Stupid News Report and some Winter Blast Advice.
Those of you up north or who grew up driving in winter, please skip this post.
I wish I had the exact quote, but this idiot was on WOAI TV (in San Antonio) this morning telling motorists that if they find themselves on snow or ice to shift down to first or second gear.
It’s never a good idea to downshift on ice. It’s no different than hitting the brakes and can cause your tires to slide. Take your foot off the gas, steer into the slide (turn in the same direction your rear is sliding) and pray you regain control before you hit the wall.
If you’re sitting still and have a stick, try starting in 2nd gear. It’ll reduce the torque to the wheels and make it harder to spin out.
Tires work best when they roll. Once they start sliding or spinning you’ve lost traction and control. You cannot hope to regain control until the tires start rolling properly again.
Just SLOW DOWN! 4×4, rear drive, or front wheel drive cars all stop at the same rate on ice, even if they accelerate at different speed.