Ok, there's been several of these threads so I've decided to compile a list.

1. 4wd: Contrary to popular belief, you do not need four wheel drive. It will not stop you from slipping and sliding. The only times it may help are if the snow is deep and/or taking off from a stop

2. Acceleration: When accelerating on ice, press the accelerator gradually, but firmly. Do not slam it down, this will cause you to spin out. Do not "feather" it either (give it a little, let off, give it a little more, let off) this will also cause you to spin out

3. Speed: Take it at your own pace. Just because the speed limit is 55, doesn't mean you have to go that fast. Be comfortable, but know your limits

4. Stopping distances: depending on how slick it is, stopping distances will vary immensely. It's usually a safe bet to double your normal conditions stopping distance.

5. Braking: similar to acceleration, do not slam on the brakes, it'll cause you to slide. Do not pump the brakes because this is hard on brake components. Apply the brake gradually, but firmly.

6. That little patch of snow on the shoulder/curb: this is your best friend. Sliding and unable to stop? Pull into the snow to regain traction. Unable to take off from a stop? Get into the snow, it'll give you more traction.

7. Know your vehicle's behavior and response to the conditions: if possible find an empty parking lot and practice, especially if you are fairly new to driving on ice/snow or need a refresher. That's really the best thing you can do is practice.

8. Hazards:

A. Snow- whether It's light and fluffy, wet and sticky. Or hard and crunchy, snow will affect traction. It's quite similar to mud
B. Visible Ice- for obvious reasons. Ice is slick and is nearly impossible to gain traction on
C. Black Ice- possibly the most deadly as It's unable to be seen in most cases.


I'm sure there's stuff I missed but I pretty much summarized all winter driving. I hope someone finds this helpful and everyone stays safe. In conclusion, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS PRACTICE. Take it easy and go at your own pace. Everyone is different and you will develop the skill as time goes by.

 

Id advise when starting to move on ice, if an automatic, switch to th number two, then switch back to D after you've got traction and started moving.

 

Contrary to popular belief you DO need 4 wheel drive. It's a hell of a lot safer to drive in 4 wheel drive than 2 wheel drive.
Maybe in the farmlands where the biggest hill is the size of a pimple you may not need 4 wheel drive but every where else it snows that has larger hills/mountains 4 wheel drive (even AWD) is a needed addition to any vehicle.
Oh but wait, if I add 10,000 lbs to the bed of my truck I can go anywhere in 2 wheel drive so who needs 4 wheel drive. Wrong.

The patch of snow thing you have to watch also. If it's a drift it can actually pull you into the shoulder rather than help you. But if you drove in 4 wheel drive you wouldnt have to worry about trying to get the extra traction.

Nothing personal against you, just figure I would get the 4 wheel drive debate going even though to will be 90* tomorrow.

 

Can't really speak for mountainous areas cuz I live in the Midwest. Thanks for the input. It'd be nice if we had just one of these threads.

I do have 4wd but i rarely use it. So I have nothing bad to say about it other then people abuse it

 

Tires can make all the difference. A 2wd drive with great tires can beat a 4wd with crappy ones. Tires make ALL the difference.

 

Oh yah. If you have 4wd dont treat it like it's invincible. Its not

 

I've always had 2wd vehicles. I really don't have the need for 4wd would I like one hell yeah can't afford one lol. Anyway tires and a bit of weight not 1000 but like maybe 300 over rear axle and knowing what your getting ur self into helps a lot too. Another big one is if your not an experienced drive and/or not use to just 2wd drive as said practice lol. 2wd can go a lot of places with good tires AND experienced driver and a Lil bit of luck LOL. By experience driver i don't mean use 2wd owners are better no I mean how long ya been driving. just to clarify that so I don't start a war LOL. Just my .02¢.

 

+1 once you have a4x4 you will never buy a two Wheeler again

 

I'll second the notion that tires make all the difference. Don't assume just because you have alot of tread that you'll do ok in the snow and/or ice...especially those that run mud tires. Huge tread blocks with no siping do awful. I run snow tires on my wife's grand cherokee in the winter and snows on my Wrangler as well. Makes a huge difference.

 

Very true, mud tires suck in snow, my stock ford ranger would go through anything with snow tires, big jacked up trucks would get stuck easily. A4X4 with snow tires is formidable indeed.