Advice for a Southerner driving in northern climes?

Question

My wife and I live near Savannah, Georgia -- a place where it almost never snows enough to cause problems on the road. In January, we are planning a road trip that will take us to a community near Pittsburgh -- and then on up into the Allegheny region of New York.

I believe I have the necessary skill set for driving in snow. My limited experience with it suggests that it's not unlike driving on muddy dirt roads -- which I have considerable experience doing.

But we're debating: should we invest in all-weather tires for the car? Alternatively, would it be worth it to buy snow chains?

Any advice would be most welcome.

Answer 1

Hi, Georgia! I 'm a Yankee that knows your area a bit. I hope you have a good trip.

Yeah, it's a lot like when it rains in GA, especially on some of those red mud back roads.

I'd always use all-season radials from about Virginia on north. But that's 'cuz I live there, not just passing through.

Just remember that it's a lot harder to stop nice and easy than to go fast, and there's no friendly Bubbas running around with a pickup truck and chain to pull you out of a ditch.

If you do hit some bad weather, find an empty stretch of road or parking lot and practice a bit, get a feel for how you car acts.

Make sure you keep some warm boots/blankets/coats or whatever in the trunk in case you do end up stuck somewhere for a while. That would be really rare, but, hey, why not? A little shovel and some sand/salt mix for the road could potentially come in handy, but don't let me get you all worked up - these are just extras.

A lot of places up north don't allow chains, but just in case you can pick them up, the wire/cable-based ones are pretty cheap. It seems like a lot of money to get a new set of all-seasons just for this trip, unless you're near to needing some new tires anyway. Is there any chance that renting a car would make more sense for you, even if it was only for the time you were up in the real north? I mean,a good set of all-seasons can run you $500 and up.

Have fun and say "Hi!" to Savannah.

Answer 2

1. Ignore the idiot that said to let air out of your tires. They'll overheat and blow.

2. Buy a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks -- all four wheels. Best snow & ice tire going. All weather tires won't cut it if the weather goes sour in the North Country.

3. A set of chains are a good idea IF your car's manufacturer allows them -- check the owner's manual. Normally don't use them on front wheel drive cars. And NEVER use them on dry roads. Put em on and take em off as needed.

4. Slow the hell down! It's NOT the same as muddy or dirt roads. Especially icy roads -- more like motor oil on a smooth painted garage floor.

5. If you have 4-wheel drive, you MAY NOT drive any faster than if you had 2-wheel drive. You still have the same steering & brakes as everyone else. 4-wheel drive is OK to get you going, but is not for going any faster.

6. Snowy & icy weather does NOT cause accidents. Driving too fast for conditions DOES. And 5 MPH can be TOO FAST under the worst conditions.

7. Carry blankets for warmth if you get stuck. Bring food and water for 3 - 5 days. If you get stuck in bad weather, STAY IN YOUR CAR. The shelter it provides will save your life. Help will find you. Rember the family in OR last month. The wife and kids stayed with the car and lived. The husband "went for help" and died.

Answer 3

Forget the chains, All-weather tires would be a very good idea if your driving a front wheel drive car. Plan you trip with alittle more time. Check the weather channel for weather conditions and leave when best. You may have to spend a night somewhere if you drive into a bad snow storm. We keep are roads pretty clean up here but night driving would not be a good idea for first timers. Stay with the main highways and you shouldn't have any problems there. Basic rules for snow driving. 1. Give yourself plenty of room to stop. You will slide alot.2. Try not to stop on a hill. You won't get going again when your ready to move. If you thinks its bad driving then find a motel. You life is worth it. Have fun and enjoy your trip.

Answer 4

All season tires would be the minimum requirement. Real snow tires have a special compound to help them work in the cold.
Its a large expense for 4 snow tires, but if you are driving in snow all seasons are not the way to go.
If you get in snow deep enough to need chains you are in trouble. Watch the weather reports and stay home if heavy snow is coming.
Its a little like driving in mud except except you have to drive slow. Even here in New England our first snowfall (1/10th of an inch resulted in an accident every mile on interstate 91.

Answer 5

Get yourself a set of studded tires for the drive wheels,or chains. Some states ban chains on non-emergency vehicles. You may want to check with the states that you'll be passing through. I'm from upstate N.Y. originally & have many yr.s of winter driveing. I would recommend studded tires. Also watch out for black ice. It's alot more slippery than normal ice & is harder to see. One more thing all weather tires suck. This I know from personal exprieance. Go slow, keep a safe distance from other cars,& try to stay on the main rds.

Answer 6

Its really more experiance than advise, make sure your tire are good, lots of thread on them, take your time, go slow, stay way back of other cars, make sure you have winter wiper wash and lots of it, try to use all the main freeways, stay away from sidestreest and watch all bridges and overoasses they ice up, also watch out for black ice, stay on the main roads go slow take your time you should be alright.

Answer 7

Don't get chains, that's unnecessary. Just drive with caution and maybe get snow tires. Main roads and highways should always be plowed and de-iced, so if that's all your driving on, you should be fine.

Answer 8

All you're able to do is snigger at them. it relatively is hilarious whilst they deliver journalists up north to checklist on memories and that they gown up in finished arctic climate kit, and us hardy northerners would be considered in the history in t-shirts, and that they get a drop of snow and act like its the arriving of the 2d ice age. and that all of them think of they don't have an accessory, whilst they have between the main ridiculous in the land, and that they seem to think of we live in huts or something. i understand human beings from throughout large britain and londoners are the main insular human beings i've got met, yet they seem to think of all of us aspire to be like them. Yeah i understand i'm generalising - a number of my terrific pals are londoners lol

Answer 9

Life long northerner here.... ( Providence Rhode Island) muddy roads and icy one's are NOT the same at all...most of the time the conditions that are the most dangerous are called, freezing rain, sleet snow and rain mixed, which is what the parts of the country your going to get the most of, and of course SNOW!

Freezing rain...just what is says..a coating of ice, can be thick or thin, and you'll have a hard time just trying to walk to the car.

Sleet..is a mixture of everything...a mess, thick and heavy wet slush, you get slightly more traction in sleet, I said slightly more.

"BLACK ICE" , this happens when a thin coating of ice settles into the cracks and crevices of the road, you have no idea your driving into it till it is too late, and it will spin you out of control just like an oil slick. Listen for that condition reported on radio and t.v. weather alerts.

Here are some of the best tips I ever got from my dad...a truck driver a "teamster" of 48 yrs.
All season tires are mostly worthless unless you have a front wheel drive car...you want snow tires..Blizzacks, or Goodyear's snow for most cars.

EASY HANDS on the steering wheel...a light touch, do nothing hard or fast.

EASY FEET...little gas, little brake, if your slipping, back off the pedal, don't fight a slow slide...it is scary but if you hit that gas or brake, you'll go for a spin.

SLOW DOWN....4 wheel drive is nice, but will not keep you from sliding on ice! Let them pass you up! people are increasingly stupid today, suv's think they can bucket along, you will find them in a ditch 5 miles down the road, after they passed you up!

Make sure, your window wash is full, and is a de icier type, such as prestone or rain guard, trucks passing you and cars toss up ton's of crap that will blind you.
Get a good scraper/snow brush and make sure you clear off the roof, your lights front and back and license plate (cops will ticket you if you don't)

Put a bag in your trunk of a mixture of..
(5 pound bag of each) one part cheap kitty litter, one part rock salt, one part cheap play sand, a shovel, for when you get stuck. Dig out as much of the snow and ice as you can. Then apply this mixture to the tire (s) that are stuck, let it sit a few minutes and melt some of ice and snow..then try to move the car.
Rock it, by going from drive to reverse till you free yourself, turning your wheels out of or away from where your stuck...(not that your stupid but some people need extra help)

If the storm is bad, and you have no choice but to drive, let 5 pounds of air out of each tire..this gives you more surface traction on the road, get behind a large truck and drive in his tire tracks, (Don't tail gate him...stay back, he will flip up a lot of snow and crap on your windshield, but follow in his tire tracks.)
he might be the only thing moving on the road, and when he decides bail out and hit the truck stop..go with him..(seriously watch what the professional drivers are doing)
Last ditch effort here...get over to side of the median or curb and put your tires up on the edge of it, it might be the only place you can get traction, do this just till you find the next exit or parking lot.

If you have a C.B. radio..tune to channel 19..the truckers channel and listen to what they are saying about the road...one driver to another. It is your best information on the road conditions.

The best tip you can have is patience! Wait it out, most places that have bad weather, have crews standing by ready to treat the roads and plow, you will see them lining up on the interstate in the break down lanes with a serious storm pending, take that as your tip off, to go get the milk and bread and get your butt home.
Lot's of people died during the blizzard of 78...on the road, because they got stranded! you can't drive in 4ft of anything!

Answer 10

take some air out of the tires , I was the only cab driver in Atlanta 2 years ago.