The First Snow Drive

[vaironl]

Today drove my Yaris for the first time in the snow. Note that I’m a crappy driver and almost ate a corner :frown:. So I keep wondering if anyone had similar experiences?

I've seen other threads speaking about two solutions.

1) Winter tires.
2) E-Break.

[WeeYari]

Note that I’m a crappy driver

^ fix that first :thumbsup:

[CTScott]

It is all about the tires. Proper snow tires make a world of difference.

The ebrake is only for fun in the snow (in wide open areas).

[roxy1]

Today drove my Yaris for the first time in the snow. Note that I’m a crappy driver and almost ate a corner :frown:. So I keep wondering if anyone had similar experiences?

I've seen other threads speaking about two solutions.

1) Winter tires.
2) E-Break.

im probably of no help. ive been driving through 30 Michigan winters with front wheel drive cars and all weather tires. once in a while I think about winter tires. while they would be better for driving in the snow, I end up driving on pavement 90% of the time due to all the plowing and/or salt.

a few winters ago we had 124 inches of snow (we usually average around 80 in) and I still felt no need for snow tires.

since you live in Virginia, id definitely say save your $350 and just slow down a bit when needed.

[vaironl]

im probably of no help. ive been driving through 30 Michigan winters with front wheel drive cars and all weather tires. once in a while I think about winter tires. while they would be better for driving in the snow, I end up driving on pavement 90% of the time due to all the plowing and/or salt.

a few winters ago we had 124 inches of snow (we usually average around 80 in) and I still felt no need for snow tires.

since you live in Virginia, id definitely say save your $350 and just slow down a bit when needed.

Adding to this, someone just gave me some advice to downshift without rev matching.

[bairjo]

I run Michelin X-Ice snows on all 4 tires....very good traction. However, they will "sing" a little on the freeway.

[nookandcrannycar]

^ fix that first :thumbsup:

:laugh:

[JustPassinThru]

Only problem I've had with the Yaris in snow is that clearance is limited under the car - drifts or snowplow piles (as on the edge of the road to your driveway) will high-side it, sooner than other cars.

I speak of the Gen2. I haven't had my 2012 in snow yet - that's what I bought my beater Tercel for.

[bairjo]

All vehicles have their limitations. Do not drive a Yaris expecting high results in deep snow....Toyota has other vehicles that do well in those conditions. But if you find yourself in a situation with ice and snow, really bad ice and snow,...drive slow, brake easy, and get the hell off the freeway if you don't have proper snow tires for a Yaris. I already made a post with my choice of snow tires for the Yaris...the next step if they do not perform is to punt and get off the road. The Yaris is not a tank so you are best to get off the road if it is that bad...Good Luck.

[Exiwolfman]

Snow tires a must for traction and mainly stopping once u try snows ull never go back whats 400 bucks ...I think once life is worth more..... my only complain with car its light can get funky in snow drifts best advice slow down.

PS I use winterforce awesome tire for deep snow , if u drive hwy mainly get blizacks more of an ice tire

[peewee1]

I live in upstate New York, land of snow and icey roads. Best thing to do, run very good tires and drive slow. My Yaris sedan is so light in weight that it sometimes will "FLOAT" on the heavy snows. GO easy on the gas pedal and brake early at stop signs.

[Frank Necrosis]

This is my second winter in the Yaris. Things I have noticed.... The abs / stability control / traction control systems are slow to respond, very slow. The car is usually well into a skid or slide before the computer decides to do something. Even then, the response is lackluster at best. But, then I am comparing the Yaris to my 2012 STi. The STi's systems are a little higher on the food chain than the Yaris.

Years of driving light, front wheel drive cars helps in knowing what to do. Having a manual transmission helps keep things under control as well.

Overall, I am happy with the Yaris in the snow. It is not much different than any other small fwd car. A few years back, I had a Mini Cooper. The wider tires and low ground clearance made it real interesting in the snow. Luckily, it didnt have any electronic driver aids other than ABS. The emergency brake was my good friend. Light pressure on the e brake could help reduce under steer. A technique I continue to use in the Yaris.

[nookandcrannycar]

I feel for all of you. It was 22 without the wind chill at IAH (Bush Airport) this morning and 16 without the wind chill in some suburbs here....but that is nothing compared to up north....close to 30 below without the wind chill the last two nights in northern Minnesota....colder in Chicago than the 11 degree Summer temp at the South Pole...etc. (all temps Farenheit)

IIRC from 2006, isn't Winnipeg the coldest city in the world with a population of over 500,000? (Even colder than Helsinki or Moscow)

[nookandcrannycar]

From a post on another site.....34 below F (55 below F with the wind chill) in Saskatoon yesterday......brrrrrrrrr.

[Berkut]

I live in Yakutsk is north-east Russia, and today -42C. So here from November to March.)))

[Frank Necrosis]

The temp dropped to -10F (-23C) the other night. Luckily the low temps did not last long.

I am still happy I installed a block heater. It is hooked to a timer. A few hours before leaving for work, the timer kicks the heater on. After starting the car, warm air begins blowing in about 30 seconds. :drinking:

[Lippitt]

Ask the Canadians, I hear they have lots of them in there. hah

[vaironl]

I just waited till most of the ice was gone and followed the advice of going slow. Even with my all seasons I was able to handle ok by just going slow :).

[jpmck03]

I just waited till most of the ice was gone and followed the advice of going slow. Even with my all seasons I was able to handle ok by just going slow :).

I've been running with the stock all-seasons that came with the car in the winter!
:evil:

Just remember, "slow is smooth, smooth is fast!"

[DebbyM46227]

I've been running with the stock all-seasons that came with the car in the winter!
:evil:

Just remember, "slow is smooth, smooth is fast!"

I am too. We had 12" of snow last weekend and the mayor called off any non-essential travel Monday...I also stayed home from work Tuesday. Wednesday I went back and my Yaris kept up with any other car....no one could do well driving over the chunks of ice left on the road.

[The Limo 2]

Winnipeg (Winterpeg) has now dropped to third place for coldest cities in the world with populations over 600,000. Ulan Bator in Mongolia is first, Harbin in China is second and then Winnipeg. Coldest temperature ever recorded in Winnipeg was on February 1st, 1996 at -41.8C with a windchill of -57.1C.
Too cold for me.
Roy
PS The bear "Whinny the Poo" is named after Winnipeg.

[nookandcrannycar]

Winnipeg (Winterpeg) has now dropped to third place for coldest cities in the world with populations over 600,000. Ulan Bator in Mongolia is first, Harbin in China is second and then Winnipeg. Coldest temperature ever recorded in Winnipeg was on February 1st, 1996 at -41.8C with a windchill of -57.1C.
Too cold for me.
Roy
PS The bear "Whinny the Poo" is named after Winnipeg.

Wow. Thanks. Too cold for me as well. Not for member Berkut (post #15) though ------- .2 degrees celsius colder for him YESTERDAY than that coldest EVER temp in Winnipeg (at least without the wind chill factor) :eek:. Such is Winter 280 miles from the Arctic Circle.

[vaironl]

Wow. Thanks. Too cold for me as well. Not for member Berkut (post #15) though ------- .2 degrees celsius colder for him YESTERDAY than that coldest EVER temp in Winnipeg (at least without the wind chill factor) :eek:. Such is Winter 280 miles from the Arctic Circle.

I'm from a tropical island in the Caribbean... I complain about any kind of weather under 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A couple of days ago it's was 0 degrees and felt like -4..... The yaris took about 2 more seconds to start, and the tps are still on I have to check my tires soon.

[nookandcrannycar]

I'm from a tropical island in the Caribbean... I complain about any kind of weather under 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A couple of days ago it's was 0 degrees and felt like -4..... The yaris took about 2 more seconds to start, and the tps are still on I have to check my tires soon.

Brrrr...and I thought the 16-22 degrees I posted about was cold. IMO, the only thing that makes putting up with that cold for an extended period of time worth it is skiing. My second day of skiing ever (when I was 12 or 13?) was on Broadway and some of the other bunny runs below Emigrant Peak at Squaw Valley. Visibility was very poor and I was told that the wind was occasionally hitting 60 MPH..didn't deter me a bit. I loved it.

[Berkut]

20 minutes ago. Dress warmly and prepare u car for the cold. :)

[vaironl]

20 minutes ago. Dress warmly and prepare u car for the cold. :)

How do you put up with that :confused:

[Berkut]

Keep calm and carry one :)))

[Berkut]

Guys don't worry. The winter will end and the summer will come. At us is every January - 50C. And fog when month of the sun it isn't visible. Nobody pays attention. My Vitz goes 8 years every day. In any frosts. If there are any questions how to help the car to endure cold weather, with pleasure will answer, experience very big. :)

[fnkngrv]

since you live in Virginia, id definitely say save your $350 and just slow down a bit when needed.

Not to sound like an ass, but you are saying that saving $350 is better than spending the $350 to have the peace of mind and quite possibly if even once avoiding an accident? That you would not be able to save a totaled car and possibly serious injury or even death to one in the party involved? Yeah, spending the cash could suck, but even if you are a "great" driver in snow it isn't anywhere close to always you that needs your concern...it is also the other drivers out there. Personally, I would pick up a spare set of steelies and mount a set of M+S tires on them. Change them on/off myself rather than paying a shop. Even if you live in an apartment, a stack of tires in a closet or storage space doesn't take up too much room. Being in VA the OP is in a PITA situation as the need for M+S tires is minimal, but if you pay close attention to the weather it is manageable. I lived in the DC area for a few years and had a set of M+S tires. Hell you could even possibly just pick up a set of used ones since you wouldn't barely put mileage on them. They would probably dry rot before you burned down the the wear bars.

[fnkngrv]

20 minutes ago. Dress warmly and prepare u car for the cold. :)

This is a very good perspective when you are dealing with severe cold as you are showing. Not to hijack the thread, but one of the biggest mistakes of owners in areas that experience sub zero temps every winter is people not paying attention to the pour point of the motor oil they use. If you don't have a good pour point (example Amsoil is good to -50F) then you risk damage to your motor.

[Berkut]

At such cold NO oil will rescue the engine if to start the car in the morning on the street. car simply won't be brought. I use 0w30 it enough. All put in warm garages, left from garage in the morning, till the evening you don't switch off the car.

[Berkut]

If suddenly I switched off the motor in the winter on the street, it is necessary to cause special service on a defrosting. )) )
As on a photo.
Service costs about $40

[fnkngrv]

You need to remember that there is more than the oil affecting whether or not the engine will start, I am discussing possible damage to internal components due to the oil not having a proper ability to move out of the oilpan through the motor.

Amsoil:

Pour Point °C (°F) -51 (-60)

Mobil1:

Pour Point °C (°F) -48 (-54)

Havoline Full Synth:

Pour Point °C (°F) -35 (-31)


Valvoline Conventional:

Pour Point °C (°F) -36 (-32)

Penzoil Conventional:

Pour Point °C (°F) -39 (-38)


Get the picture? When I was in my late teens and didn't care at all what went into my engine and bought the cheapest stuff I could find because I was a starving post high school guy I would wonder why the engine in my cars would have shavings in the pan after the winter. Well, looking at it now I realize that just because the motor would start at -40 it didn't mean "I was all good". That's all I am saying to that.


/end hijack :thumbsup:

[vaironl]

You need to remember that there is more than the oil affecting whether or not the engine will start, I am discussing possible damage to internal components due to the oil not having a proper ability to move out of the oilpan through the motor.

Amsoil:

Pour Point °C (°F) -51 (-60)

Mobil1:

Pour Point °C (°F) -48 (-54)

Havoline Full Synth:

Pour Point °C (°F) -35 (-31)


Valvoline Conventional:

Pour Point °C (°F) -36 (-32)

Penzoil Conventional:

Pour Point °C (°F) -39 (-38)


Get the picture? When I was in my late teens and didn't care at all what went into my engine and bought the cheapest stuff I could find because I was a starving post high school guy I would wonder why the engine in my cars would have shavings in the pan after the winter. Well, looking at it now I realize that just because the motor would start at -40 it didn't mean "I was all good". That's all I am saying to that.


/end hijack :thumbsup:

This great info for me since I'm thinking about doing th oil change myself. I usually try to save a couple of bucks when buying computer parts/electronics/etc but when it comes to the car I try to take good care of it. Specially since I might have to tradein in the future.

[Berkut]

At such temperatures viscosity of oil is only one of factors. Certainly there are special products for ultralow temperatures, and it is possible to start the engine to theories without preparation and in-50С. But in practice she won't be brought. Or the accumulator will discharged or sparks plug will fill in etc. I got in -38С after 2 days on parking, but it is bad experience and too big wear of engine.


And for the rest I agree. Oil should be chosen the best that it is possible to buy as any repair of the engine is much more expensive.

[roxy1]

Not to sound like an ass, but you are saying that saving $350 is better than spending the $350 to have the peace of mind and quite possibly if even once avoiding an accident? .

I am saying that IMO it is a waste of money when the conditions will almost never dictate the need.

peace of mind should come from driving accordingly based on the conditions. snow tires wont save a bad driver from anything. in the Midwest id easily estimate 90% of drivers drive on all weather tires (which have improved greatly over the years) and drive pretty well. the bad drivers are bad and snow tires may or may not help them.

if anyone wants to spend $350 dollars to drive in snow a handful of times because it makes them feel better, they are free to do so.

[Berkut]

Sasha Grey. Today. Instagram

[vaironl]

Sasha Grey. Today. Instagram

And here I was complaining about single digit temps above zero and some snow.
I also shouldn't have searched that name....

[The Limo 2]

And here in "Great White North" where I live it is +4C, cloudy and no snow. Just the thought or -44C make me cold.
Roy

[RJay]

In snow.

Clutch. Drive on the clutch. Do not add any power when driving off, just let the clutch gently bite and take you away. After that gently feed a little bit of power. Shift smoothly, and DO revmatch. Otherwise you'll shiftlock much easyer. Not as big a problem but still a situation. Also use the clutch when going into a corner. The front wheels not having to transmit the power to the road makes them much more willing to follow the steering wheel.
Also brakes. Ease off a little when you feel the ABS Kick in. And it will kick in early on snow. You want to be at the point just before the abs kicks in, that's the most performance you will get out of your abs-equipped brakes ever. Unless you have real expensive abs. (race abs costs a yaris and then some in some cases). On snow though: Easy on that pedal, when you feel it kick in, back off a little. Because: ABS unleashes/disengages the brakes.
In an auto, just gently let go of the brake and don't start feeding power immediately. You'll just spin the wheels a lot getting snow and ugly stuff caked in the wheel wells.

And last but not least:

LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, NOT WHERE YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO.

Yes, I've seen OP's post is 5 months old now, but a lot of drivers would do well to remember this.


If you've got space turning + e-brake + clutch entry is about one of the most aggressive slip angles I ever did get with my 40 bhp Panda.