Guide to Winter Driving
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From: Chicago, IL
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by Joliet John
Make sure to watch your mirrors, especially when stopping or sitting at a light. The person coming up behind you may have ignored the slippery conditions. Keep your car in gear and have a plan to get out of the way if you need to.
Going along with your advice, leave a little room between you and the guy in front of you. I don't know if it will matter any if you do end up getting rear-end in a XF, but if someone does rear-end you, at least you'll have some space in front of you so you don't get pushed into the back of the car in front of you.
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From: Griffith, Indiana
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by Joliet John
An actual winter Driving tip, which applies to any vehicle, but it seems many people forget or ignore:
Pretend as though there is an egg that you are not allowed to break between your foot and the gas and brake pedals. A light touch works better to get you going or slow you down on a slippery road.
A few more;
Always assume the road is slippery, even if it seems it's not.
Increase your following distance by a *lot* and make sure you are paying attention to everything around you and as far ahead as possible. You want to avoid having to do any emergency braking or maneuvers to the greatest extent possible.
Make sure to watch your mirrors, especially when stopping or sitting at a light. The person coming up behind you may have ignored the slippery conditions. Keep your car in gear and have a plan to get out of the way if you need to.
Pretend as though there is an egg that you are not allowed to break between your foot and the gas and brake pedals. A light touch works better to get you going or slow you down on a slippery road.
A few more;
Always assume the road is slippery, even if it seems it's not.
Increase your following distance by a *lot* and make sure you are paying attention to everything around you and as far ahead as possible. You want to avoid having to do any emergency braking or maneuvers to the greatest extent possible.
Make sure to watch your mirrors, especially when stopping or sitting at a light. The person coming up behind you may have ignored the slippery conditions. Keep your car in gear and have a plan to get out of the way if you need to.
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From: Griffith, Indiana
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by onehundred80
You have to be afraid of the idiots out there as they will nail you every time.
There can only be one first rule for hazardous road conditions and it is a question;
'Do I have to go out onto the roads today?'
One small fender bender when you really did not have to be out there will really make you think harder the next time, if you're smart that is.
There can only be one first rule for hazardous road conditions and it is a question;
'Do I have to go out onto the roads today?'
One small fender bender when you really did not have to be out there will really make you think harder the next time, if you're smart that is.
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From: Joliet, IL
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by shapeshifter309
I actually do this ever since I rear-ended someone when I was 17. Even on dry pavement. Some idiots don't realize you don't need to slam on the brakes every time you stop, and you don't need to do 40 mph up to my bumper.
Going along with your advice, leave a little room between you and the guy in front of you. I don't know if it will matter any if you do end up getting rear-end in a XF, but if someone does rear-end you, at least you'll have some space in front of you so you don't get pushed into the back of the car in front of you.
Going along with your advice, leave a little room between you and the guy in front of you. I don't know if it will matter any if you do end up getting rear-end in a XF, but if someone does rear-end you, at least you'll have some space in front of you so you don't get pushed into the back of the car in front of you.
As for leaving room in front of you, that also helps give you the opportunity to move out of the way (which you can't do if you're parked on the guy's bumper).
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From: Joliet, IL
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
I was reminded of this today when my anti-lock brakes kicked in stopping quickly for a changing light;
A dry road, coated with salt, provides much less traction than a dry road not coated with salt.
A dry road, coated with salt, provides much less traction than a dry road not coated with salt.
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From: Griffith, Indiana
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by Joliet John
I was reminded of this today when my anti-lock brakes kicked in stopping quickly for a changing light;
A dry road, coated with salt, provides much less traction than a dry road not coated with salt.
A dry road, coated with salt, provides much less traction than a dry road not coated with salt.
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From: Joliet, IL
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by Cody M
Yes I agree with you. I want this snow to go away so I can actually enjoy my Crossfire again! Here in Northwest Indiana we got about 10 inches of snow the other day and the got my Crossfire stuck in my driveway for the first time (good thing it was in the driveway cause if I would have made it to the road I would of got stuck anyways). Roads are still bad today cause for some reason there are not many plows out.
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From: Maryland (Central)
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by Joliet John
Because of the continuing snow and wind, the plows were unable to make much of a difference yesterday. Lots of Indiana roads were completely shut down. It was a good day for you to stay home.
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From: KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE!
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
6. Keep the underside of your Crossfire rust free. I'm talking about muffler, cats, and anything metal that can rust underneath your car. The best way to do this is to get some ramps or jack up the front of your car and get underneath with a hose and spray everything down real good.
Two things: A "sprinkler hose" one of those flattish multi tube hoses with small holes all over the top of the hose placed in long coils under the car makes a great belly wash. Also, a trucker I used to drive with taught me that you should go into Neutral if you have any idea that you may slide in a stopping situation. Works well on the XF so far. No sideways funhouse stuff on these icy TN. hills (yet).
Thanks folks, for all the other help. This is a GREAT forum!
Two things: A "sprinkler hose" one of those flattish multi tube hoses with small holes all over the top of the hose placed in long coils under the car makes a great belly wash. Also, a trucker I used to drive with taught me that you should go into Neutral if you have any idea that you may slide in a stopping situation. Works well on the XF so far. No sideways funhouse stuff on these icy TN. hills (yet).
Thanks folks, for all the other help. This is a GREAT forum!
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From: Lebanon, Tennessee
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by perfecto
Do we ever need snow chains?
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From: Lebanon, Tennessee
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by Pacemaker
6. Keep the underside of your Crossfire rust free. I'm talking about muffler, cats, and anything metal that can rust underneath your car. The best way to do this is to get some ramps or jack up the front of your car and get underneath with a hose and spray everything down real good.
Two things: A "sprinkler hose" one of those flattish multi tube hoses with small holes all over the top of the hose placed in long coils under the car makes a great belly wash. Also, a trucker I used to drive with taught me that you should go into Neutral if you have any idea that you may slide in a stopping situation. Works well on the XF so far. No sideways funhouse stuff on these icy TN. hills (yet).
Thanks folks, for all the other help. This is a GREAT forum!
Two things: A "sprinkler hose" one of those flattish multi tube hoses with small holes all over the top of the hose placed in long coils under the car makes a great belly wash. Also, a trucker I used to drive with taught me that you should go into Neutral if you have any idea that you may slide in a stopping situation. Works well on the XF so far. No sideways funhouse stuff on these icy TN. hills (yet).
Thanks folks, for all the other help. This is a GREAT forum!
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From: Joliet, IL
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Here's a winter XFire tip not related to driving, sort of...
On American cars, one option you have is for the heat to come out at the floor only. This makes sense as heat rises. If your heat is coming out the vents or the defroster, it's not ever really going to make it down to the floor.
The XFire has some options that include the floor, but nothing for floor only. You can still accomplish this by choosing the setting for just floor and vents, then closing the vents. You'll get a nice blast of hot air on your cold feet!
On American cars, one option you have is for the heat to come out at the floor only. This makes sense as heat rises. If your heat is coming out the vents or the defroster, it's not ever really going to make it down to the floor.
The XFire has some options that include the floor, but nothing for floor only. You can still accomplish this by choosing the setting for just floor and vents, then closing the vents. You'll get a nice blast of hot air on your cold feet!
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Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by astrnmrtom
2. A second set of rims with studded snow tires. Yes, it can be expensive but a set will probably last as long as you own your car unless you put a LOT of winter miles on them. I put together a set of 4 after and saved some cash by spending some time on the computer visiting craigslist or you can go to a tire store and get a set of "cheap" alloy rims with winter tires. Yes, its expensive but this is the best route if you prefer summer tires for your non-winter driving or already have a good set of summer tires on the car. A garage, a small floor jack and 1/2 hour is all you need to swap 'em out when it snows.
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From: Vermont Republic
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
I may get flamed for this, but IMHO the XF has NO business at least on Vermont roads in the winter studded tires or not. I am sure the XF is more than acceptable as a winter driver in more moderate parts of the country but in Vermont personally I would be scared to death to put this car on I-89 during the morning commute.
Vermont has an annual salt loading on state highways of 17.1 tons per mile per lane. Trust me, there is NO way you can remove that type of salt off you vehicle. Extended periods of well below freezing temperatures for extended periods make it virtually impossible to wash and remove salt with any regularity.
Ref: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs...35/017-030.pdf
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Vermont has an annual salt loading on state highways of 17.1 tons per mile per lane. Trust me, there is NO way you can remove that type of salt off you vehicle. Extended periods of well below freezing temperatures for extended periods make it virtually impossible to wash and remove salt with any regularity.
Ref: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs...35/017-030.pdf
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From: Griffith, Indiana
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by apkano
Studded tires are pretty much illegal in most every state.
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From: Griffith, Indiana
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by Pacemaker
Two things: A "sprinkler hose" one of those flattish multi tube hoses with small holes all over the top of the hose placed in long coils under the car makes a great belly wash. Also, a trucker I used to drive with taught me that you should go into Neutral if you have any idea that you may slide in a stopping situation. Works well on the XF so far. No sideways funhouse stuff on these icy TN. hills (yet).
Thanks folks, for all the other help. This is a GREAT forum!
Thanks folks, for all the other help. This is a GREAT forum!
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From: Joliet, IL
Re: Guide to Winter Driving
Originally Posted by Cody M
I know you said pretty much illegal but here in Indiana and Illinois you can use studded snow tires for a certain period of time. Usually from the end of November to the end of February but, I don't know of any people who actually use these.