Winter driving advice requested (Ontario, Canada) Options

[gts4]

Drove in the storm today. With winter tires, I have great grip on the roads except when the snow reaches my bumper. I felt like I almost burned out a new clutch by riding it in order to keep my momentum going. I heard tire slip may pre-maturely wear out the transmission too. Until I get an suv for the winter, how should I handle driving in this weather? Studded tires? Chains? Thanks!

[mkernz22]

I have snow tires and it drives fine in the snow. I don't think tire slip will pre-maturely wear out the transmission, it'll just wear out the tires, but since you're on snow they won't wear. I think launching your car on dry pavement is worse than tire slip.

[gts4]

I have snow tires and it drives fine in the snow. I don't think tire slip will pre-maturely wear out the transmission, it'll just wear out the tires, but since you're on snow they won't wear. I think launching your car on dry pavement is worse than tire slip.

It definitely drives fine. My street wasn't plowed until 8pm today. That's where I got stuck. I wanted to know if there was a tire I could use that would let me drive in snow much deeper than normal.

[Special_Edy]

Well here in the south we let the air out of our tires for mud or sand. 10 psi will give you a greater tire contact patch while still leaving enough pressure for limited travel across pavement. I wouldn't go lower than 5psi.

Of course I have almost no freezing weather experience but unless someone corrects me this should help you out in the snow.

[Box]

Big knobby tires.

[Galcobar]

Traction is of limited value when you're trying to use your car as a snow plow. The lack of a directional shovel up front means you end up compacting the snow, and eventually attempting to drive through a solid wall of ice. The solution is ground clearance, where you're driving over the barricade instead of fighting it.

Tire slip should not harm the transmission, unless you're allowing it to reach ridiculous RPMs. A tire spinning on a surface with no traction is, from a resistance standpoint, no different than a tire spinning on a rolling surface (e.g. a dyno).

[Box]

Tom's lip and 3" drop. Problem solved.

[Special_Edy]

I think you heard that its damaging to the differential, not the transmission.

The differntial was intended to allow the wheels to travel different speeds around corners, not to let one wheel spin while the other stays still. Of course as others said you would wear out other components like the tires long before you burnt up the differential.

Id be more worried about the snow blocking the radiator scoop. Our car has a very low grill in the front and in the visual I have in my mind of you getting stuck the snow has completely blocked this grill up. No air flow to the radiator= overheating

[gts4]

I'd be more worried about the snow blocking the radiator scoop. Our car has a very low grill in the front and in the visual I have in my mind of you getting stuck the snow has completely blocked this grill up. No air flow to the radiator= overheating.

Does this have anything to do with the car not cranking over? I can't start it anymore. Thanks.

[FrankB2]

Not cranking over could be the battery being dead/weak due to cold weather and thick oil. If the engine is cranking normally, but not starting...?

[gts4]

Not cranking over could be the battery being dead/weak due to cold weather and thick oil. If the engine is cranking normally, but not starting...?

The engine is cranking normally. I used a booster pack and nothing yet. It isn't a clicking power issue, it just keeps cranking but won't crank over. Maybe no spark?

[Box]

That or fuel. Both are easy to test.

[gts4]

That or fuel. Both are easy to test.

What's the best way to test both? Thanks.

[Box]

Pull off the spark plug wire, put a plug in and lay it on top of the intake manifold. Have someone turn the car over and see if it sparks. Fuel, pull off the hose from the fuel rail and see if it gushes when turned over. Can go further and get a stethoscope to listen for the injectors clicking.