Winter Driving

[stomachmonkey]

I'm out in Colorado.

Mind you I moved from NY to TX 15 years ago so it's been a bit since I've had to do significant winter driving.

Denver to Aspen is a 3.5 hour drive that took us more like 9 hours over two days.

Day 1 we got stuck right before the peak of Vail Pass because they shut down i70.

Rather than risk sleeping in the car we bailed and found a hotel in Copper before everyone else got the same idea.

Fly out of Denver on Thursday so need to head back there at some point this week but it's snowing every day and the roads are not terrible if you only have to go 20 miles but I've got to go 200 including those climbs in and out of the passes which are like 6 mile steep grades on both sides.

Driving a 2021 4 wheel Denali and it's been managing well but it's a big beast. I have the Tahoe, same truck so not unfamiliar with the driving experience but not under these conditions.

So the question, am I better off in 4w Auto or just keep it in 4w Hi the whole ride.

Also the lane assist, my brain says turn it off but the truck drives funky without it, feels real loose and light up front, I don't like the way it drives. My Tahoe drives exactly the same with lane assist on or off.

My thought is lane assist on may interfere in crap conditions, fight me.

[masraum]

Our Outback has lane assist. There are times when it can get confused.

Someone on the board once posted about driving a Subaru with lane assist in snowy conditions and the car had a problem understanding the snow and tire tracks and fought him.

Based on the other person's experience, I'd probably turn it off unless the roads were completely clear with no snow.

I've driven in snow and ice before, but probably not as much as you. That said, I'd probably go with full-time 4w Hi rather than automatic. I have to feel like it is better for it to be on rather than the computer having to constantly monitor and figure it out.

Fortunately, you're smarter than the average bear, Yogi. If you were like most Texans with a 4WD truck, you're be plowing on at 70mph regardless of the conditions.

Good luck. Sounds like a huge pain.

[vash]

i am not an expert, not even close.

but when i go to Tahoe, i used 4Hi sometimes. i find i am okay with the good old garden variety RWD on my Tacoma. i just go slow(er). i use 4WD to go up any significant grade. i find the brakes, or tire slippage my limiting factor anyways.

[MRM]

I have had a Ford Explorer for about ten years with the larger engine and higher end four wheel drive with 4W High and Low. I've driven it in bad weather in each setting and couldn't tell a difference. I went on the Explorer chat rooms, looking for recommendations, and there seemed to be no consensus. I don't think the range makes much difference in snow.

The big difference is dedicated snow tires. I learned a long time ago that the main difference between two wheel and four wheel drive vehicles is that if you slip with a four wheel drive vehicle you have four wheels out of control rather than two. Four wheel drive helps with starting and getting out of ruts, but it doesn't do much for control on the road and it doesn't affect stopping distance. That's where dedicated snow tires come in. I know they are expensive, but I put them on every vehicle we get and change them out in the spring. They are worth every penny and have saved me more than once. Put on a set and you won't believe the difference. You'll never be without them again.

[pete3799]

Never owned a car with lane assist but i would say turn it off.
4 high would be my choice.
Not familiar with GM but if it has an off road option don't use it. Will make it want to under steer.

[stevej37]

I'd keep the lane assist off. It's trying to center the car by tracking the pavement lines.
If there is snow cover...who knows where it might try to center you.

[flatbutt]

I loathe lane assist AND traction control. I use 4 Hi whenever the roads are dodgy but I drive my truck, not the computer.

[Dantilla]

The techniques for driving on snow & ice are the same as driving on the race track.
In both, you are dancing on the edge of adhesion.
In snow, 20 mph. The track, 120 mph.

Just shift your brain to track mode, and make every input smoothly and deliberately.

[Crowbob]

I’ve never driven a computer, either.

But I have driven a truck in snow/ice/wind/rain/sleet/freezing rain/hail simultaneously and in random sequence up and down hills, curves, straights and sideways.

4WD helps you go forward only. That’s it. If you are going forward already, you don’t need 4WD. I think 2WD is safer, cheaper and more comfortable. 4WD in deep snow and mud is great. Also helpful getting unstuck.

But that’s me.

[stomachmonkey]

Drove in snow for decades back east.

We would be in Vermont every weekend.

Yes i know 4W does not help with stopping.

On ice nothing helps.

These are not clear roads.

Traction from one side of a lane to the other is not consistent and there’s a fair amount of slush.

The passes I need to get through going back to Denver are mandatory AWD / 4WD or chains. FW and RWD are not even allowed on them in these conditions.

Vail Pass is just north of 10,500 ft. with 7 miles of twisty 8 degree grade on each side.

It’s not pleasant in the best of conditions.

[MRM]

Blizzaks will actually help you stop on ice. I am serious. They are that good. I wouldn't be wasting your time bugging you about it if I didn't think you would fall in love with them once you tried them. https://tractionlife.com/bridgestone-blizzak-dm-v2-winter-tire-review/

[vash]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Drove in snow for decades back east.

We would be in Vermont every weekend.

Yes i know 4W does not help with stopping.

On ice nothing helps.

These are not clear roads.

Traction from one side of a lane to the other is not consistent and there’s a fair amount of slush.

The passes I need to get through going back to Denver are mandatory AWD / 4WD or chains. FW and RWD are not even allowed on them in these conditions.

Vail Pass is just north of 10,500 ft. with 7 miles of twisty 8 degree grade on each side.

It’s not pleasant in the best of conditions.

i bet you're better than most in Winter driving. here where i live, rain crushes the abilities of my fellow drivers. RAIN! we cant even get the guy in the dark gray vehicle to turn on his headlights in a dark-sky deluge. good times!!

on a parallel note: i started watching a Cop TV show called "Cardinal". filmed in some made up city in Canada - in the winter. everyone drives front wheel drive sedans. one scene the main cop drives out onto a frozen lake in his sedan. no fanfare. i get the feeling most frozen areas dont over think their vehicles in Winter. just proper tires and battery coozies.

[faverymi]

Since it's only one ride see if you can get a set of snow chains for the truck.

If you need them you'll be happy you have them.

Whatever gearing you choose go slow and steady. Keep the momentum.

[faverymi]

https://youtu.be/1padKLj7VVI

[porsche930dude]

You guys are nuts if you think 4wd doesnt help braking. I dont know about the newer vehicles with their silly systems but a proper 4wd it certainly helps. My 99 tahoe doesnt stop for nothing the front wheels just skid and abs kicks in. In 4wd all 4 work together and it stops no problem. Same with my old jeeps. Even cruising along in a straight line it makes a world of difference. The back end always loosing traction and trying to come around. That just doesnt happen in 4wd. Are you sure you drove in snow?

[varmint]

#1 if it’s that bad stay home.

#2 good tires are really important.

#3 slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

[porsche930dude]

With fresh snow tires your traction worries will go to zero. Then you just need to worry about visibility

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by varmint

#1 if it’s that bad stay home.

#2 good tires are really important.

#3 slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

#1 I have to get home

#2 Rental, I have no control over that

#3 I know that, it's all the other idiots out there that seem to forget

[oldE]

Originally Posted by MRM

Blizzaks will actually help you stop on ice. I am serious. They are that good. I wouldn't be wasting your time bugging you about it if I didn't think you would fall in love with them once you tried them. https://tractionlife.com/bridgestone-blizzak-dm-v2-winter-tire-review/

I will second this.
I used to lock in the 4wd depending upon conditions. If there was just a bit of snow or slush, let the system handle it. If the snow or slush cover is predominant, lock it in.
And yes, locked in 4wd can eliminate slippage in one end or the other, it can also lead you into an exhilarating 4 wheel drift to the scene of the accident under the wrong treatment.
When the traction is marginal, I tend to worry more about what the other guy is doing. I know my limits.
Best
Les

[look 171]

I am far from being expert on snow like vash only because we live in paradise but have had my fair share of driving in the sierra during heavy storms on many ski trips and a few times across Canada. One thing, I know those Canadians can drive in the white stuff. My cousins use to own those big old American, rear wheel drive cars only and they survive the winters jsut fine. This was when -25 was normal.

In my 4 runner (Limited edition), its always all wheel drive but I can select 4 wd or 4 low if necessary. Last time we were in Yosemite when it stormed vans and other cars had chains and they were still all over the road, we danced up it with the vehicle in normal drive. I can't tell the difference if I shift it in 4WD. The computer does such a great job. If it got really slippery, I would have had to chain up but we drove it just fine. Same as my Duramax truck, no slipping around but I had to drive it in 4WD when the road get slippery. All on Toyo's All Terrain or whatever you call those Three Little Peaks or snow rated. Pretty good tires for the snow. Drove that up to Canada the winter before Covid shut down. No problem. Go slow. I have had to come down a long slippery hill once in Mammoth but I make sure it was in 4Low to keep the wheels turning slowly. Made it out OK.