This is a general driving question, but should apply to either competition or street driving ( and I really don't know where it belongs). In slick conditions, is it advisable to drive in a lower gear than you would use in dry conditions? I ask this because it is getting cold and slick here in PA, and I remember reading that the above technique is beneficial for wet/slick traction in relation to motorcycle riding, and wondered how it applied to 4 wheels. The logic was that you use up less traction by using engine braking than you do by cutting off the gas and getting on the brakes. Thoughts?

 

 

Interesting question, I'm curious what others will think.

I have had better luck running in higher gears at lower RPMs. This is especially true in cars with turbochargers (I've had two that were winter drivers) or superchargers like the MCS. What you want to do is minimize sudden torque to the drive wheels, because that will break the tires loose.

It's worth noting that in cars with automatic transmissions that have "winter" modes, the software usually starts the car from 3rd gear rather than first when in winter mode.

The main point is to accelerate at a slow, even pace.

 

Although he is somewhat less articulate, this was Gary's point, exactly. Low gears = higher torque = bad in snow. This applies to both accelerating and compression braking.

 

For low speed street driving (like snow-covered or icy city streets), there are definitely times when I prefer lower gears and higher rpms than normal. Especially if there's a hill and I'm near the limit of my traction, I like to be able to change wheel speeds quickly. I'm not talking about dramatically changing the wheel speed, which would lead to losing traction, but rather being able to make quick small adjustments as I feel my traction gaining or slipping. At lower rpms, I just don't have the delicate throttle response that I prefer to have in slippery situations. This is hard to articulate, but I'm entering my 15th year of New England winter driving with no mishaps, so I think I'm doing something right.

This winter will be my first on snow tires, and perhaps this will become moot.

 

Modern snow tires are a wonderful thing.

Excluding possible special conditions, I'm inclined to agree with the theory of lower engine speeds and higher gears. Nothing extreme though. Just drive like gas cost $4 a gallon (got way too close to being true here this fall) and you're trying to be fuel efficient. Gentle transitions on gas, fairly small throttle openings, etc. For braking, on non-ABS cars I always tended to use engine braking more. With the MINI, which has pretty sophisticated ABS, you're probably better off using the brake pedal to slow down.

The number one thing when driving in low traction conditions (ice and snow) is to make all your controls inputs (brake, throttle, steering) slowly and smoothly to reduce the chance of exceeding your available tire traction. Snow tires raise the limits way up compared to other tires, but there are still limits.

Scott
90SM

 

I HAD to relearn everything one winter in upstate N.Y. The hardest part was completely forgetting I had a brake pedal. It's been 20 years or more but I remember I had to forget that thing was in there. Everything had to be done with the gas and the gears, from turning to stopping I had to use the gas and the right gear to do it. Some judicious use of the emergency brake...It's been awhile but I still think it holds true in the really heavy stuff. What do the winter PROS say? After all I am a native Floridian, with a lot of travel miles under my belt from a while ago now...

P.S. Like the above poster also said, SMOOTH is the word in everything, no abrupt transitions.

 

Having spent almost 40 years driving in southern New England winters I would definitely say lower rpms and higher gears are the answer. Along with short shifting, gentle application of brakes, steering input, and gas. Sort of everything in moderation.

Snow tires make a world of difference. They are worth every penny.

 

I learned how to drive in Minnesota on a front wheel drive Honda Del Sol. I found engin breaking to be far better than using the brakes, especially on ice (only person I knew in high school that didn't get into an accident during the winter). I use the same technique with my MCS and have found the same thing. I was on snow tires in MN, but I am currently on my summer tires still in IN and have been ok through our first snow storms. I like to keep the car in the middle of the power band with room to go either way. Just remember, snow has much more traction than ice, and if need be, snow banks stop the car softer than the car in front of you .

 

Driving in the snow is a lot like racing, only slower. You don't want to break traction. The main difference to racing is that you want to use the highest gear possible. A low gear will break loose faster, because there is either more torque or drag.

Back the the racing. There are three things you do when racing, brake, accelerate and steer. When going into a curve, you only want to do one. Therefore brake, before the curve and steer only. And when you leave the curve, accelerate after you have straightened the steering wheel. Therefore you are only doing one of the three. Remember, turn, acccelerate, or brake, but only one at a time.

 

I often equate being on track to my non-track friends as the equivalent of driving on ice. Smoothness, no abrupt motions, staying ahead of the car, thinking about what is about to happen rather than trying to react to what has. 'Course we might have to be careful about the racing analogy and this doing one thing at a time... hate to see the trailbraking war spill over onto these pages and the less experienced figuring they might try it when it snows.

 

I have only been driving since mid 2004, but I have driven everything from H1 Hummers, friends Ford GT, Bentley Continental, and of course my MCS. The MINI handles fairly well in snow, I mean it's not an SUV, nor does it have 4 wheel drive like my dad's Navigator or my moms Exploder (Explorer ), but other than that, for it's size it's not bad. On the topic at hand I tend to agree, with all the views presented so far. I know that most of the people that drive BMW M3s over on e46fanatics, which I frequent, don't start out in 1st during wintery conditions because of the sheer torque those cars make, it's not as big of a factor in the MINI but the same concept should apply either way. I don't start out in first either if I'm on snow, ice, or slush, b/c with the DSC off I'll spin my wheels for like 30sec, or with it on it will cut in immediately and take me down to like 3mph, and almost stall the car out. It really depends on the conditions. Don't during the ENTIRE winter use 2nd gear, b/c you'll go through a tranny in nothing flat b/c 2nd gear isn't made to be slipped like 1st, only do it when you KNOW your not going to get good grip under your tires.

We just got about 10in of snow here so I haven't taken my MINI out in the last 24hrs, b/c I didn't have school today. But a few weeks ago before I retired my summer rims and tires we got like 4in of snow, and I was driving with my KDW 2s which isn't much better than walking, b/c I was constantly sliding and the like. It was fun but I learned several things during that time period:
Engine Brake in slick conditions
NEVER use the ebrake unless your messing around
NEVER GAS nor BRAKE going around corners, the undrstr sucks
When at stop signs etc. even though it's against the law, it's better to keep moving

I love driving an SUV in the winter blasting through that snow in 4x4, sooo fun, but not everyone has this luxury, but just don't try to drive your MINI like u do in the summer time or you'll end up pasted to a tree. Follow some of the tips these guys have given u and ery thing 'll be fine, even if that means listening to a 17 year old tell u how to drive.

Good Luck!

Mike