act1980

Hi everyone,

I have driven in the states/Canada tons of times but never in snow. It's getting nearer to my hols and I am just wondering how an auomatic handles in bad weather conditions?

I am assuming that automatics are harder to control as you can't use your gears for extra traction on the roads etc.

Could someone please give me some tips on how to drive an auto in bad weather? I know that it a stupid question! Here I would just drive slow and use high gears but not sure how it works over there

Thanks for your help.

el_richo

Use the low and high gears in the Auto. Or just take it easy on the acceleration and breaks. It's all very straight forward as long as you use common sense. Drive how you think you should drive and ignore any impatient drivers near you.

To be honest, i think you may be over thinking things slightly. Just relax, go with the flow, and enjoy your holiday.

act1980

Thanks!

Trophy

Hi Act1980

This is my first time of driving an automatic in the snow and I just drove at a speed I felt comfortable at and gave myself plenty of time for slowing down and braking (gently of course).

As stated in El-Rico's post ignore the impatient drivers. Common sense is the order of the day. If they want to drive into oblivion then that is their choice. Some of the drivers I have seen in the trucks and some cars have been a little scary, I am sure think that they are invincible.

Keep safe
Mandy

dbd33

I'm currently driving a rented automatic on all season tyres, a Toyota Matrix. It's terrifying.

Steve_P

Using the low and high gear settings in the vast majority of auto transmissions is useless.

Placing it in a high gear i.e "D" the transmission will still go through the lower gears before settling in to high once at speed.

Just place the vehicle in drive "D" and be very gentle on the throttle if you feel the wheels start to spin you've not been gentle enough so back off the gas.

Some vehicles will have traction control and will not allow wheel spin, that can be both good and bad. Most times good but there are occasions when some spinning of the wheels will get you out of a situation.

Winter driving as already stated is mostly common sense, it certainly isn't an exact science.

el_richo

Unless you're going down a steep-ish grade in adverse weather conditions where constant breaking isn't the most suitable option

Steve_P

Point taken.

I was only thinking of starting out not trying to stop.

However if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes you might be better of using them anyway. Just a thought.

Oink

Insist that the car rental company put on winter tires and not just all season ones. They are useless in the snow and ice. There was a documentary about how crap all season tires are and how rental agencies rip you off by not putting them on their cars. The advice is, insist they do.

act1980

Hi,

I called them before bookig and they told me they won't put them on, that they only have the all season tyres.

Getting a little worried now

Oink

I'd be worried too, some places they are mandatory. Check this out.

Novocastrian

Let's be honest, if you weren't getting worried about this, you'd be getting worried about something else equally silly.

I've lived in or near Toronto on and off since 1982 and I've yet to drive a car on snow tires.

Bill_S

I agree. I've lived most of my life in snowy places, and have never used snow tires. I'm not arguing that they don't help, but a careful driver can get along fine without them. To act1980: pretend there's an egg under your foot between your shoe and the accelerator or brake pedal. You need to accelerate and brake without cracking the egg.

lmartin999

I would also contact your airline. Some of those airplane tyres look pretty slick to me. I'd be worried.....

Easterndawn

Depending on what province you are going to , I think some have regulations that make all cars must have them on. If possible I would call different rental companys.