Ice racing doesn't just involve...
Ice racing doesn't just involve cars.
During the day, several myths were exposed. For example, some people foolishly choose to fit two winter tires to the driven wheels only, rather than four all-round. In the case of RWD, this leaves the front tires with no grip for the important task of steering. While FWD cars are more prone to spin when you attempt to corner or brake as the lack of rear traction allows the tires to break away.
Other drivers feel they're protected by the presence of traction control, ABS or four-wheel drive (and often all three). However, we saw that four-wheel drive won't help you when you're braking, for example. And while traction control and ABS are useful tools, they can only work as efficiently as the grip level available. Fitted with the wrong tires, these aids spend longer looking for grip. It's certainly better to have them but they can't overcome a lack of mechanical grip.
When braking on ice from 60mph, Conti's tests showed that summer tires would require a bone-crushing distance of 1290ft to stop. Whereas winter tires would stop in 820ft. Compare that to the 100ft stopping distance we recorded from 50mph in wet conditions at Continental's summer tire test (et 9/08) and you can see icy roads require significantly longer distances to stop, yet the proper tires give you a better chance of survival.
Apparently the long winter...
Apparently the long winter nights mean this seemed like a good idea
As driving enthusiasts we make many crucial choices. We stiffen the suspension to improve the handling, increase the brake size to stop better and upgrade the engine to go faster. We also fit bigger wheels to get more grip from a wider footprint and better turn-in response from a low-profile sidewall. Yet how many of us living in regions that experience freezing conditions or significant snowfall think to fit winter tires?
It's all about edumacation, and we got schooled by Continental! If we lived in Germany and drove on the autobahns, we'd have to change our tires by law. So why not follow their lead and make an informed decision to protect ourselves this winter by doing it of our own volition?
Tire Rack Advice
Winter's coming with the rain, snow, sleet and ice it brings to make driving treacherous. But by taking the right precautions and using a few simple techniques, winter driving can be safe, say our friends at Tire Rack.
Crash rates inevitably climb from October to February, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). Two years ago there were 781000 crashes in rain, sleet or snow. Most resulted in costly damage, but 25% involved injury or tragic fatality.
Conti organized a karting...
Conti organized a karting event to escape the cold, which we won in glorious fashion
"Those numbers are needlessly high," said Tire Rack's John Rastetter. "A little caution, a little knowledge and the right footwear can mean the difference between getting into an accident and avoiding one."
Rastetter also offered the following suggestions for a safe, stress-free winter behind the wheel:
Slow Down - Traction becomes difficult at about 40F, even without there being rain or snow on the ground. The lower temperatures will reduce a conventional tire's flexibility and grip. In fact, at 32 the summer tires found on many high performance cars become so stiff they offer almost no traction at all.
Leave Room - Increase the distance to the vehicle ahead to give you more time to react. In rain and snow, don't get closer than 2sec behind at 30mph, 4sec at 60mph.
Be Smooth - Accelerate, brake and steer as if you had a cup of hot coffee on the dashboard. Just as abrupt actions would spill the coffee, so too they can cause a loss of control.
Check Tire Pressure - For every 10 drop in temperature, your tires will lose 1psi of air pressure. So a tire filled to 32psi at 70 will have only 28psi at 30. Yet under-inflated tires offer less traction, reduce fuel mileage, wear out prematurely and compromises their performance. Check tire pressures monthly with a quality air pressure gauge.