The #1 Tip for Winter Weather Driving

Black ice, snow drifts, chunks of ice hurtling off trucks, and a few feet of snow. This winter is not kind to Northeastern commuters. While this is slightly bothersome, the real annoying part is that friend  we all have from up north who thinks he's bulletproof in the snow, and wants to constantly remind you of the fact. But even he probably knows that the single most important thing about driving in any kind of inclement weather is your tires.

Sure, there are lots of techniques and tips for driving in the snow, but none is more important than that layer of rubber that goes between you and the road. Lately I see a lot of automotive websites dismissing all wheel drive (AWD) cars, and preaching the necessity of snow tires. But the fact remains that snow tires just aren't practical for most people. This is of course unless your daily driver is a high-torque RWD sports car, or you live in the snow belt. But for the rest of us, we make due with our all season rubber. As for the AWD, it has its place, and that's smashing snowbanks and climbing icy hills.

Last winter was really rough for me, because I did not have adequate tires. There were times when I couldn't even get out of a parking spot after a snowfall. So this year, I did some online research and then made a call to Mavis Discount Tire to make an appointment.

Tires for my car are very big and very expensive. Also, I'm what you call a "spirited" driver, so usually a decent 245/45/18 runs me more than 200 dollars. I normally get my favorite tire, a Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS, which are about $270 a pop. Since I needed 4 and my family needed to eat this month, this wasn't going to happen.

After talking with the service manager, I settled on a set of Goodyear Eagle GT's for $125 each, a significant savings. They came highly recommended, and after looking them up online, I was willing to take a chance.

And boy I'm glad I did. They have a mean asymmetrical tread pattern, they have a little flare which gives the appearance of an aggressive stance, and the sidewalls aren't too busy. But more importantly, they grip. They hold traction perfectly in the rain, and haven't hydroplaned yet, and with the snow we have experienced, I'm remarkably sure footed. I have had other people spin in front of me while I easily dodge them. My car puts 300 HP to the front wheels, which usually makes my immobile in the snow, but this year I have yet to get stuck.

So here's the moral of the story. Don't skimp on tires. they are literally the only thing between you and the road. Don't feel like you have to buy the most expensive, but it does pay to talk to someone who knows a thing or two about rubber and do some research before making the investment.

Another Hazard of Winter Driving

I'm back from sunny SoCal only to wake up to 2 feet of snow and blizzard conditions in Long Island. While us upstate natives call this a "dusting", its usually cause for panic amongst metro NY drivers. It is also a very good time to tell my fellow commuters CLEAN THE SNOW OFF YOUR DAMN ROOF!

I always see this for a few days after a heavy snow- People leave a mass of snow on top of their car, only to have it ice up and then fly off into unsuspecting motorists at highway speed. I have personally felt this, as a few years ago I was hit with an ice ball that shattered my windshield at about 60 MPH.  OK, I understand if you drive an 18 wheeler where the issues might be, but for those of you with SUV's, and even smaller passenger cars, it amounts to laziness. Laziness that could be deadly for your fellow motorists.

Did you know its also the law now? NJ just passed it as a state law that roofs must be cleaned off, (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/nj_to_require_snow_ice_to_be_r.html) and in NY, if snow and ice fly off your car, you are responsible for damages incurred to other drivers vehicles.

I have also noticed a few hotspots to be extra cautions of falling snow and ice. On the inbound GWB, right as it enters the CBX, this is when trucks usually get up to highway speed, and an updraft will almost always result  in ice and snow flying off, even into the outbound lanes. Additional areas to watch out for are around rest areas where trucks sit for the night, and then pull on to the highway. alos, on ramps in general are where most issues happen, as cars get up to speed.

So what do you do if you see an iceberg headed for you? Try and anticipate its travel path. Typically, it will fly straight back, and if the winds catching it, you might be able to accelerate under it. Swerving should be kept to a minimum, as road conditions are usually sandy or icy and not fit for high speed evasive maneuvers. Usually, the better move is to the right, because if it does angle, it will usually go left. (I have no idea why this is, scientifically.)

But as always, the best evasive maneuver is awareness. take the time to scan ahead for cars and trucks that are potential threats, and get ahead or far behind them.