HELP!? HORRIBLE drive home during first REAL Snow in Michigan - Page 2 - Toyota Yaris Forums

paulyd0021 · 12-09-2009, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the comments guys, BailOut I think you might be right about the slush making it that much worse, and when there wasnt oncoming traffic or anyone behind me I did try to do some weaving while going slow and I did have more traction that I thought. I figured I'd almost spin out if I did that but again i was probably going 25 when i tried it. And I was pretty nervous so everytime the car when in a direction I didnt want it too it I thought I was surely going to end up in a ditch, but I never did. Still my confidence has definitely been lowered. I'm going to try putting a couple salt bags in the bag, and if that doesnt help I may have to dish out some $ for some good snow tires. I figure it might be worth it in the long run since it'll cut back on the wear of my regular tires. I hear Blizzak WS60's are really good so I might try to find some of those. I just put a flash light, some gloves and boots in my car incase I get stuck in a ditch. Next I'm going to lower the PSI in my tires down to 33, the recommended for my yaris is 32 and i'm running them around 37 right now, so I'm sure that didnt help any.

Inspector14 · 12-09-2009, 02:21 PM

snow tires. all you need. putting a huge heavy salt bag in the trunk will lift weight off of the driving and steering wheels, making the vehicle less controllable.

i live in Alaska. i drove my yaris on the OEM bridgestones for a week after buying it in december '08. i did alright, except in corners. our roads here are ice all winter long, and occasionally there is a snow storm that piles the stuff in the streets. last one we had i was plowing through the streets with my bumper and i made it around just fine.

i have a set of General Tire Altimax Arctic studded snows, and the car holds the road like a mountain goat.

wiirenet · 12-09-2009, 02:31 PM

Oh, thanks for the info, I didn't think realize it would lift the weight up in th front.

thebarber · 12-09-2009, 03:42 PM

i have winters with a pretty open tread....hums on dry pavement, but was great in the slush this morning...

wiirenet · 12-09-2009, 03:54 PM

Yea that's something I'm wondering, I'm only on snow/slush part of the time, the rest are pretty well cleared roads. Or last year the snow would melt, we would have clear dry roads for a while then the snow would come back. I heard its bad/damaging to drive with snow tires on dry pavement. I don't want to have to buy new tires every year because the dry road between snow damaged them.

wiirenet · 12-10-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK198105

you won't damage your winter tires if you drive them during the cold months as soon as the temp goes above 7C or 39F, you need to change tires, as the winter tire compound is stickier and softer and will use up more quickly in warm weather. Dry pavement will ave negligible effect on thread wear in winter

Thanks for the info!

IllusionX · 12-09-2009, 07:27 PM

I had a fun drive home, after work. I made a detour to take the highway to go home, so that i can warm up the car a little more.

AlexNet0 · 12-09-2009, 07:31 PM

Learn to slow down. the yaris is light. and get good tires.

I drove 20-25 all the way home from work today.

Hershey · 12-10-2009, 01:24 AM

plus throw a 20 > 40 lb. bag of salt in back of rear seat so over the wheels . Give yeh little more traction .

paulyd0021 · 12-10-2009, 01:55 AM

great idea with the salt bags in the back seat, better than the trunk, and i'll have a good excuse to not be the family chauffeur. Ok, so here's what i've decided to go with. I can't afford the Blizzaks, although I got Bell tire to match an online price of $77 per tire, after all the extra charges and tax it ended up being $424 out the door. THats a bit more than I can afford at the moment. So I looked at their website and they have Cooper Weather-Master S/T 2's for $62 each, so I'm going to try to get 4 of those, and u can print a $20 off coupon online, so it should cost me about $322 for 4 of those. Unless I can convince them to sell me 2 tires at one place and 2 at another then i'll save another $20 with another coupon. Or if i feel crazy i could go to 4 different Belltires and buy them individually at $20 bucks off a piece. hehe... Anyways, so before I do, just wanted to see if anyone had any objections to this, not me ripping off Belltire with the coupon scheme but the idea of the Coopers.. I hear good things and mediocre things about these tires, but for my price range, and just wanting anything better than what i have (Kelly Gold Navigators), I think this may be the best deal I can get. Its either this or try to survive the winter and then move someplace snow doesnt exist.

AlexNet0 · 12-10-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Unless I can convince them to sell me 2 tires at one place and 2 at another then i'll save another $20 with another coupon

You can buy whatever tires you want, wherever you want, and have them installed wherever you want.

Just say, "here, I want 2, here is a coupon". If they tell you they cant due to inspections, sign a waiver. I did that last year.

Hershey · 12-10-2009, 12:51 PM

if you place bags of salt on rear seat I would clean them off and then put it / them in clear plastic garbage bag and seal with whatever tape you have available so not to get seats dirty or if have / form a leak . Actually meant to put bag behind rear seat of hatch or sedan ( in trunk ) so weight is over tires . Also , flip cargo mat or trunk mat over so the bag doesn't slide around as much . We use studded WEATHERMASTER ST-2's for both YARISes on all 4 wheels . Work very well in snow too . Have plenty of bite . Preferred the original WEATHER MASTERs . They had more bite in snow . GOOD LUCK

wiirenet · 12-10-2009, 12:55 PM

Well someone said "putting a huge heavy salt bag in the trunk will lift weight off of the driving and steering wheels, making the vehicle less controllable." So now I don't know if its a good or bad idea. Putting it in the rear seats is still in the rear. Would that still lift weight off the front tires?

SpaceShot · 12-10-2009, 01:28 PM

Get 4 good quality snow tires. TireRack.com, DirectTire.com, or a local wholesale outfit ($80 - $110 each)
Keep tire pressure in between 32psi and max sidewall rating.

Find a carpool partner. A little extra weight between the wheels and an extra pair of eyes to watch for ice and other slick conditions.

Practice, find a large business parking lot and carefully experiment with letting the car slide a little. Drive in slick conditions enough and you can just about feel when the wheels start to slip.

Hershey · 12-10-2009, 02:23 PM

keep our snow tires at 36 p.s.i. , helps with various temps .

12-09-2009, 03:42 PM	#4
thebarber daily driver View User's Garage Drives: the #wrecho Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,877	i have winters with a pretty open tread....hums on dry pavement, but was great in the slush this morning... __________________

12-09-2009, 07:31 PM	#8
AlexNet0 View User's Garage Drives: '07 Yaris 3dr Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rockland, ME Posts: 1,638	Learn to slow down. the yaris is light. and get good tires. I drove 20-25 all the way home from work today. __________________ ---------- MI-YW ----------

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
HELP!? HORRIBLE drive home during first REAL Snow in Michigan,	paulyd0021	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	15	12-11-2009 09:07 PM

12-09-2009, 02:14 PM	#1
paulyd0021 Drives: 2007 Blue Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 11	Thanks for the comments guys, BailOut I think you might be right about the slush making it that much worse, and when there wasnt oncoming traffic or anyone behind me I did try to do some weaving while going slow and I did have more traction that I thought. I figured I'd almost spin out if I did that but again i was probably going 25 when i tried it. And I was pretty nervous so everytime the car when in a direction I didnt want it too it I thought I was surely going to end up in a ditch, but I never did. Still my confidence has definitely been lowered. I'm going to try putting a couple salt bags in the bag, and if that doesnt help I may have to dish out some $ for some good snow tires. I figure it might be worth it in the long run since it'll cut back on the wear of my regular tires. I hear Blizzak WS60's are really good so I might try to find some of those. I just put a flash light, some gloves and boots in my car incase I get stuck in a ditch. Next I'm going to lower the PSI in my tires down to 33, the recommended for my yaris is 32 and i'm running them around 37 right now, so I'm sure that didnt help any.

12-09-2009, 02:21 PM	#2
Inspector14 Drives: 09 Yaris hatch, Meteor Metal Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 60	snow tires. all you need. putting a huge heavy salt bag in the trunk will lift weight off of the driving and steering wheels, making the vehicle less controllable. i live in Alaska. i drove my yaris on the OEM bridgestones for a week after buying it in december '08. i did alright, except in corners. our roads here are ice all winter long, and occasionally there is a snow storm that piles the stuff in the streets. last one we had i was plowing through the streets with my bumper and i made it around just fine. i have a set of General Tire Altimax Arctic studded snows, and the car holds the road like a mountain goat.

12-09-2009, 02:31 PM	#3
wiirenet View User's Garage Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: near Chicago, IL Posts: 286	Oh, thanks for the info, I didn't think realize it would lift the weight up in th front.

12-09-2009, 03:54 PM	#5
wiirenet View User's Garage Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: near Chicago, IL Posts: 286	Yea that's something I'm wondering, I'm only on snow/slush part of the time, the rest are pretty well cleared roads. Or last year the snow would melt, we would have clear dry roads for a while then the snow would come back. I heard its bad/damaging to drive with snow tires on dry pavement. I don't want to have to buy new tires every year because the dry road between snow damaged them.

12-09-2009, 07:27 PM	#7
IllusionX It's the illusion you see View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Sedan Aero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brossard, QC Posts: 3,888	I had a fun drive home, after work. I made a detour to take the highway to go home, so that i can warm up the car a little more.

12-10-2009, 01:24 AM	#9
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	plus throw a 20 > 40 lb. bag of salt in back of rear seat so over the wheels . Give yeh little more traction .

12-10-2009, 01:55 AM	#10
paulyd0021 Drives: 2007 Blue Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 11	great idea with the salt bags in the back seat, better than the trunk, and i'll have a good excuse to not be the family chauffeur. Ok, so here's what i've decided to go with. I can't afford the Blizzaks, although I got Bell tire to match an online price of $77 per tire, after all the extra charges and tax it ended up being $424 out the door. THats a bit more than I can afford at the moment. So I looked at their website and they have Cooper Weather-Master S/T 2's for $62 each, so I'm going to try to get 4 of those, and u can print a $20 off coupon online, so it should cost me about $322 for 4 of those. Unless I can convince them to sell me 2 tires at one place and 2 at another then i'll save another $20 with another coupon. Or if i feel crazy i could go to 4 different Belltires and buy them individually at $20 bucks off a piece. hehe... Anyways, so before I do, just wanted to see if anyone had any objections to this, not me ripping off Belltire with the coupon scheme but the idea of the Coopers.. I hear good things and mediocre things about these tires, but for my price range, and just wanting anything better than what i have (Kelly Gold Navigators), I think this may be the best deal I can get. Its either this or try to survive the winter and then move someplace snow doesnt exist.

12-10-2009, 12:51 PM	#12
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	if you place bags of salt on rear seat I would clean them off and then put it / them in clear plastic garbage bag and seal with whatever tape you have available so not to get seats dirty or if have / form a leak . Actually meant to put bag behind rear seat of hatch or sedan ( in trunk ) so weight is over tires . Also , flip cargo mat or trunk mat over so the bag doesn't slide around as much . We use studded WEATHERMASTER ST-2's for both YARISes on all 4 wheels . Work very well in snow too . Have plenty of bite . Preferred the original WEATHER MASTERs . They had more bite in snow . GOOD LUCK

12-10-2009, 12:55 PM	#13
wiirenet View User's Garage Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: near Chicago, IL Posts: 286	Well someone said "putting a huge heavy salt bag in the trunk will lift weight off of the driving and steering wheels, making the vehicle less controllable." So now I don't know if its a good or bad idea. Putting it in the rear seats is still in the rear. Would that still lift weight off the front tires?

12-10-2009, 01:28 PM	#14
SpaceShot Drives: 2008 Yaris 5 speed HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NH Posts: 171	Get 4 good quality snow tires. TireRack.com, DirectTire.com, or a local wholesale outfit ($80 - $110 each) Keep tire pressure in between 32psi and max sidewall rating. Find a carpool partner. A little extra weight between the wheels and an extra pair of eyes to watch for ice and other slick conditions. Practice, find a large business parking lot and carefully experiment with letting the car slide a little. Drive in slick conditions enough and you can just about feel when the wheels start to slip.

12-10-2009, 02:23 PM	#15
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	keep our snow tires at 36 p.s.i. , helps with various temps .