Never really noticed how much I took snow tires for granted until I started driving on G009's. I'll stay in today.
Early release ftw! I'm outta here in 15 minutes...I knew driving the Mazda today would be a bad idea :-(
Gah, driving home sucked. It's snowing, quick everybody! FREAK OUT! School got closed, so i went outside expecting massive snow. Wasn't even up to my rim. Hopefully it melts soon, I'm done with winter.
how bad is traffic? they said we were supposed to get 6-8 inches, and we did. people just made it out to be some massive super cell of snow terror
Driving is what you'd expect. I think I get more irritated at the people who complain about others driving slow when it's snowy than I do about the people driving slow. You know it's going to happen, so work with it.
I love when they don't 100% plow the left lane on 494 (in the 3 lane portion) I always take that lane, the looks I get are classic!!
There is at least 6 minimum on the ground in front of my house in Bloomington, also round two is on its way. Already snowing again.
I looked at today as a chance to watch people doing what they shouldn't be doing. I was leaving TAG after getting my summer tires mounted and there's a hill you have to drive up to get out of his shop. In front of me, a woman in a taurus or the mercury version turns onto the road and heads up. As she heads up, she slides a little, so what does she do? Yep, hits the brakes. Now she's stopped on a hill with ~4in of snow, and no-seasons. I felt bad for her as a drove around and up the hill, but I had to pick my son up, so I couldn't play good Samaritan this time (done it enough times to have a clear conscience about not always doing it). Then I came across a guy in a nice, Mercedes. One of the S class cars... They start somewhere north of $89K, btw. Apparantly after buying one you can't afford snow tires. Now this guy had tried to make a left turn through a bank thrown up by a plow. Here's a hint. Drive through the bank, then turn. Second hint, when people get out and start helping push you, straighten your damn wheels, it's not helping anybody to keep trying to do the thing that got you in a mess in the first place. The guy taking the entire road fishtailing his work van up a hill was just hopeless. The people honking at the guy in front of them who is stuck aren't helping anyone, by the way. It's not like they're just sitting there thinking this would be a nice place to sit for a while...
We have 6+ in EP/Chanhassen right now and still coming down strong. I used to get mad at people going slow... but remembered what its like to drive a 1 wheel drive vehicle with "No Season" tires on... its terrifying if you can even get moving. Just give them space and use unplowed lanes to pass if safe, and smile while doing so :biggrin:
When I was young and stupid (er?) I did the first winter in my Sentra SE-R on the stock, summer-only tires. I do have a certain amount of sympathy for anyone who's caught out with the wrong equipment, but on the other hand, a set of really basic snows (like Firestone Winterforces or Cooper Weathermasters) costs less than even the smallest bodywork I've ever had done.
hahaha vector, those true scenerios made me chuckle. stupid fwd and rwd owners not knowing how to drive in snow.:laugh::laugh: and of all things- when they live in minnesnowta!!
And keep in mind, I'm driving around in a 17-year old FWD car with 229k on the clock, no ABS, and no limited slip, so basically a 1-wheel wonder. The cheap-as-hell Winterforces make all the difference.
Indeed, but "Normal" people think having more than 1 set of tires for your vehicle (and expect nothing under 50k miles from them) is absurd. Not to mention we live in a place where drivers are given licenses without having any teaching/experience driving on loose surfaces. Its hard to imagine being that person who is truly terrified when they slide.
Truth on the winter tires, my first winter followed by the next two was spent in a 95 V8 Thunderbird with a posi on some really cheap basic tires. One winter on my Kelly Chargers I got stuck in 5-7" on snow 5 times in my alley within a 15 min period. The next winter I had my WRX with stock suspension and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's, the alley had a 8-10" snow bank at the begining and again 5-7 in the alley. So I went for it ... I LOVE AWD and snow tires!!!! :biggrin:
I did my good deed for the day. Pulled a Mini on summers from the middle of 13 on my way home. I had to pull him 1/2 a mile before we hit flat ground and he could move under his own power. He looked an said "Subaru huh, maybe it's time to go car shopping." :biggrin:
I parked behind a Avalanche on 20"+ rims with low pro summer orientated rubber yesterday at Chipotle ... wonder how those are doing today?
On days like this I'm seriously tempted to drive around S. Mpls in my truck with the tow strap hooked up and ready. "I'll pull you out of the snowbank right now for $40" How many people would turn that down? I'm too much of a softie though, and usually end up pulling people out for nothing when i do happen to have the truck and the time.
omfg ftw :laugh:lolz ftw i pulled out a beautiful 9-3 aero last time it snowed. the guy who hit him into the snow bank drove a forester and he was an ex 2.5rs owner :laugh: fwd ftl yes. pwnd:laugh:
I watched a VW golf/gti (2004 vintage or around that) spin out on Carlson Pkwy today going 15 mph IN A STRAIGHT LINE. Just boom, spinning. No reason, no sudden movement from the driver, nothing. Creepy. I luckily avoided her and let her sit there as she bounced off the curb. I could be on drag slicks and not spin out going in a straight line on 2" of snow.
When I was going back to work after getting lunch, a VW GLI in front of me kept speeding up and slowing down... Come to find out that when he rounded the corner by Circuit City (off Plymouth Road) he got stuck on a slight incline. And people think they know everything when a shop recommends tires...
there was 6"+ inches in my driveway and a 3' drift on my deck....most have been really localized if chan, about 2 miles away only got 4.5"
