Winter weather + your S2000, 7 tips to keep you facing the right direction
12-12-2012, 08:55 AM
#1
Winter weather + your S2000, 7 tips to keep you facing the right direction
It's that time of year. The temperature starts dropping, the rain is more difficult to deal with (plus it turns into that pesky white stuff), our summer tires start getting greasy, and on the whole we all have to be more and more careful with our beloved cars. I've been seeing a few accident threads in the main forums, so I thought it would be a good idea to remind everyone here in NOVA that driving the S this time of year requires making some conscious decisions about your driving habits. Hopefully reading these over will help keep you all out of trouble this winter, even as mild as it has been so far!
1) Slow down in the corners!
Take that corners at the posted speed limit, maybe 5 mph over if you're feeling risky. The temperatures this time of year make our amazingly grippy summer tires hard as a rock. If you aren't changing your tires for this time of year, slow down! Even if you are, don't forget that there is generally much less traction available.
2) Smooth in, smooth out!
Don't apply throttle too early when you start driving out of a corner, and roll on and off rather than punching it. Be smooth with your steering inputs. Sudden jerks of the wheel or sudden applications of throttle and you can find yourself facing the wrong direction quickly!
3) Give yourself more braking room!
Hopefully we all know about the 2 second rule for follow behind another car. Well, this time of year it might be good to give yourself 3 or 4 seconds. Less traction = less braking, so give yourself some more time to react to and get yourself out of dangerous situations! Also don't discount the fact that the people around you probably aren't changing their driving habits, so you need to compensate for that as well.
4) If you have an 06+, leave that traction control on!
Traction control actually does a decent job at making up for your mistakes! Quell the dare devil in yourself, and keep that stability control enabled this time of year. You never know when it'll save your butt and your beloved S!
5) Hold the steering wheel at approximately the 10 and 2 o'clock positions
Just because Vin Diesel makes it look cool doesn't mean you have to let your inner gangster one handed wrist driver take over. In general, its good practice to hold the steering wheel at 10 and 2. Also, don't grip the wheel with white knuckles, as it keeps you tense and more prone to unintended inputs. A light but firm grip will keep those inputs smooth and consistent.
6) Stay out of VTEC in adverse weather conditions
This time of year, there is little to no reason to go above 4,000RPMs. We all love the "VTAAAAAKKKKKKKK", but try to steer clear of it this time of year. Even going in a straight line can upset the car with severely decrease traction, so save the environment, and your car, and keep it off the 2nd set of cams.
7) Shift smoothly, and shift before the corner
Hopefully by now you all know your beloved S enough to know what good shift points are, and how a "smooth shift" feels. Keep things as smooth as possible, both up, and down. We all love to show off our rev matching skills, but please make sure you pick your gear while you are going straight and before you enter the turn. In general its good practice, and will prevent an accidental mid corner shift screw up leading to a loss traction.
These are just a few tips. Obviously, always drive appropriately based upon the weather conditions. The worse it gets, the more cautious you should be.
Stay safe everyone!
1) Slow down in the corners!
Take that corners at the posted speed limit, maybe 5 mph over if you're feeling risky. The temperatures this time of year make our amazingly grippy summer tires hard as a rock. If you aren't changing your tires for this time of year, slow down! Even if you are, don't forget that there is generally much less traction available.
2) Smooth in, smooth out!
Don't apply throttle too early when you start driving out of a corner, and roll on and off rather than punching it. Be smooth with your steering inputs. Sudden jerks of the wheel or sudden applications of throttle and you can find yourself facing the wrong direction quickly!
3) Give yourself more braking room!
Hopefully we all know about the 2 second rule for follow behind another car. Well, this time of year it might be good to give yourself 3 or 4 seconds. Less traction = less braking, so give yourself some more time to react to and get yourself out of dangerous situations! Also don't discount the fact that the people around you probably aren't changing their driving habits, so you need to compensate for that as well.
4) If you have an 06+, leave that traction control on!
Traction control actually does a decent job at making up for your mistakes! Quell the dare devil in yourself, and keep that stability control enabled this time of year. You never know when it'll save your butt and your beloved S!
5) Hold the steering wheel at approximately the 10 and 2 o'clock positions
Just because Vin Diesel makes it look cool doesn't mean you have to let your inner gangster one handed wrist driver take over. In general, its good practice to hold the steering wheel at 10 and 2. Also, don't grip the wheel with white knuckles, as it keeps you tense and more prone to unintended inputs. A light but firm grip will keep those inputs smooth and consistent.
6) Stay out of VTEC in adverse weather conditions
This time of year, there is little to no reason to go above 4,000RPMs. We all love the "VTAAAAAKKKKKKKK", but try to steer clear of it this time of year. Even going in a straight line can upset the car with severely decrease traction, so save the environment, and your car, and keep it off the 2nd set of cams.
7) Shift smoothly, and shift before the corner
Hopefully by now you all know your beloved S enough to know what good shift points are, and how a "smooth shift" feels. Keep things as smooth as possible, both up, and down. We all love to show off our rev matching skills, but please make sure you pick your gear while you are going straight and before you enter the turn. In general its good practice, and will prevent an accidental mid corner shift screw up leading to a loss traction.
These are just a few tips. Obviously, always drive appropriately based upon the weather conditions. The worse it gets, the more cautious you should be.
Stay safe everyone!
12-12-2012, 08:57 AM
#2
12-12-2012, 09:26 AM
#4
Registered User
I'm gonna one up this and say don't even drive in the snow period. I had new, top rated all seasons last year and could barely keep the car going straight in 1/2" of snow. I'm not even gonna bother this year.
12-12-2012, 12:10 PM
#5
I'll let you know if I'm still alive after I drive the S to Vermont next month. I've heard an S with snow tires is very capable as long as the snow isn't deep enough to turn your bumper into a snow plow. Guess I'll find out
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12-12-2012, 06:11 PM
#9
Registered User
I'm a little more optimistic than that, but I do have real snow tires.
I'll let you know if I'm still alive after I drive the S to Vermont next month. I've heard an S with snow tires is very capable as long as the snow isn't deep enough to turn your bumper into a snow plow. Guess I'll find out
I'll let you know if I'm still alive after I drive the S to Vermont next month. I've heard an S with snow tires is very capable as long as the snow isn't deep enough to turn your bumper into a snow plow. Guess I'll find out
I "wrecked" my previous wrx that way. One bent lower control arm later all was well again.
12-13-2012, 02:45 AM
#10
I recommend not driving in the snow. It's really tricky. I did it once, with about an inch of snow on the road. Very, very scary. Just not much control no matter what. Not to mention the other drivers in this area - they are bad under the best conditions. Good tips, though.