We are in central British Columbia, it snows a bit and is below freezing for several months every winter so we have to prepare our cars to drive on snow and ice. Our law requires us to put on winter tires October 1, and have them off by April 1. Most of us have two sets of tires on rims so it's just a matter of taking one set off and replacing them with the other set. How are winter tires different? The use a softer tread compound and a more aggressive tread pattern than all-season tires and offer the option of adding studs for even better traction. I use studded winter tires on my minivan because it's only a two-wheel drive and not as secure feeling as an all-wheel drive. Our highway maintenance is very good plowing most of the snow off the roads and spreading a combination of sand and some form of de-icing salt. Despite this some snow is packed down into ice on all roads so we are driving on ice for several months. It sounds hazardous but winter tires and prudent driving habits means we make it safely through the winter.
No snow here in the winter but killer fog and rain. Guess no place is perfect. I remember as a child growing up in Pittsburgh where it was the law that you had to put chains on the car in November until march or April. It was a very hilly city and even with chains I remember my mom sliding off the road.
While living in Colorado, we sold wife's old 4-Runner and bought a Dodge RAM 1500 w/4-Wheel Drive and a Dodge Durango w/4-Wheel Drive and both had All-Terrain tires. There are folks on a Colorado and Denver relocation website I'm part of that will tell possible new-comers that their regular vehicle will do fine in Colorado/Denver winters. Now that is definitely a "crock". When I drive to work, in downtown Denver, I'd see a number of small vehicles spun-out onto the side of the two freeways I used. I never had a problem.
Saw my dream car today when I was getting my car serviced and tires changed over. There it sat, a 2017 Toyota Sienna all wheel drive glowing in a deep red. Nope, not going to spend my retirement savings on that. I'll likely not be driving much longer so I'll have to be satisfied with my old Sienna. On the other hand, if I win the lottery..........
We could never have a small car. I’m just too tall. As is, I have to have the drivers seat all the way back, to fit my longer legs.
When I lived in the UP of Michigan, the best car I had for the snow was a VW bug. Other than getting it stuck in the mud once, on a logging road, that thing would go through anything. Usually, if it did get bogged down, I could lift it out of the hole.
Driving tip for retired folks: Look out the window. If you see snow or ice go sit in front of the fire. You don't have to go anywhere.
Just got the car prepped for winter this week, serviced and 4 studded mud & snow tires on, snowing like crazy this morning, 3" already and still snowing! First snow is early this year!
I live in Massey, Ontario which is just on top of Lake Huron.. I put on my Chevrolet 4 studded Firestone Winterforce tires which are on steel rims.. I usually put them on as soon as they are forecasting the first snow which should be soon.. I remove them when the spring weather becomes warm enough.. My regular tires are all seasons but they just won't be enough for our winters up here.. My Chevrolet has limited slip differential which is wonderful in snow and ice.. I also have my car undercoated every fall for protection against rust.. Make sure the windshield washer fluid is topped up with a -45c liquid.. Change the wipers for winter ones.. Pullout the block heater plug which I use if the temperature drops below -20c.. I make sure that I always have at least half a tank of gas if not full during the winter months.. REMEMBER............... WE ARE CANADIAN !!!!!
Steve North: Do you get the "lake effect" snow? I understand those can really dump a lot of snow at once.
Oh Yes !!! You better believe it !!! They come off of Lake Superior as well as Lake Huron.. We get them both ways.. Heavy snow along with violent winds.. We up here call them ...... squalls ......
PS................................... Don't forget to check your antifreeze ........ (Prestone).. Don't forget to fill up your windshield washer with at least a -40c fluid... preferably the -50c liquid.. Anything less will freeze on contact with the windshield while driving..
I'm very fortunate that I have a carport so that I don't have to scrape ice off the car windows after a storm. When the weather stays below freezing, I plug in the block heater every night and I hang the extension cord over the car with bungee cords. It reminds me to unplug the block heater before backing out and if the cord is off the ground, it's not a tripping hazard. Most folks in cold climates use block heaters so the engine starts easier and warms up more quickly.