Driving in Snow and Ice #2 | Are You Skilled Enough?

Here's another episode where you can upgrade your skill set on how to drive in snow and ice.
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[@geordiegeorge9041]

Having lived in Germany for decades I am accustomed to driving in snow. One christmas my wife and I were visiting my family in the UK. There had been a lot of snow overnight, and the road out of the port had a steep incline. cars were queuing at the bottom. I couldn't see any reason for this, so I drove past. When I go to the top of the hill a police officer stopped me. He asked me how had I managed to drive up the hill, did I have 4 wheel drive? My answer was, In the winter snow tyres are compulsory in Germany.

[@PedroConejo1939]

My experience in Germany during proper snow was that traffic lights and junction priorities became discretionary, the vehicle with the most need was given priority. I'm not sure if that was a legal requirement or if everyone just did it because... German. On some slopes, pedestrians would help keep cars moving by giving a gentle push all the way up the hill, all without being asked. The whole idea was to never come to a dead stop anywhere.

[@LeeFlemingster]

I don't know anyone in the UK that uses snow tyres. We just don't get enough snow. Snow socks are excellent though. Everyone should have a set in the car.

[@geordiegeorge9041]

@@LeeFlemingster Winter tyres are made of a softer mix of materials. When the temp drops below 8"c they perform much better than "normal " tyres.

[@ianmason.]

@@LeeFlemingster It's not that we don't get enough snow, it's that it's too warm for snow tyres most of the time in winter. In typical UK winter temperatures snow tyres are so soft that becomes a problem of its own.

[@lindabrown8421]

@@ianmason. I use snow tires on my F-250 from November to April. The tires work as well in snow as they do on dry roads. When Covid started I did not change the snow tires out for a whole year and there was no discernible difference. In summer we have temps that can go over 100 F.

[@mrblablablabla]

Such a considerate driver. Great to see! And to be frank, this looks like a really fun challenge!

[@Blahsheep]

I live in Canada and it snows for almost half the year. When I learned to drive, I went out every single snow storm. If it rained, I went out. If it snowed, I went out. I also did have winter tires but it helped a lot to be able to learn what your car is going to do in different situations. While everyone else got stuck, I just drove no problem. I think it's important not to be scared of something like driving in the snow especially if you are new to it. Just take it easy and go to a parking lot to learn how your car controls when it loses traction. Do some "donuts" or something to learn how your car acts under pressure so you can correct the car.

[@PaulGSXR]

Perfect example. I have unfortunately seen far too many people using excessive speed and poor separation distance in these conditions. It all comes down to the same thing that causes most issues on the road... Impatience!

[@philtabest]

If I have someone tailgating me in these conditions, I slow down and stick my hazards on for a few seconds. They always get the message and drop back a bit.

[@JohnR31415]

It’s safety… you spend the minimum time on the road if you go as fast as possible … I’m sure some people think that

[@loftyintentions1985]

They use poor speed and separation distances in normal conditions. Snow just confuses them.

[@DavrosMackenzie]

I'm not skilled enough! - I crashed a year ago in a bad snow storm...so I stay home now!

[@ashley_neal]

Honesty is a good trait!

[@QuentinStephens]

It is a wise person who knows their limits.

[@jackwatsonepic626]

I was exactly the same you live and learn I thought claiming of the insurance your premiums wouldn't go up but they do And nobody told me that one but I was 21 at the time fit " but no knowledge 😅

[@bazzacuda_]

"A man's gotta know his limitations." Harry Callahan

[@ctclothbagco]

Tyres I find are a big part of the issue as well, summer tyres are useless in the snow and winter. Having lived in the highlands of Scotland for years it's amazing the difference all season / winter tyres make in snow like this and how much better you can grip and keep control

[@chickadee317]

Is it expensive to have tyres changed out to all season?

[@ctclothbagco]

@@chickadee317 I've found it about the same as summer tyres but I never buy budget tyres anyway

[@markwright3161]

@@chickadee317 I think most brands do an AS option now, but I would recommend going for a slightly more 'premium' brand, at least one that has been proven to work in all conditions, as they generally have a more well rounded performance through rain, snow, cold and hot temperatures, and they don't completely lose their snow/water displacement ability as they wear. A channel 'Tyre Reviews' is a good one to look into as they compare a lot of tyres for their performance. If you come to the end of your current tyres' lives, they shouldn't be too much more expensive than just getting a replacement set of summer tyres from the same brand, if there even is a difference depending on what size you need. I will say you should only think of changing to AS as a full set. Their performance in varying conditions is very different to a regular summer tyre, so if you only replace the fronts with AS and still have summers on the rear axle, you could find yourself spinning out on roundabouts, etc when the temperature drops. I reached a point of needing a full set replaced on my car instead of the normal pair (of the same brand and type) at a time, so took the opportunity to switch to AS from summer, and I won't look back (for the UK anyway).

[@Backs4more]

I live in the Highlands, and currently have snow laying outside just now. I put on winter tyres on the first weekend of November, and take them off the first weekend in May. Snow tyres are superior in temperatures less that 7 degrees as well as on ice, snow and slush. Combining those tyres with an AWD vehicle (Subaru) and it is actually a struggle to spin wheels or have a bit of fun in a carpark in the snow. ;) The difference is stunning.

[@k_4777]

Live in the highlands too and also use snow tyres from November until April-ish, make a huge difference and great for going over some of the high roads where nobody else goes to avoid those doing 10mph on the main roads! The only annoying thing is you'll be happily going along at an acceptable speed for the tyres and then you get stuck behind cars doing 10mph... but at least we don't get stuck!

[@Simon-Green]

I moved to Canada from Manchester about 15 years ago so have gotten used to serious winter driving conditions. Not going out isn't usually an option (unless it's -40). Some tips: Snow tires or all-weather tires (with the snow symbol, not to be confused with all-season that effectively turn into hard plastic with no grip at very low temps) make a huge difference. Wow, I finally got used to not typing "tyres" eh! You have 3 inputs - accelerator, brake, and steering. Try to only use one of them at a time and gently. 4-wheel drive will help get you moving but does nothing to help you stop (and an SUV is liable to be heavier & have more momentum). When it's safe, practice some skids so you can react instinctively if you have an unintentional one and learn how your vehicle reacts / how to counter-steer etc... Have emergency equipment in your vehicle such as an extra coat, blanket, food, and shovel, and be sure your phone is charged up. There are always idiots that drive too fast for the conditions and their skill levels. Be patient and go slow - however long it takes, it will be faster than getting stuck in a snow drift.

[@jamesmiller113]

Amen to that - it's a shame that we share the roads with so many who don't have the first idea what to do in snow, just wildly polishing the ice in 1st gear etc. But we stick together and plough through eventually friend :)

[@markwright3161]

European All Season tyres are actually the same as US/Canadian All Weather tyres. Michelin Cross Climates are AS here with the 3 peak snowflake. We don't have the US all season classification here, it's either 'summer' (regarded as just a tyre, sort of unspoken title unless actually comparing to something else, in the UK at least) or AS or winter. The 4WD comment really needs shared more, especially when combined with the suv, (which are mostly only 2WD now, but that's besides the point). So many insist on AWD/4WD, and buy some bloated bodied version of the normal car because of that, and don't think about tyres, then get confused as to why they ended up in a ditch surrounded by the broken bits of the 4-5 figure appearance pack of a jacked up hatchback (suv, crossover, better titled as faux-by-fours). I hate these things for every single thing they stand for, but I'll spare you the rant about them. :)

[@garypashley6217]

Or dying!

[@JCTsFascinatingHobbies]

A set of Michelin CrossClimate 2s (other all seasons are available), plenty of distance and very light throttle inputs. I used to drive long distances on a daily basis (for work). Around 2011, I started using triple peak approved winter tyres, switching to winters in November, then back to Summers in April. This did mean I had to store a complete set of tyres, all year round. When i changed cars in July, my previous cars winters were on their last season and my new car had a set of summers which I was able to resell. I opted for a set of proven all seasons which should cover the majority of what I need to do. However, I need to drive far less for work these days and remain at home during the worst of the weather.

[@glynsmith3034]

I’ve had Crossclimate tyres on one car for several years now (so we could go to Scotland or Europe for skiing) and they are superb. Highly recommended 😀

[@eljay5009]

@@glynsmith3034 Same here - I have been putting these on our daily drivers for at least 5 years wouldn't use any other tyre now for normal driving. The only car I don't have them on is our fair weather weekend runabout (which I use Pilot Sport 4s's) Cross Climate's are as good as a premium summer tyre - but they are night and day in the snow.

[@icy_swoosh]

I think the main reason why the whole country comes to a halt with a bit of snow is because no one puts on winter tires. Coming from a cold country, I would never even imagine driving in the winter on summers. In the UK it’s the norm for some reason. Sure, some people will say that snow for a week will not justify having two sets of tires and changing them, but get all seasons then! Basically a perfect balance for the UK in my opinion

[@eddyrourke5514]

I was an all weather motorcyclist for many years and have been feet down like the guy in the clip quite a few times. It is terrifying at times knowing you can only use your gears and rear brake minimally or you're coming off.... and cornering is proper squeaky bum time too. All weather tyres on my car make driving relatively easy in comparison.

[@laceandwhisky]

I remember putting nobblies on my bandit 12 to get to work great fun apart from the bottom twitches 😂

[@DavidNewmanDr]

It snowed at Easter in Sheffield one year. I managed to get around on my MZ TS250, even up hills in town. Quite often I had both feet out and was crawling along.

[@M-oneeleven-M111]

I was riding my Thundercat on sheet ice yesterday morning, I know what you mean 🤣, it's a great challenge though. However I did wimp out and use my 4 wheel drive mini in the snow... But I did at least help a few people out 👍

[@laceandwhisky]

@@M-oneeleven-M111 hope they gave you a tenner for helping. 😁 My sister used to have a Landover with snow chains she earned quite a bit

[@loftyintentions1985]

I was all clutch and feet in the snow, keeping the bike as upright as possible. I'd also ride in a tyre track depending on how densely packed the snow in it is. Managed to get home after about 15 miles. Dropped it at the bottom of the drive🤦🏻‍♂️😆

[@carusmike]

Well I got ctiticism for having snow tyres fitted. But I live quite high and unfortunately downwind of Wales. I had a situation where I had to travel. Well I went around so many stuck and abandoned vehicles. The grip was fantastic and braking and steering was really good. I came upon a blocked road and did a 5point turn no problem. Went a different route. Costs me 120 quid per year to swap. Some winters no bad weather. Others several dumps. But I never get stuck.

[@Khaisz.]

Its always amazing to see how other countries that is more south then where I live in northern Sweden deal with weather like that. That weather in the video is like a tuesday morning to me before the plows comes out.

[@pogglefishii6807]

I was once caught out on my motorbike by a snowstorm on my way home from work in early 2004. I was young and less sensible back then so tried to keep going, and realised only then (3 years into biking) both that two wheeled rear wheel drive vehicles aren’t very good on ice and that crash helmets don’t have windscreen wipers. After a very close call I walked the bike back to work, chained it up, and went home on the train. Lesson learned.

[@1over137]

I love the challenge of driving in snow or on ice. It's wise, IMHO, to not let the lack of grid be a surprise. Test it. Test it frequently. Knowing when you are on ice or not is critical to keeping the car pointed in the right direction. Tapping the brakes or wiggling the steering will usually let you know when you are on ice or hard packed frozen snow. The brakes will instantly trigger antilock throbbing and the steering will be light. At that point, you have to accept you have no grip and make your choices very carefully, you will only have a significantly reduced control of the car, asking it to do more than it can will usually result in a total loss of directionality and control. Ideally, removing your hands and feet from everything, in a high gear would be the best bet. Obviously though you'll need to steer and hopefully retain control of your speed, so just fruggel with your control budget. It can often be better to end up in a strange and awkward situation on purpose rather than to try and force the car out of control. A very useful technique, if you get caught out on a hill in snow and ice and begin to lose control of your speed, use the verge or kerb if available. Often there is more grip on the grass verge as ice tends not to form on it in sheets. Often by early morning any ice or snow on the vertical portion of the kerbs will be melting and the edge of a tire against the kerb has saved me overshooting a busy junction on the way to work in 2010's snow storms. I started down that hill at walking pace, when I got the ice halfway down the car started to accelerate, anti-locks made things worse. A lower gear made things worse. I was already up to about 10mph and gaining. So I coaxed the car over to the kerb and gently put the tyres against it and the provided enough grip to slow the car. I applied the hazard lights to make others aware, not least I am only partially in control, but to the driver behind to not start down until I'm out of the way! Unfortunately on the way home that night I was faced with the option of hitting an oncoming car or a fallen branch of a tree. A slight hill, 25-30mph, branch was way over 100 yards in front, paused a little too long considering driving around it when a car appeared over the crest coming the other way, deciding that for me. Began braking, got anti-locks. Fought for any grip I could get and still ended up driving into the tree branch at about 10 mph. Car drove over it and no issue. Driving home I wondered why a few people flashed their lights at me and a few pedestrians pointed at me. When I got out of the car I discovered a smaller subbranch had punctured through the front grill, narrowly missing the radiator and was sticking 4 foot out the front of the car.

[@frogandspanner]

I too wiggle the steering gently to test grip. You can feel the self-restoring force from the front tyres, and that is proportional to grip.

[@williamstrachan]

Open the window, snow makes a crunching sound, ice is silent.

[@stevenhardcastle8929]

As always great video with some fantastic advice on driving in poor conditions. It still really pains me how there are so many people on the roads that can't or won't change their driving style in snow and icy conditions. Thinking that they can drive how they always have and it will never happen to them. My dad always taught me in snow, keeping a slow but steady pace leaving far more room than you need. Utilise your gears to slow down as much as you can before braking but do apply a tiny bit of brake while doing so. So others can see your brake lights as well and they know you are slowing down and can prepare for a stop. Always except that the other drivers on the road haven't planned for the conditions or aren't skilled enough so you give plenty of room to everyone. Exactly how the driver in the video did it.

[@PedroConejo1939]

They're usually poor drivers in decent conditions, so there's little bandwidth available to cope with difficult conditions.

[@toebo9683]

💯. Plus you also get those who think they are "Top Drivers" and think its Fun to show just how dumb they really are by putting others at risk... 👍

[@smilerbob]

@@toebo9683 Years ago driving on a four lane section M25 one very snowy evening, we was all happily following two lanes of tracks at 20 mph on the left and around 25 mph on the right and no issues for anyone. Except after a couple of miles we saw one vehicle of a German make facing the wrong way and the driver decided to correct the position by over spinning the rear wheels to do a 180…but ended up doing a 360 🤦‍♂️ Needless to say after that he gingerly corrected the position and slowly merged behind us all and followed safely…thankfully

[@toebo9683]

@@smilerbob Brilliant... when I first passed my class 1 over 2 decades ago, I was North bound on M1 around Milton Keynes first time driving an artic in the snow. Only 1 lane open and I was doing 20-25mph about a 1/4 mile back from a car in front when a foreign lorry driver shot pass me straddling lanes 2&3 going flat out... I sat there thinking to myself, am I driving like a tart here or ? 10 minutes later I spotted tyre tracks going across lane 3, a flattened central reservation, tyre/skid marks across lanes 3,2,1 (south bound) up the embankment and the foreign lorry on its side. Sometimes you're better off being a tart. Lol. 👍

[@margaretnicol3423]

There you are! Good - now I can make my coffee and relax with Ashley. Back soon ... ... back again. Here we go!

[@madmick9205]

I learned to drive in the snow, in the wilds of Shropshire and a hell of a lot deeper than this. We don't see that type of snow now a days. Sacks and shovels were always useful. A great vedeo lesson as usual:)

[@timrumbelow6462]

Been driving in snow for 42 years and I love it, and although all the advice given is spot on, winter tyres make a massive difference. Look for a you tube video of two range rovers in a test, one with winter tyres and with four wheel drive disabled, one with normal ( summer) tyres in full four wheel drive mode. The two wheel drive winter tyred car beats the four wheel drive enabled one in every aspect. Starting, stopping, hills, corners, the lot. If you don’t like driving in these conditions because of a lack of grip, you will be absolutely amazed at how much better winter tyres are. But, you still need to drive like Ashley says as well, there is no substitute for his advice, just that winter tyres are a great addition to make it work better.

[@memyself7413]

4X4 drivers' and high power car drivers, are the ones to watch out for. They tail-gate, no matter the weather, thinking that they are always safe. The 2 BEST FRIENDs" in my car, are the front and rear recording cameras.

[@ollieb81]

I've only used winter tyres for the past couple of years, but the difference in snow and ice is mindblowing. I get a lot a lot of people who tell me it's a waste of money or that you don't need them in the UK. But you can gaurantee none of them have actually ever tried them. I have them on an automatic rear wheel drive car, I feel much safer driving it in the snow and ice than I do driving my Defender on normal All Terrain tyres in the same conditions.

[@Rover200Power]

I assume you take them off on days where the temperature is above 7 degrees? You wouldn't want reduced cornering and braking performance.

[@Rover200Power]

@@garysmith5025 I do not need them.

[@ollieb81]

@@Rover200Power Absolutely! I keep my summer tyres in the back of the car at all times. I also have a direct line with the Met Office so I’m forewarned of any meteorological changes. To swap them back at a moment’s notice. 👍

[@gothmog2441]

You can only put wear on one set of tyres at a time. So it’s an upfront capital investment and a storage issue for the set you don’t use, but cost neutral in the long term and a lot safer. Particularly if your new car was delivered in November, with temps of -7 degrees, on Summer tyres…. (Thanks BMW)

[@ketchup901]

@@garysmith5025 Winter tyres have worse performance than summer tyres when it's summer.

[@matthewfox9143]

Been driving/riding in the snow for 23 years. This viewer does a great job throughout with the exception of that right hander. Was a little fast but manageable. My only hindrance in the snow is all the other road users sat about redlining their engines hoping for traction. Makes me just shake my head 😆

[@WolfMimirMori]

I'm a package delivery driver. Had 2 bad snow weathers that hit here in Sweden at two different days, got basically half the deliveries done, rest had to go back due to the massive traffic jams, which was always caused by 2 truck drivers getting stuck, one getting stuck first, then a second thinking they can surely get up that ice road when the other one couldn't, oh wait, they can't either get up, so now we block the entire highway, WOOOO! Oh, and it was fun finding all the random cars in ditches a little bit of everywhere. And remember folks, AWD will get you FORWARD far far easier than 2WD, but you'll not be able to STOP any faster what so ever, so keep that speed and distance proper even if you do have a AWD/4WD car!!!

[@bikerjock2654]

I crashed my first car (Morris 1000) in similar conditions, when I was 17. An uncle, who was an experienced driver, gave me lots of tips, including to practice setting off from stationary without touching the accelerator; just using very careful clutch control. I do see lots of people spinning the wheels in snow, trying to get going. So far, (much touching of wood), I haven’t been stuck or crashed in snow since, some 55 years later. Most of his other tips are included in this excellent video.

[@colinprice712]

Standard equipment in the car boot (from late Nov to end March) is a) folding shovel, b) plastic box containing salted grit. Inside the car, car rug It's saved us a few problems!

[@PedroConejo1939]

I would add, a dedicated snow brush (for clearing windows, lights and other snowy surfaces); snow socks - you'll maybe use them once in your life in the UK but you'll be mighty pleased you had them when you do. I also keep a magnetic flashing amber roof beacon for extra warning in real emergencies - not entirely sure of the legality of that but I'll cross that bridge if I ever get too it.

[@Rroff2]

@@PedroConejo1939 AFAIK, but I'm not a lawyer, based on the information we have at work for our vans the only legality with amber beacon lights is that you need a good reason to be using them, an emergency would constitute a good reason.

[@PedroConejo1939]

@@Rroff2 That's pretty well my thinking - and it is the only reason I'd use it.

[@kenbrown2808]

had a flat nosed scoop shovel handy to help a fellow motorist out, and it worked much better than a spade for shoveling a clear spot behind each wheel, so the driver was able to back onto the clear spot and then drive away. fortunately, the snow hadn't packed to ice, yet at that time.

[@Dudleymiddleton]

5:26 White van camoflaged by the snow - no lights. It utterly astounds me!

[@Jonc25]

Looked cold 🥶 It's best to stay in bed. These weather conditions can be mentally tiring. The viewer probably slept like a baby when they got home.😄 Good video.

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

The world keeps turning and you can’t just not go to work when people are reliant on you.

[@robg521]

The biggest issue is that we very rarely fit snow tyres in the UK, times of snow are seldom so we don’t bother. So when the snow does come All be it seldom we cannot deal with it. In other counties where the snow comes and stays for months every year, they all fit snow tyres as a matter of course. [snow socks are a brilliant thing to keep in your car just in case, if you get caught in snow fit the snow socks and they will get you home]

[@PedroConejo1939]

Absolutely, though I have compromised with all-seasons. They've never let me down.

[@markgambrill]

They are NOT snow tyres. They are winter tyres. The improvement they offer in all cold conditions is what makes them superior even in the UK from Nov to Mar. We need to get away from this thinking that they are for snow only.

[@bazzacuda_]

Cars and the tyres fitted to them have changed a lot in the last 40 years. Snow tyres have only been made necessary by the evolution to big, wide, high speed tyres. Force over area is still the critical equation in snow. The effect of big wide tyres is that they compact and flatten the snow leaving an ice rink where in the olden days cars would churn the snow on the road. So even though we used to have a lot more snow and never used to have special snow tyres, we were a lot better able to drive in snow when it came.

[@dlevi67]

@@bazzacuda_ I remember my 135/70 R13 not exactly having a happy time in snow in the 1970s...They weren't big, wide or high speed (rated S). If you wanted to go in snow or on ice you still needed chains or studs; if anything, more than nowadays.

[@pete7279]

@@dlevi67 135/70R13 will be similar to the 135/80R12 I used to get all over the place in the north pennines back then on a Mk1 Fiesta. Set of chains in the back just in case but rarely needed. These were narrow tyres so used to cut through the snow and grip. Same with the 15inch wheels on the old Saabs when most other cars of that size had 13inch rims. Didn't often need special tyres in those days and when you did see them they were mud and snow with aggressive tread rather than the winter pattern you get now using softer rubber. The trend over the last few decades is for tyres to get wider and wider and a typical car nowadays has trouble on the flat in shallow snow never mind hills. Traction/handling in snow is totally transformed if you put a set of modern winter tyres on. Even better if you get a spare set of standard narrow rims like what a lot of our neighbouring countries sell as standard. My last Citroen had uk spec had 205/50R17 wheels while French spec was 195/65R15 so that is what I used for winter. Much cheaper more comfortable ride and insurance company happy as they were an official homologated fit.

[@BlueJDev]

I love driving in the snow, or on snow covered roads. A great opportunity to improve driving skills. I even purposely try to get into minor slides when there's noone around to improve my reaction, handling and correction in case it happens for real, has actually saved me a couple of times, even in heavy rain. Some excellent driving in this video.

[@1988dgs]

Great mentality, not enough people learn how to drive in bad weather, I love bad weather and usually am the one to go rescue other people/ ferry people home from work etc.

[@dimdim14]

Great video as always, in Switzerland where we have ice and snow all year round the OFROU ( Swiss Federal Office for Roads) has now made it mandatory for new drivers from 2020 to attended the basic snow and ice extended driving course along side a practical road safty courser and the OFROU does offer more advance driving course for those who want to.

[@R3DDL]

There was loads on my way back to Liverpool from Sheffield after visiting family, last Thursday. So many people got stuck on the M62. 🤦🏻‍♂️ I got back absolutely fine. Just have to drive appropriately for the conditions and make sure you have the right tyres, too.

[@glenpywell8769]

I had a great driving instructor who took me out in the snow a week before my test. Really, really helped and gave me confidence and a huge amount of knowledge I still use today - he was a legend. I used to head to empty car parks too when there was a decent amount of snow too and remind myself how easy it is to slide/lose control and what to do to correct it. Better to do it in a safe environment with no danger to others than in a bad situation on the roads. Great video as always

[@horrortackleharry]

Good point- fresh, soft snow can sometimes provide better grip than following in the tracks of previous vehicles.

[@jamesvdv0]

Since getting an EV with rear wheel drive and which automatically applies regen braking on the rear axle, I now run winter tyres/wheels from December to March. This transforms the handling of the car in snowy conditions making braking and steering much more effective.

[@LinariaFreeze]

Same, I live in Scotland and love my snow tyres, but people are still trying to convince me that I'm wrong. Even when the weather's like this. I'm from Norway, so it's a non-brainer for me.

[@markgambrill]

Not just for snow. Having tried cross climates that are coming to the end of life I am planning my route back to two sets of wheels. And I live in the south.

[@Rover200Power]

What do you do on days like today where the temperature is over 13 degrees? Most winter tyre compounds are not suitable for temperatures over 7.

[@markgambrill]

@@Rover200Power there will always be days at either end of the season where the tyres aren't quite spot on. But I'd rather a compromise for the odd day for the benefit of good tyres the rest of the year. It's a much better option than summer tyres year round which is what most in the UK do.

[@markwright3161]

@@Rover200Power A good set of winter tyres won't melt the second the temperature enters double figures. They'll just be a bit softer so will offer less steering feel, etc and they will overheat if you're hoofing on in peak UK summer temps, so they'll wear quicker, but apart from that you're not going to see them fall off the car just because they're not in their ideal operating temperate range of sub 7 degrees Celsius. Summer tyres aren't designed to work below 7 degrees Celsius, but they don't shatter like glass the moment it hits freezing. There people driving around on summers when it's -10 degrees C, 17+ degrees below what they're intended for, and it's the same for winters at 24+ degrees C, not advisable, but not the end of the world either. I've gone with a set of All Season* tyres myself. No need to switch, won't get stuck in a wee bit of snow or go rock hard in low temps, but won't melt in high summer temps either. *European AS with the 3 peak snowflake.

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

Having seen various videos of what not to do in these conditions, it was a lovely refreshing change to see what to do in these conditions!

[@clickrick]

Back when I was 17, I had to do a 100 mile ride on my bike to get back home. Norfolk was under a couple of feet of snow, and several roads - including the major trunk road - were impassable, meaning I had to go along country roads simply to get anywhere. Even that was riding on an inch or two of packed ice. Riding with my legs braced against the tank, I effectively had 4 points of contact on the ground, so was able to keep upright and keep moving, though corners were tricky. I got to the southern edge of the county - a 20 mile journey - after 2 hours. The ice literally gave way to clear roads when I reached Suffolk, so the remainder of the journey was at normal speeds, but that was a day I'll not forget.

[@drewl4921]

Always find the news funny when we have a bit of snow they make it sound like the end of the world! I don’t expect drivers to spend £400 on winter tyres but they should be prepared with some snow socks or chains, there only £20/£30 and saved me on a few occasions! Highly recommended

[@margaretnicol3423]

lbS is probably looking at this and calling it a light sprinkle of snow if he's still in Canada! 😀

[@thomaselliot2257]

Just watching just now, looking at the comments and I was thinking the same thing 😀

[@kenbrown2808]

it's a bit less than what we had here, but still a respectable snowfall. I think he's on his way back to the UK at present, and I missed the chance to meet with him, but perhaps on his next trip.

[@thomaselliot2257]

@@kenbrown2808 I forgot you are in that neck of the woods as well. You will have more than your fair share of experience in these conditions I am sure 🙂

[@leetori1]

For starters, get the right equipment for the many weathers in the UK. I believe new cars should be sold with all season tyres as standard. All season tyres like the Cross Climate have come on loads in recent years. I use them in Aberdeenshire and they are durable, excellent in the wet and get me up and down all the steep hills in snow. I drive a FWD 1.2tsi VW Touran

[@Kromaatikse]

It's exactly these sorts of conditions where proper winter tyres make the most difference, even the "friction" type without ice studs. If you spend a lot of time on the road, I would recommend investing in a set and keeping them on their own rims, then simply use them routinely from December to April.

[@picklestheswift]

Your viewer did a great job in all of the clips, I have taken a lot from this, I think it'll make me a better driver in any weather!

[@chrisnumnuts8671]

tip from a newspaper delivery driver if rear wheel drive put some sand bags in the back of your vehicle to get extra traction

[@pugboat]

To echo other comments, tyres tyres tyres! A winter tyre or even a reasonable cross climate tyre would make conditions like those shown a non-issue to most competent drivers. A FWD car on winter tyres will easily out perform a 4x4 in these conditions. The current generation of cross climate tyres that have mud and snow certification will do a great job and can be used in summer as well, making them more practical than a second set of wheels for most people, and are probably ideal for most UK conditions.

[@edrose5045]

If you've ever piloted a canal boat this kind of planning is needed everywhere you go. You're only doing a maximum of 4 mph, but the boat weighs upwards of a ton and needs a lot of time and energy to manoeuvre. You need to plan one to two minutes in advance - not only to have enough time to manoeuvre your boat - but also to signal your intentions to others so that they can plan their own manoeuvres. It's a great exercise in learning how to operate vehicles in conditions where traction is low

[@eljay5009]

Good tips - but one thing that cannot be understated is tyre choice. For most areas of the UK, it's probably overkill to swap to winter tyres for the amount of snow we get - but summer biased all season tyres are becoming so good now, it makes sense to fit a set, then forget about them. I have been fitting Michelin Cross Climate's to our daily drivers for about the last 5 years - and would never go back to a normal summer tyre.

[@hhtrichard]

Great video as always, thank you. I had the chance to drive a full spec 4x4 in the snow with auto everything and it was rubbish compared to my mark 2 Land Rover with manual everything. The difference was down to the tyres, my Landie with old style narrow tyres would cut through the snow and grip. The auto everything had much wider tyres an just floated.

[@J1mston]

I enjoyed driving to work the other day when it was snowy. It was a good test of the snow mode on my Kona N and I have to say that I was very impressed. With 280bhp and P-0's fitted I was expecting it to be a lot harder than it was but, frankly it was a breeze. One of the things I did was I tested what my cars limits are when I was on a clear bit of road, close to home. I gave it a bit of power to learn where the limits were, I went hard on the breaks to see where ABS would kick in and I gave the wheel a bit of a back an forth to see what turning was like. Then, it was simply a case of not going anywhere near those limits. It wasn't a bad drive, I was out early so I was on a lot of fresh stuff but also less traffic. I got stuck in a little traffic jam because a car in front had a crash, being stationary for so long meant I had to get out to de-snow my mirrors and side windows but that was about it.

[@shm5547]

Cycling in these conditions is actually quite easy. I've got studded winter tyres that are excellent on sheet ice and light snow, plenty of grip. Much safer for everyone else too, I'm not going to knock down someones fence or house on a bicycle. If you come across a really deep bit, you can just shoulder the bike and walk through it. I also found the risk from motor vehicles far less than you might think, as most drivers are going very slowly. What is lethal, is when there's black ice, as some drivers are oblivious to the risk and go way too fast.

[@MK-1973]

Wow, fantastic clips - thanks to you and your viewer for sharing. It's not Jon by any chance is it? :) The point about needing to be able to drive in these conditions is well made I think. We largely missed out on this last snowfall here but had a good dollop of snow when it was cold last December. Without wanting to sound cocky, I did take the opportunity to practice driving on the snow when I could - in light traffic and hopefully with a very healthy respect for the conditions - so if I really had to drive I would have an idea what to do. Stood me in good stead for the journeys I then did have to make. It so rarely snows in southern England that I felt I ought to. To be fair conditions weren't as severe as in the clips you've shown here. Of course I also benefit from the modern safety systems such as Electronic Stability Control that do a great job helping (but aren't absolutely foolproof, why should they be). And I did get caught out once, just as the thaw was starting and on an untreated road near home - fortunately nothing too serious and easily recovered but a sobering reminder and an opportunity for learning.

[@funkycowie]

I have ridden my motorbike in snow numerous times out of need, I can cope with the conditions, but other vehicles make it dangerous. They get far too close and go too fast mostly. Let some air out of the tyres, both feet down, gentle throttle control, avoid ruts. Edit: And of course know when to give up,.I had to do that a couple of times and head back.

[@eddyrourke5514]

Yes those idiots (like the van driver shown in the clip) who tailgate make things really scary, you cannot help thinking about the 🔔ends driving over you if you slip.

[@HEKVT]

Passed in the summer and then went to Eastern Europe in December, where there was a lot of snow. Good learning experience.

[@georgecromar4094]

A skilled driver featured. A driving tip if you do get stuck in snow is to lower your tyre pressures considerably along with high road gears 👍🏽

[@Igbon5]

Well done to all those doing such a good job in in unusual and tricky conditions.

[@WolfmanWoody]

I had to go to our other works once in Newcastle when the roads were like this. At work I commented on the amount of snow and was told "Whey aye, man, that's just a hard frost." Seriously, if you have a vehicle with rear-wheel drive, it pays to pull the handbrake on one or two clicks to prevent wheel spin and therefore a skid on difficult corners or anywhere you feel it.

[@oliverbrookes27]

Starting point before thinking about driving in snow is whether the vehicle tyres are up to the job. If not you see what I did last Friday, Mr 4x4 Ford Kuga going nowhere as all four wheels slipped on about an inch of snow on our street which is about 1 in 10. I suspect his vehicle had nice worn summer tyres as I'd just negotiated the same hill in a FWD with almost new all season tyres with no issue whatsoever. He ended up abandoning and turning around.

[@tonyb1223]

I remember about 10 years ago being on the Motorway, my car had awd and winter tyres, taking it easy in the heavy snow fall, a merc sprinter enters the motorway off another motorway, crosses all 4 lanes and nearly hits the barrier, I avoided them due to better traction in the poor conditions but they were going far too fast and nearly paid the price for it.

[@lordnick1575]

Very good, this driver stands a better chance than most of keeping dent free in the snow

[@smilerbob]

Great work by the viewers that sent in those clips. So refreshing to see such respectful nature to those conditions 👍 It scares me immensely the amount of people that have ABS and traction control in their vehicles and believe that means they can drive like “normal” in those conditions. Many an occasion I have stopped to help those that got into trouble or slowed when seeing a vehicle in trouble like at 5:04.

[@robwilkie1]

Or people who say they have 4WD. Always have to ask them how that helps steering and braking!!

[@contessa.adella]

Being a rural driver, all these techniques are practically essential if you don’t want to be unable to climb a rise or end up in a hedge. Even so, I spend some time in a empty car park re-acclimatising to the slide and grip before venturing out on a deep snow covered road.

[@MervynPartin]

Great video- I was impressed by the standard of driving. I was "lucky" in that some of my driving lessons with a driving school (many years ago) in Cardiff were carried out on snow, so I think that I was taught quite well. However, I do follow the advice not to drive unless I really have to because I am always fearful of the tailgaters who can't stand driving slower than they normally do. Some of the American snow driving videos on KZbin are frightening.

[@paul756uk2]

It helps if people had a basic understanding of the laws of physics and an understanding of basic mechanics. (a moving object always wants to travel in a straight line, and once your wheels start spinning, you've completely lost traction). Also, if your car is rear wheel drive and you have a manual handbrake, partially applying it can help with traction. Yes, really.

[@1988dgs]

Covid and flat earth theory etc has taught us the majority of people didn’t pay enough attention in science class at school

[@paul756uk2]

@@1988dgs Never believed any of the covid bs whatsoever and from the very start.

[@davidrumming4734]

All good. I found that avoiding gear changing helps. Whenever the transmission stops drive (clutch in to change gear), you have to hope you regain gentle traction as the next gear engages. Obviously on manual cars, but also automated systems such as VW group DSG + ASG. The Honda I drive is a CVT automatic and this seems very good in snow & ice. Constantly engaged drive. Sport mode can provide decent engine braking to avoid using brakes. In conditions similar to the video, the Honda is way ahead of the VW DSG, simply night and day. The Vauxhall I had years ago was a 4 speed traditional torque converter automatic, and that had a winter function too. Truly impressive for a front drive car. Would also work well to get out of mud as well. Best manual car I had for snow was a 2005 VW polo 1.4 TDI 5 speed. that would potter around town in the snow all day long just using 2nd + 3rd gear.

[@ianspeare539]

Always worth know whether your car is front wheel, rear wheel or all wheel drive so you can find grip if needed.

[@marksheehan2897]

I have been caught in snow many times when i was using my motorbike all year around. My approach was always to drop tyre pressures drastically to increase the tyre contact patch and try to stay on fresh snow as it always offered more grip than compacted snow. Then it was just a matter of staying at a safe speed and keeping a good space in front always watching and planning ahead giving you the best possible chance of avoiding a collision. I often found i paid more attention to other road users as they were often the ones that would put you in most danger with not knowing how to recover from a skid/lockup. Always try to have an exit plan where possible and anticipate what might happen. Its all things that come natural when riding a motorbike because you soon learn it hurts when a 1 ton car hits you otherwise. You are always going to come off worse due to lack of protection.

[@colettemikaelson160]

I watched a video by another DI right after I passed my test about snow driving and found it invaluable. people here really do not drive to the conditions of the road. Snow = bigger distancing between vehicles and drive low and slow on flat, so lower gear and lower speed to match the conditions. Smooth pedal work too. I also advocate for investing in decent cross climate tyres or just decent tyres in general, people don't change tyres with the season. I know lots of people who wont even drive in snow. ALso if you do hit ice and spin out, drive into it not out.

[@jasonk7072]

From the motorcyclist point of view, I can't recommend off road training enough. Not only is it great fun, it builds your skills for when traction is low and makes you appreciate how tiring it is both mentally and physically to keep it upright. If I were on normal road tyres in conditions such as this I would find somewhere safe and secure to park up and I'd get the bus. If I had some chunkier tyres as I suspect the bike in your clip might have had as it was an adventure bike then I'd be happier to continue, but it would depend on how far I was going. Not only is it demanding on body and mind to ride any distance in conditions such as this, the cold and the wet would make it even harder and more unpleasant.

[@richardharvey1732]

Hi Ashley, I used to love going out driving in snow!, driving any four wheel vehicle in tricky conditions is infinitely easier than navigating of two wheels but that did not stop me!. The experience I got doing that helped a lot is learning to observe and respond to the road surface conditions in front of me as well as around me and further ahead. The only real problem with the motorcycle was the fact that if you lose control you are unlikely to regain it!, in a car on the other hand a bit of practise soon gets you in a position where you can stretch the edge of the envelope when there is no other traffic, brake too hard and skid, all you have to do is lift off the brake, relax and wait for some grip, same with too much accelerator causing a spin, key to the whole thing is to give yourself time and space and use your sense of fell on the steering wheel, you can feel when the tyres have let go, just don't panic!, in just the sensible way your viewer demonstrates. I have always thought that skid pan practise should be a mandatory part of driving lessons. Cheers, Richard.

[@StefanVeenstra]

We had a surprising amount of snow in the Netherlands too. In a short amount of time the highway was covered. While some folks were excessively cautious (They could just as well have walked for the speeds they were going) I found it an opportunity to exercise in these conditions as I needed to be somewhere and yes the snow did catch me out a few times. Not catastrophically or dangerously, though it made me respect the conditions as they were.

[@Devilacme]

Relaxing video to watch when these are the normal driving conditions where you live.

[@eddier9455]

Yup, really enjoy driving in snow and slippery conditions.

[@artemkatelnytskyi]

Exemplary drive by your viewer. Thank you! Also, I think these conditions bring out the best in people and cause them to work together.

[@marcbird38]

I've never had a problem driving in snow, my best advice is to do everything gently. gentle braking, gentle acceleration and gentle turning. gives you the best chance of keeping control.

[@thromboid]

Really commendable driving in this one. If only we could all be so considerate and attentive at the wheel!

[@Cornz38]

Learnt to drive in Bradway in Sheffield during the winter of 1986. Prepared me nicely...

[@davidknight5863]

One thing I found helpful if on an incline is to start in 2nd gear to avoid wheel spin , starting off from a stationary position. Avoid A roads if motorways are availablity as they are always gritted and are in constant use so not letting snow have chance to settle

[@grahamnutt8958]

As alluded to in this upload; you often get more grip in several centimeters of Snow, rather than following the path that other vehicles have travelled. Its even harder when the Snow turns into Ice....... virtually no grip whatsoever. People could learn from 🍁, 🇸🇪 or a number of other drivers who encounter these conditions for several months of the year; especially North of the Arctic Circle where the Snow rarely melts. Stay safe out there.

[@granddadmark7639]

As a new driver in South Wales in the early 80's I learnt to drive in the snow when it was above the roof of the car. Anticipation of others stupidity, speed is sometimes your friend and other times not. Learnt that boy scouts were all was right; be prepared

[@Paul9]

If you don’t have winter/all season tyres, the only reason you should be out driving in the snow is because it started after your journey began. Choosing to go out on uncleared snow covered roads using Summer tyres is just creating unnecessary risk, whatever your perceived driving skill level. You wouldn’t wear your flip flops for walking on snowy pavements.

[@alanhindmarch4483]

When I was Instructing I tried to avoid cancelling lessons due to bad weather and snow, unless it was an absolute no go. I always believed it was a good idea even if it was only driving around an industrial area or similar. On some occasions a large open space like an empty car park, I would allow the pupil to make mistakes to let them see what happens if you get it wrong, then discuss how to put it right. As I live in the Northeast, a lot of my pupils lived in rural areas, so helped them for their future driving experience.

[@retrosad]

Things I've learnt about motorbiking in snow: no front braking (I remember gently touching it, and next thing I know I'm standing on my feet and my bike is falling from underneath me), no leaning, drag the rear brake with the throttle on if there's a risk of wheel spin (or if you want to slow down), and good clutch control

[@660einzylinder]

The best vehicles I've driven in snow are my current Berlingo van on winter tyres and a few years back, a Reliant Rialto. A lot of years on motorcycles taught me one thing, fresh snow on top of frozen slush is really hard work. Lots of good advice in this clip, but until the average UK driver is persuaded that winter tyres are not just a good idea, but a necessity, we will always have more problems than we need on snowy days.

[@FFVoyager]

4:48 I remember a 25-odd mile ride back home on a BMW R100RT following the gritter lorry (that also had a snow plough) when I rode into a storm on the edge of Exmoor about 30 years ago. Old Beemer's skinny tyres are pretty good on fresh snow but just as bad as anything else when people have driven over it. Turned out the driver drank in the same pub and said he'd spotted me and was impressed that I made it the whole way back! Modern bikes are not good in slippery conditions - I'd imagine they are horrendous in snow.

[@djwwautodiagnostics]

A part of me enjoys the challenge of driving in the snow. Certainly a different challenge. The key to everything is time. Give yourself loads of time and then a load more after that. And definitely keep the wheels turning where you can. I’ve had read wheel drive cars since 2009 and have always managed to get around. Negotiating with others and helping each other out has never been more important than in conditions like this. Stay safe everyone

[@jackwatsonepic626]

Well when I was 21 I used to think it was fun but soon as I reached 41 I had more sense " 😂

[@djwwautodiagnostics]

@@jackwatsonepic626 yup. I’m 40 now and definitely try to avoid. If it was just me it would be fine. It’s that business of having to share the road that complicates things

[@jackwatsonepic626]

@@djwwautodiagnostics like I always say it's not your driving you've got worried about

[@thefatboyhotmailcouk]

I have done plenty of track driving on wet skid pads that really helps with snow driving and general car control. If it has ever snowed and I drive I always get to a reasonable speed and do an emergency stop (where safe). This is called a Mew Test and gives me a good idea of how long it will need to me stop with the available grip (or lack there of). Following this, keeping your momentum high enough that you won’t get stuck is important but you have to go slow enough to be able to stop. They key to this is great planning.

[@thefatboyhotmailcouk]

Oh and I use winter tyres between November and April because that is the best type of forward planning

[@bofor3948]

In my motorcycling days back in the 70's I unfortunately got caught out several times while commuting, by weather like that. Never had to park up and use Shanks's Pony though. The worst I found is where several vehicles have left deep tracks that cross. If you get the front wheel in one and the rear in another you can quickly come unglued. Just slow and steady got me to my destination. Cold and numb, but relieved.

[@markopazlo]

I had 4 new crossclimate 2 tyres fitted the week before this snow happened. Brilliant handling in the snow and felt as good as winter tyres

[@marklittler784]

The spade you use when you get caught short can come in handy 😅😊😅😊

[@Phil480]

Some fine examples in this compilation, great stuff. I live on the south coast, so it's not very often we get proper snow. When it does, nobody knows how to handle it. As a motorcycle rider myself, I would treat these conditions from the comfort of my bed/sofa. It's just not worth the risk.

[@bulwinkle]

In my 20s and 30s I travelled to work daily in all weather conditions. I recall that one Monday my tyre tracks were the only ones in the snow during my 16 mile ride. I only ever slid off the bike once on black ice but never in snow. The worst weather was not snow or rain but freezing fog. On one occasion when I got to work the tears had frozen in the corner of my eyes.

[@mrdo9081]

Some good points, and I totally agree that one size does not fit all with driving style and road conditions, we should be adapting our technique to the conditions. A couple of points, which I feel could have been made:- Use engine braking over manual braking, which has two benefits 1. The likelihood of breaking traction is greatly reduced. 2. By using the engine to brake you will be travelling at a far more suitable rate of knots (I think of it as trying to control an oil tanker!). Also try to run in a higher gear, where the power will come in much slower and make wheel spin less likely. The biggest thing though is tyre choice - narrow tyres are good for fresh snow, whereas studded tyres are better for compacted and iced roads. This is not that likely in this country, that conditions warrant having different tyres for the conditions though, but snow socks are an option. The biggest problem with modern cars though is the width of the tyres and the road biased tread pattern, which all act against you. The final point is that people experience these conditions so infrequently nowadays that most have no clue as to how to behave. Thanks for a slightly different video.

[@smilerbob]

I use engine braking all the time in icy conditions along with the higher gear. After an unrelated accident I was given a hire car that was an automatic with a manual shift option but I found I had less control of the car the first time I drove the automatic in these conditions, even in manual mode, it would down shift the gear as I went round corners and the engine speed then increased that resulted in the smallest but noticeable wheel slip as the drive mechanisms adjusted the torque being applied. I found that I had to adjust my driving to slow 5 seconds sooner for the corner so the car could decide on what gear it wanted. Something that only came from experience for me and wasn't taught to me on my manual lessons

[@chrispop99]

Studded tyres are illegal on a motor vehicle;e in the UK. (They are legal, and available, for cycles, strangely enough.)

[@frasermay7825]

Grew up in Wisconsin, learned to drive on ice... Later, while living in Guernsey, it actually snowed :). Chaos reigned.

[@DSCC007]

When in snow I've always driven downhill in first gear for better braking, lessening the need to use the brake peddle and the risk of sliding about. Start off from a standing start in second or third gear and go uphill in third or fourth for gain added torque. Used this technique all my life and its never failed.

[@tipple58]

Very informative.

[@orange5fox]

Back in the days when I enjoyed driving, I had proper Mud & Snow tyres, and the difference they made was incredible, far better than my current "winter" tyres, though the amount of snow we see now barely warrants them any more.

[@UKMitchy]

Back in the mid 80's i was sent home from work, due to a sudden snow storm. This was in the south west uk where snow rarely happens. Because of the amount of traffic and bad driving , (by others) it took 2 hours to drive 5 miles. I coped with the hills by taking a run, and driving on the undisturbed snow if possible as it gave better grip. My father was surprised to see me in my car. He was expecting a call for help or that I would walk home. My car at the time was a Ford Capri, probably 1 of the worst at driving in conditions like that.

[@organiccold]

Even with AWD sometimes is hard in summer tyres, thata why in winter in always carry tyre chains in the car, saved a couple of times, the biggest ones was some years ago when everyone was stuck on the M25 i managed to get home easily and even help some people.

[@LuonFoto]

It's really interesting to see how others deal with snow and ice. Where I live we have snow for 6 months a year and winter tires with or without spikes are mandatory during that time. I would never dear to drive with normal summer tires in condistions like that

[@bexxy629]

As someone who used to commute on a motorbike, I got caught out a few times. Firstly, slow it down and take it steady, try to keep your feet up if you can and keep your head up, secondly try to keep out of slush, its way more slippy than fresh snow and thirdly dont be afraid to stop when safe to, to let cars behind you get past.

[@PLUVlO]

Had my first taste of really snowy conditions here in Denmark not too long ago. Already had my semi-slicks tyres installed cause I figured the snow was gone by now. No traction control didn't help either, so I was driving 20mph all the way to work. Thankfully I had a nice van driver behind me who gave me enough breathing room so I didn't skid into the other road and left me with good braking space. That's probably the last time I will be so early to put on summer tyres 😅

[@3ventic]

I live in Finland and ride a motorcycle. The motorcycle goes away for winter well before risk of snow. The moment that temperatures are showing 0 degrees at night the bike is staying in the garage and not coming out again until roads are clear from snow again in the spring. Mopeds can be okay for short trips but there's no safe way to ride on public roads at higher speeds. As someone from a country with months of snow every year it's really interesting how much trouble it causes when people aren't used to it and trained to drive on it; a short snowy roads driving course is mandatory to get a license here and apart from major snowstorms people don't have issues getting around in their cars. Speed limits on national roads and highways are lowered for the winter though.