Yaris in SNOW ... how should you drive?

[romram]

just came from work, it's 11pm in CT... driving a yaris hatch.
oh boy.... it's hard to drive in a 4-6ins of snow. i know, even a 4x4 will have a hard time in snow mix with rain...
any tips? specially if your yaris is already shifting sideways... (at 5-15mph!)

[fnkngrv]

It will be trial and error depending on your tires really.

[mryaris]

Dedicated snow tires will do wonders. I have a set for my Yaris and the difference is unbelievable.

[romram]

Originally Posted by mryaris

Dedicated snow tires will do wonders. I have a set for my Yaris and the difference is unbelievable.

thanks, snow tires will be good, but snow that are not plow or left behind will really make driving hard! i hope snow tires will really do good on a 6-12in of wet snow.
i hate driving uphill/downhill in CT

[bronsin]

A manual transmission works wonders. An auto is not as safe. (car doesnt slow down when you let up on the gas as much)

This is my first car with auto trans and antilock brakes. Not a good combination. The car doesnt slow down like a manual and you think the antilocks will stop the car in spite of that.

WRONG!

My advice is to forget you have antilock brakes and pump the brake pedal carefully as you normally would. That is exactly counter to the manufacturers advice (which is slam on the brakes for all they are worth)

[Hamster]

Originally Posted by bronsin

My advice is to forget you have antilock brakes and pump the brake pedal carefully as you normally would. That is exactly counter to the manufacturers advice (which is slam on the brakes for all they are worth)

I agree with this 100 percent, and I've likewise discovered that it's better to just pump the brakes if you find yourself in a slide. This is the first car I've ever driven that has ABS, and I fail to see how it's safer.

[Viperoni]

Originally Posted by Hamster

I agree with this 100 percent, and I've likewise discovered that it's better to just pump the brakes if you find yourself in a slide. This is the first car I've ever driven that has ABS, and I fail to see how it's safer.

This is terrible advice.

If you stand on the brake pedal, the ABS is kicking in constantly many times a second.

If you pump the brake pedal, ABS only kicks in when you're apply pressure.
When you're not applying pressure, ABS is not unlocking the wheels because there's no braking pressure, because they're not braking.

So you're going from many pulsations per second, second after consequtive second, to many pulsations for every alternating 1/4 second at best.

Even though ABS isn't the fastest way to stop a car in deep snow, not stepping on the brake pedal is far wosre.


Winter tires FTW.

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

Originally Posted by Viperoni

Winter tires FTW.

ITS under 40 degree tires!!! GET IT RIGHT....

[Viperoni]

Originally Posted by ROCKLAND TOYOTA

ITS under 40 degree tires!!! GET IT RIGHT....

Although you're technically right, it's semantics to the general population.

[thepartsmancometh]

Our yaris is an auto with no abs. The car was fairly scary on the stock all season tires in ANY amount of snow. We put ContiExtreme Winter tires on it for last season, and that made a HUGE difference. While its still no 4x4, the yaris with snow tires is slightly better in deep snow than my AWD Subaru on brand new all-seasons. I have ABS on my car, and the yaris can definitely out stop me. I can still take it in a straight line from a dead stop though ;)

[enviri]

i generally avoid the brakes as much as possible and just coast alot. momentum avoids getting stuck :) Brake slowly and lightly as much as you can.

[BluYrs]

I should probably attach a disclaimer of sorts to this post, but hey, I'm just telling you what works for me.

I find myself reaching for the e-brake (handbrake) when I need to stop when the road is covered with snow/slush. This is especially true when I need to stop suddenly. The ABS system on the Yaris sucks for braking distance (but is great for retaining manouverability though). I mean, when applying the brakes in slippery conditions, I have enough time to read a magazine while the Yaris very slowly loses speed. So when you know you have to stop, there speed is low enough not to lose control of the car and you're up for it, try the e-brake.

[Hamster]

Oh, I forgot to add....I once read that if you find yourself in a slide, steer in the direction of the slide, and you'll regain control. It sounds counterintuitive, but it really works. This applies to any car, not just the Yaris. And, of course, never panic.

[thepartsmancometh]

Originally Posted by Hamster

Oh, I forgot to add....I once read that if you find yourself in a slide, steer in the direction of the slide, and you'll regain control. It sounds counterintuitive, but it really works. This applies to any car, not just the Yaris. And, of course, never panic.

good advice. this is called countersteering. just DO NOT mash the brakes when you start to slide, as previously noted, the rear end will step out and you will spin.

[EPyarisdriver]

Originally Posted by Hamster

Oh, I forgot to add....I once read that if you find yourself in a slide, steer in the direction of the slide, and you'll regain control. It sounds counterintuitive, but it really works. This applies to any car, not just the Yaris. And, of course, never panic.

Ha learned this from drifting. Not in a yaris though

[bronsin]

My ECHO on the stock tire was a nightmare in snow. Very twitchy, little traction. They were the Potenza 92s. My Yaris with the exact same tires is quite good.

My advice if you find your car not nice to drive in snow is do a little research on Tire Rack and find a better set of tires.

[SailDesign]

Snow tires. And do everything more slowly than normal. No sudden pushes at any of the pedals, no sudden tweaks to the steering wheel. You're trying not to break anything free from the traction.

[refotsirk]

Yup....snow tires....as the stock tires were and are just that...minimal. Driving an '07 and got Dunlop Graspic 2's year one...and what an amazing difference...so in spring thru fall the stock tires and ..well.....this week on go the snows. Up here in N. Wisconsin i would rather feel save and get safely where I need to be, without doing hail Mary's the whole drive....Spent a bit for the tires, (actually the same amount as my deductible had I a mishap and needed body work) but it was a perfect investment. The wife said she feels like there is more bite into the snow than even our 4x4 Blazer. Now that says something.
The deeper tread, and more pronounced siping and of course the softer tire material
make for a very enjoyable winter. Regular tires get harder the colder it gets.
Standard M&S (mud and snow) tires just can't do all they claim to do.
Last thing here....if you tend to drive alone? I put a sandbag in the foot compartment of the passenger area and that makes a very light car get even more traction. The engine over the front wheel drive can only do so much.
And of course....super tires or not...the lowness to the ground will get you "hung up"
in plowed areas like driveways.....I am surprised my lower front wind guard is still there after plowing my way thru deep snows.
Invest in safety...get snows too...unless you live in the sunbelt where you only have freak storm needs.
Just my thoughts..........