD only enhances traction on acceleration

- AWD does not enhance braking distance
- AWD does not enhance turning

The only time AWD helps is when you foot is on the GAS!

AWD golden rule, if you find yourself in trouble GAS GAS GAS, touch the brakes and your done.

Subarus dont have mighty powers they turn and brake the same as any car.

Subarus tend to turn in the snow like a front wheel drive car, push push also known as understeer, you can not turn in at 20 mph in the snow and expect the car to snap into action, it will push right out to the apex and not turn. Usually putting you into a curb.

Subarus steer out of turns much like RWD cars. The back end will slide out just like a RWD car, the tip is to keep you foot on the gas because the front wheels will pull the car out of the slide into its proper path.

Always turn in slow and accelerate out, the more you accelerate out of the more oversteer you will get and the more you will have to coutersteer to keep the car inline.

That said, all inputs to the vehicle, GAS, STEERING and BRAKING should all be done in a smooth manner not modular, ON/OFF will get you in trouble real fast.

ALWAYS look where you want the car to go not what the car is sliding towards. If you are looking at the curb while the car is sliding towards it you are going to hit it, because your hands follow your eyes. Always look where you want the car to go no matter what!

Keep your eyes on the road at all times, do not fiddle with the radio or heater controls, do that when you are stopped. One glance down can spell disaster.

Keep a good following distance as we already learned above, AWD does not enhance stopping distance.

Make sure the tool behind you isnt following to close either, and if he/she is pull over and let them pass.

Most of all be safe and have fun, keep it controled and out of the ditches, stay away from heavily traveled roads and parked cars.

Watch out for hidden curbs in parking lots you are unfamiliar with.

Everyone be safe and enjoy the winter wonderland

OH and if you have all seasons, stay off the road!!!

---thank you to 'munkis' on nasioc

[Not-EWRX]

Thanks weasel. This is highly useful information and I hope people can learn from your wisdom. I wish I didn't think I was invisible. That type of thinking lead me to lose control and wreck into an innocent person.

[Yossarian]

Watch out for hidden curbs in parking lots you are unfamiliar with.

A big +1 on this. I got to replace a control arm the first winter I had my rex for this very reason.



Some great advice weasel. Maybe add something about the scandinavian flick? Very useful in the snow.

[BigB007]

Thanks weasel. This is highly useful information and I hope people can learn from your wisdom. I wish I didn't think I was invisible. That type of thinking lead me to lose control and wreck into an innocent person.

Yeah I become wreckless also when I am invisible

[efmd3]

Thanks weasel. This is highly useful information and I hope people can learn from your wisdom. I wish I didn't think I was invisible. That type of thinking lead me to lose control and wreck into an innocent person.

i R in teh colllllegez

[Not-EWRX]

Yeah I become wreckless also when I am invisible

Awwe damn it all to hell. I was trying so hard to. Spell check FTL

[BigB007]

Awwe damn it all to hell. I was trying so hard to. Spell check FTL

Thank you come again

[apex32]

Thank you come again

AHAHAH

[Clin10]

after driving in the ice and slush yesterday, and NOW I read this. I started to slide todards a outside curb, and I was lighlty on the thorlttle, stupid me, lightly got on the brakes and made it worse, then I just slowly reached 35-40% throttle to power out of it, and of couse, started drifting....past a cop that gave me a thumbs up, hahaha!!!

NOTE: this is my first ever winter in the Subie and learned to drive in snow with a Altima [R.I.P.] and Tracker

verdict...snow is fun...ice....is, um.....not

~Clinton

[jeffmm06]

im guessing this thread was posted from the 5 or more people saying how they wrecked their cars. haha nice tips though!

[Not-EWRX]

Some good links for people shopping for snow tires

just get the size recomended for the wheels your going to use.

Also as for snow tires, check discounttiredirect.com or tirerack.com , unless your local tire places have good deals.

Nokian Hakka2's:
http://www.tirefactory.net/Hakkapeliitta%20Q.htm

Blizzak LM22's:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=Blizzak+LM-22

Dunlop Wintersport M3's
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....inter+Sport+M3

Hankook W409 ipike (imho best choice)
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...d=007040&ar=55

[devilfluff]

Awwe damn it all to hell. I was trying so hard too. Spell check FTL

You spelled invisible right. Unfortunately, you meant invincible.


I would not want to be responsible for teaching some of the inexperienced drivers here to "flick". Sounds like trouble to me

[efmd3]

luckily for me I'll never need snow tires down here.
if it ever snows here I'll personally shoot Al gore and say "where's your global warming now, bish?"
unfortunately, it hasn't snowed here in years...

[Trainrex]

A few more tips:

Never think "It won't happen to me". It can, and it will.

Never think you have complete control over your vehicle. You don't, and your car will show you that any chance it can.

I know driving in the snow seems like fun when you're young. It really isn't. It's stupid and dangerous. Stay off the road when you can. If you really have to go somewhere, try not to go there rush hour. During rush hour your chances of getting hit are HUGE. Most people during rush hour don't want to be there, and are petrified of driving in the snow.

Leave TONS of distance in front of you. You don't realize how much room you'll need when an emergency stop is in order. You stand a good chance of having to performing one too. Many people can and will lose control in front of you.

Don't rush. Keep it under 40 on snow packed highways, under 25-30 on well traveled side roads, and under 15-20 on side streets. If the roads are ice covered, cut those speeds in half.

Try to drive in the ruts made by vehicles in front of you. The snow in those ruts is more shallow. Most people won't use the fast lane in the snow, and it will be deep and treacherous. If the fast lane hasn't been traveled very much, stay out of it. If you question why, just look at all the crash marks on the divider. Try to change lanes as little as possible. When changing lanes grip the steering wheel firmly. While changing lanes the ruts wll pull you all over the place. Most accidents on the highway are caused by this. (I believe this is what Erik did)

When stopping, you have a choice. Steering or brakes. You cannot do both at the same time unless you have a really good feel for the brakes (which most inexperienced drivers don't).

Oh, and don't drive like a d1ck!

[binkman88]

have to totally agree, i took my suby in a curb on an off ramp the first month i got it. It was raining and i went into the turn 40mph over the suggested, im sure the rain didnt help. The only mistake i made when i started to slide was to tap the brakes. From there it all went down hill. Lets just be said again GAS GAS GAS argghh brakes!