Lower Tyre Pressures For Getting Out Of Snow?

[agent_zed]

If Ray mears has taught me anything its that if i was to find myself bogged down in the middle of the sahara its to let some air out of the tyres to get a larger surface area.

 

Ive never heard it said but would it be the same if you are bogged down in snow or would it make no difference?

 

not that iam going out, more out of interest.

 

It annoys me how the media this year hasn't bothered to give any type of advice when driving, i saw a good one last year that showed how to drive in slippery condition. this year they just keep saying the same things over and over, while muppets sit spinning their wheels and driving too fast... Yes we know that its difficult to drive and there has been lots of crashes but tell people what they should be doing.

 

look forward to your thoughts.

 

edited a few spelling mistakes and grammer.

Edited January 8, 2010 by agent_zed

[Redspec]

Yes

 

But make sure you have a pump, to pump them back up once out of trouble. I don't think they adivise this, as some moron will let all the air out thinking more is better and then go on to drive like normal with flat tyres.

Some people don't even know if there car drives through the front or rear wheels?

The level of knowledge about cars of some people still shocks me at times.

 

Steve

[agent_zed]

thanks,

thats what i assumed but wasn't sure. I guess as you say though they don't want people driving round on flats.

safe driving all.

[Guest mower man]

Yes

 

But make sure you have a pump, to pump them back up once out of trouble. I don't think they adivise this, as some moron will let all the air out thinking more is better and then go on to drive like normal with flat tyres.

Some people don't even know if there car drives through the front or rear wheels?

The level of knowledge about cars of some people still shocks me at times.

 

Steve

The above is very true and to be honest it has never been much better. Isaw a guy on WEDs trying to get of his drive in a 4x4 with rear wheels spinning Ipresume he had not put it in 4 wheel drive!! bye for now mower man

[fry61]

Always thought lower tyre pressures caused tread to close-up & therefore the tyre had less edges open to bite the snow-----or am I so old that the above only applies to cross-ply tyres.

[Guest Ian & Carole]

Many Many Many years ago I competed in production car trials.

 

The guy who read my maps in the Escort had an Hillman Imp.

 

If we wern't in the forest we would be on the grass hills.

 

6 psi in the rear tyres, fat but squigy and really grippy.

 

We would usually finish in the top 3 the battle was always for him to beat me or me to beat him

 

Ohh hapy days!!!!!!!!!

[Guest oddsocks]

I remember a while back watching that idiot Clarkson driving a 4x4 to one of the poles. During the programme one of his tyres, which were set with extremely low PSI to allow him to travel over the snow and ice, broke the seal on the outside of the rim. The local AA man came to his rescue. He sprayed some lighter fluid or gas into the tyre and proceeded ignite it. With a small explosion the tyre popped back onto the rim and Clarkson was able to continue his journey.

 

So, yes you can let some pressure out of your tyres to enhance your grip but I think that you need to know what you are doing.

 

 

I've done it in my van to get up a hill and it worked but what if you've got run flats??Which most car manufactors seem to be heading to.

 

Makes me laugh tho the amount of news cover the snow is getting-ITS WINTER! Know it much colder than we're use to but how do other countries manage when they have -25,30 everyday with 6ft of snow on the roads.

Is it me or do the media make things out to be worst than it really is?

Rant over

[speedtripledan]

I dropped my mondeo tyre pressures down today and instead of wheel spins off the drive it went no probs took them down from 33 to 26 psi and it is noticable better in this weather

 

Dan

[miikae]

The mention of 1963 still brings back vivid memories of me at 17 having to go back to work in Loughborough where i was serving my apprenticeship, a very cold ride from Chatham on a Vespa and having to stop at every service station to use the hand driers to warm up so i could open my zip! as hands that cold i could hardly pull the clutch in or speak for that matter, i got moved on by the M1 motorway police for stopping under a bridge to try to warm my hands as gear changing and applying the brakes was getting difficult hands frozen again , On that trip i did manage to stay on board no slip sliding down the road as had happened on other occasions.

 

Mike

[Guest john]

I've dropped the presssures on my Focus to 20psi. made a huge difference.

[Guest The Modfather]

Only just seen this thread, probably too tied up in that dodgy S7 on Ebay thread to notice, but just a quick phrase to remember whilst driving in any condition is, YOU SHOULD DRIVE SO THAT YOU CAN STOP IN THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE TO BE CLEAR, AND ON YOUR SIDE OF THE ROAD.

This is actually from Roadcraft, the Police Driving book, and you will, if done properly in conjunction with knowing how to correctly read limit points etc, find yourself being able to drive quicker. Obviously I am not saying that this should be done in town and will never condone speeding, but after practice you will find that you driving skills will have improved, and your favourite twisty bit will be more exciting, and safer.

If, and bearing in mind we all have a passion for fast cars, you fancy knowing just a little more than the "average" driver, and don't want to go through the I.A.M advanced driving test, but do want to improve your ability, then get this book and read it, then read it again.

I can guarantee that you will learn from it. In my police career, having gone through all of the driving courses that I have successfully completed, I have read this book probably 20 times, and that's no exaggeration. It always comes with me when I'm on a course, and sadly I always take 2 just in case I lose one!

 

Happy and safe driving everybody.

 

Darren