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brandegy
New User
Dec 21, 2009, 11:26 AM
Post #1 of 7
(2916 views)
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So my mom has a 2001 dodge neon. In the more recent years snow and rain driving is getting worse and worse. She told me she got two new tires in march (most likely the cheapest ones) and two new back tires a year ago ( again cheapest). when she took her car in for the tires they said she needed an alignment, and other front end work done. When she drives on maybe an inch of snow or slush her car has no control. What could be causing this? Tires or front end work?
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 21, 2009, 9:26 PM
Post #2 of 7
(2823 views)
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Re: Driving in snow
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Sounds like a combination of everything..... The alignment being out would be more noticable in the snow just for the fact it's more slippery and if there's worn parts in the frt end then the alignment is going to hold.....
If the tires aren't all season then the tread pattern isn't made for snow conditions.....
If she is have control problems, you really want to get it checked out. Don't want to mess aroud with safety issues.........
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 22, 2009, 9:01 AM
Post #3 of 7
(2818 views)
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Re: Driving in snow
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Just adding some comment on snow and tires. I own a full size 4X4 with four real snow tires like new - chiefly to plow snow. The tires came with it and stink! To look at them you'd say they are perfect but I've been stuck on level driveway with the thing! Despite what a tire claims it tisn't always so. Been at this for 40 years so I do know differences.
Also - sometimes a whole year goes by and the type of snow matters greatly. Heavy and wet with ice under it is trouble as is near the melting point. Traction on super cold snow and ground improves! They still sell them but there was a day you would buy just highway tires not the common "all season" so popular today. Like a fool back in the 70s had a Granada with those and was in Vermont on a ski trip. It was so freaking cold - like 20-30 below its then highway tires still did fine! That was a RWD car with the highway tires.
BTW - I don't know of that car to be known as a problem with traction by itself,
T
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Loren Champlain Sr
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/ Moderator
Dec 29, 2009, 4:46 PM
Post #4 of 7
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Re: Driving in snow
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brandegy; Another opinion. Just what you need, right?  We see a lot of ice, here. Studded snow tires will get you most anywhere. With a front wheel drive car, though, you must run them on all four wheels. Most folks in these type of areas have two sets of tires. One for the winter months and one for the rest of the year.
Loren
SW Washington
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jydirect
User
Feb 8, 2010, 11:57 PM
Post #5 of 7
(2770 views)
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Re: Driving in snow
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i think so too..
(This post was edited by jydirect on Feb 8, 2010, 11:58 PM)
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re-tired
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/ Moderator
Feb 9, 2010, 11:54 AM
Post #6 of 7
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Re: Driving in snow
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"Traction on super cold snow and ground improves!"
As a native Florida native I know squat about driving in snow ..heck when we get flurries state gov shuts down , schools close , the heat goes up and the hot cocoa comes out. BUT, I do watch TV, Ice Road Truckers a favorite . They state zackly what you said Tom. The colder and harder the ice the better the traction . When its -30 they are flying , when it gets above 0 and it gets slushy they are all over the road.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 11, 2010, 12:38 AM
Post #7 of 7
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Re: Driving in snow
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re-tired, its an easy experiment you can do to see why. Fill an ice cube tray and put it in your freezer. When it just barely freezes up, run your finger on it. Pretty slick isn't it? Now crank your freezer to max cold and check those cubes in the morning. They are almost gritty and the moisture in your finger sticks. When these tires move friction is created and a very slight melt happens. On already slick ice near the freezing point this is a recipe for poor traction. But in extreme cold, it refreezes so fast it almost glues you to the road. Remember "A Christmas Story" when the kid's tongue froze instantly to the pole? That wasn't Hollywood. I watched it in Anchorage when I was in elementary school waiting for the bus. Not to poke fun, but the kid who took the dare was from Florida and it was his first winter ever. He left some of his tongue on the metal pole. I would rather it be subzero when the roads get ice and snow. I get traction. Let it be 25-32 degrees and its a slip n' slide. The ice cube experiment shows why. Colder it gets the grainier and grittier ice will get. I've had better traction driving on the lake to go ice fishing many times than I did on the drive to it!
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