Safety Q on winter driving from CO springs - Woodland Pk (Colorado Springs: motel, home)

[Onelady21]

I am new here and am commuting from Colorado Springs to Woodland Park every morning via I-24. I have a front wheel drive sedan (Acura) with regular michelin tires. Will I be ok driving over the highway in this when the snow and ice come? Any suggestions are appreciated! Also, if there's anything else I should be aware of?

[Arrby]

Generally speaking, yes.

However, it would be so much better if you bought yourself another set of wheels and mounted snow tires from Thanksgiving to May Day. Snow tires give you more traction to get started, more stopping power to get you stopped, and more traction to hold you in corners. This is a significant expense, but it is both better and cheaper than an new AWD car.

Anything else? Keep an emergency kit in the trunk - space blanket, or even a quilt, folding shovel, tube sand, first aid, flashlight, heavy boots and socks should you need to walk. Make sure your wiper blades are up to the job of winter ice and slush. When conditions warrant make it a habit to let someone know your plans as cell phone service is not continuous up the pass.

[Littlekw]

^ Good advice.

Keep in mind that during heavy rains in the summer 24 may close between Cascade and Manitou Springs due to flash flooding. This year wasn't as bad thanks to flood mitigation done on the highway but it still happened a couple of times. I have a co-worker that had to wait out the floods this summer before being able to make it home to Woodland Park. It's not frequent, now, but it can still happen thanks to the Waldo Canyo burn scar.

[beezle1]

Be sure to put in the wiper fluid that does not freeze too.

[Onelady21]

Arrby, and all others, thank you so much! That is excellent advice and I will heed it! I really appreciate the time you have taken to respond to my request.

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by Onelady21

I am new here and am commuting from Colorado Springs to Woodland Park every morning via I-24. I have a front wheel drive sedan (Acura) with regular michelin tires. Will I be ok driving over the highway in this when the snow and ice come? Any suggestions are appreciated! Also, if there's anything else I should be aware of?

I've often been asked if winter tires are worth the cost. My answer is that if they prevent just one accident you get all your money back. In fact, they could save your life.

Watch this video. It demonstrates how just front drive with winter tires out performs AWD with summer tires:

Winter tyres: 4x4 grip test video | Auto Express

[Hollynla]

Great info in this thread. Are winter tires also needed on 4-wheel drive vehicles?

[Marcy1210]

We lived in Divide, and my husband had an office in Woodland Park. He drove down to the Springs at least 3-4 times a week. We both had 4WD vehicles, and we both had studded snow tires. It was a "better safe than sorry" thing, and even if they were overkill, they really helped going up and down the pass. We never got stuck. Many times, there were cars off to the side of the road who couldn't make it up to WP, especially at the Motel X part of the pass.

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by Hollynla

Great info in this thread. Are winter tires also needed on 4-wheel drive vehicles?

The brakes just stop the wheels; the tire traction stops the car.

I think AWD is oversold. The problem on snow and ice is not going, it's stopping. For driving on icy roads, I'll take a FWD car with winter tires any day over an AWD with just all season tires.

Of course, the ultimate is AWD with winter tires. If you order a set mounted on a separate set of wheels you can wait until it actually snows to do the swap yourself in your garage. That's what I do.

[PokerMunkee]

You'll be fine. The roads are snow packed in the morning maybe 15 days out of the year.

AWD is the way to go, once you have it you'll want it forever. Going up a snow packed hill with FWD blows, even with snow tires. Forget about it with an all season.

That said, I do have an AWD car and dedicated snow wheels/tires. I commute from WP to Cripple Creek every day, and I want to extend the life of my high end performance tires. It's a good solution to having the best for all seasons and I get 3-4 seasons out of each set of tires. You just have upfront costs (~$1,000) but you make it back by not replacing your all-seasons as often.