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During snowstorms, leave the sports-car at home and drive the sedan or the cross-over.
But at the track, during a rainstorm, possibly disconnect the swaybar links. Certainly, turn the adjustments on the shocks.
The correct suspension setup for a low-traction surface is a low-rate suspension
.
This is absolute nonsense. A stiff suspension car with good snow tires is just fine in the snow. I’ve run Nokian Hakkapelliita tires on a sport tuned daily driver. Until it bottomed out, it had better winter driving performance than my barge of an SUV. Lighter weight in the snow means shorter stopping distance and better traction in corners. A heavy car wants to go straight no matter what you give it for steering and braking inputs. That’s totally independent of the way the suspension is tuned.
I run higher aspect ratio tires in the winter because pot holes and damaged wheels.
I recall the WR was a bit older than that. 2001, I believe. I ran the studless Hakkapeliitta Q on a VW GTI in 2001 and the WR had just come out. I have a bunch of ski friends with Southern New England/NYC tri-state commutes who swore by it. A full snow tire won't take the miles.
Nokian uses rapeseed. Canola is a genetically modified rapeseed that is altered to be edible.
A premium winter tire will perform better in winter, but it won't handle well in summer and it will wear out quickly if driven year round. According to Nokian's statements, they use canola oil...
"We are already using renewable raw materials, including canola oil and pine oil, because canola oil, for instance, improves the rubber compound’s durability and grip on ice, explains Vice President, Research and Development Juha Pirhonen." https://www.nokiantires.com/company/...rt-technology/
"The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 has a unique tread compound: it contains Finnish canola oil, which not only improves the tyre's cold weather properties and enhances its tear resistance but also improves the tyre's environmental friendliness... Pressed from seeds of the canola plant, which is a member of the cabbage family, canola oil is a biodegradable and renewable natural resource that is an environmental alternative to non-renewable petroleum-based oils." https://www.nokiantyres.com/company/...th-canola-oil/
"The Canola oil that is added to the rubber compound emphasises the eco-friendly nature of the Nokian WR G3 SUV. The eco-friendly Canola oil maximizes tear strength, making this new-generation all-weather product more durable and increasing wet, ice and snow grip under extreme conditions." https://www.nokiantires.com/company/...ll-conditions/
During snowstorms, leave the sports-car at home and drive the sedan or the cross-over.
But at the track, during a rainstorm, possibly disconnect the swaybar links. Certainly, turn the adjustments on the shocks.
The correct suspension setup for a low-traction surface is a low-rate suspension
.
Did the topic change from "Driving in snow? tips? tricks?" to "adjusting your sports car's suspension for track racing in rainy conditions"? Did I miss something?
I drive maybe 20-50 miles out of my typical annual 12K miles a year in the snow.
I can't be bothered to swap on snow tires, let alone crawl under the car to disconnect sway bars and install softer springs. That's not a practical solution.
It’s my first winter in a place with actual winters. It’s currently single digits for temps with a wind chill below zero and there’s snow. I had a full blown panic attack meltdown driving in these conditions today.
I did play around in a parking lot for a bit which I thought would help, but it really didn’t. Currently driving my sister’s car since the transmission in my van went out, so buying snow tires is out of the question at the moment. Any tips on how to feel more comfortable driving in these conditions? I didn’t exactly want to live here, but family matters made it so, and for the foreseeable future I’m stuck living in snow hell, USA.
I grew up in snow so maybe I'm no help here. I rode my bicycle in snow way before it was cool. If it is now. I wrapped rope around the tires/wheels because nobody made chains for bicycle tires.
I spent at least a couple of 30 minute sessions in deserted snow covered parking lots doing skids, slides, control, and recovery. Maybe there are some videos what would be helpful. I was also a natural driver, an uncle let me steer when I was maybe 12 and drive the car when 14 or so.
If you're a musician you practice music. If you're a ball player you have practice. If you're acting in a play you have rehearsals. So IMO practicing driving in snow in a deserted parking lot should be instructive. If not, go fish for a skid/slide control driver training program. It's pretty much a matter of training your instincts. When I was a kid and we raced go-carts, the first time the rear end started to come around on me I did what came naturally, I steered in the direction I had been going in. I was corrected, "You steer into the skid." AKA you countersteer, you do what doesn't seem natural. I learned that, that fixed it.
Good luck. I also use winter tires. Wouldn't be without them. I didn't use them for the longest time. But my first winter driving with snow tires made a True Believer out of me.
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