tripler 0 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 If you have never driven on snow don,t Just enjoy your holiday and use the shuttle bus That's a bit drastic. If he took your advice, how's he ever supposed to learn? Link to post Share on other sites
Weegeoff 0 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 If you have never driven on snow don,t Just enjoy your holiday and use the shuttle bus That's a bit drastic. If he took your advice, how's he ever supposed to learn? I know. But he will have a good holiday.Then learn to drive on snow in is own time with no stress Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Driving on snow was new to us, but we soon got used to it and absolutely totally loved the idea of having the car. Would recommend it off you want to get out and about. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Just be careful please! Even experienced snow drivers can make mistakes easy. But most accidents are caused by those who are not used to it. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 If you have never driven on snow don,t Just enjoy your holiday and use the shuttle bus No way. That's just like saying: "if you've never skied, don't" "if you've never drank whisky, don't" "if you've never shagged, don't" Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 Just be careful please! Even experienced snow drivers can make mistakes easy. But most accidents are caused by those who are not used to it. Yes, a friend of mine hit someone in front. It was like a tap on the shoulder carwise, but he lost a day in the snow. No damage to cars, but police had to be called. And that was what wasted the time. Link to post Share on other sites
gaijindrifter 0 Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Chains are illegal in the states most places and I'm from Michigan where it pisses down quite a lot and in my opinion the most important things to remember are: 1) Keep a safe speed, not too high, not too low. 2) Get used to sliding and learn to countersteer properly 3) Use chains when/if possible. 4) DO NOT accelerate through turns, constant light gas pressure or foot off completely. Understeering into a corner isn't a good way up or down the hill Link to post Share on other sites
Weegeoff 0 Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 If you have never driven on snow don,t Just enjoy your holiday and use the shuttle bus No way. That's just like saying: "if you've never skied, don't" "if you've never drank whisky, don't" "if you've never shagged, don't" Grow up!! He is driving a car which in the wrong hands is a lethal weapon. You don,t know if he has a wife and child in the car with him and don.t forget he will probaly be used to be driving on the right. which is another hazard and driving round somewhere like Happo one is no fun Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 he's the OP I think Geoff Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thanks for the genuine concern Weegeoff. I still want to tackle it as it would be very convenient fr me. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Best single advice I think is from GN. Basically watch on cold but very sunny days when the road can change from a bit wet to skating rink as soon as the sun goes in. I think it catches more people out than actually blizzards where it is obvious that you need to slow down and be careful. In a heavy vehicle like a van or an SUV where you're hard on the accel going uphill, watch out for the crest of any slope. Its easy to carry too much speed or throttle over the top. Link to post Share on other sites
MrSingh 0 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 1. Snow tyres 2. 4WD 3. Drive slowly 4. Hit the brakes slowly 5. Snow tyres Did I mention snow tyres? Link to post Share on other sites
midnightcharger2 0 Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 hmm, technics for driving on snow? First thing id probably do is take off my slipmats. Then id likely ramp up the anti-skate. Was thinking the same thing. Awesome. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Out of interest, for you guys living way out of snow country --- do you actually own snow tyres? I suppose it will depend on just how much you drive up to snowy places... interested to know what that 'threshold' is Link to post Share on other sites
jondreads 3 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I used to live in Tokyo, and the first time I went to a ski resort I had normal tyres and snow chains. The police demanded I put the chains on when using the expressway on the way to Yuzawa even though there was no snow on the road... Then I had to take them off to go through a tunnel, then I had to put them back on again. When driving with the chains I was limited to 50 kph but everybody else was flying past at 100. Very dangerous and a waste of several hours (partly due to being so angry that it took me ages to get the chains on!). It was the usual Japanese application of rules without thinking - you must have snow tyres or chains on this section of the road in winter, even if there is no snow or ice. So I can imagine that a lot of people have them for this reason. I read somewhere that snow tyres have better grip whenever the temperature is below 8 degrees. Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 It was the usual Japanese application of rules without thinking - you must have snow tyres or chains on this section of the road in winter, even if there is no snow or ice. >> I doubt it was quite as simple as that, as I have never heard of people having to put them on when the roads were clear and the immediate forecast was clear and no ice. Link to post Share on other sites
jondreads 3 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 >> I doubt it was quite as simple as that, as I have never heard of people having to put them on when the roads were clear and the immediate forecast was clear and no ice. Maybe the forecast was for snow, and maybe there was snow further down the road, but on the section that I drove on the conditions did not warrant chains. From what I understand, using snow chains when there is little or no snow leads to damaged road surfaces. On the way back 3 days later the police were not checking the cars yet to my eye the conditions were about the same. (but my GPS and the signs on the expressway still said snow chains were required). Anyway to avoid further bad luck I immediately ordered snow tyres. I can imagine that anybody who regularly drives in North or Eastern Japan during winter does the same, even if they never drive to a ski resort. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I don't live in snow country, but put on snow tires in the winter so that when I drive to the mountains I don't have to worry about chains. For the record, I have never seen チェーン規制 applied except when it is absolutely necessary. To the contrary, I have seen many times when I am glad I have studless tires on, even when not required. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I have been on the motorway several times during heavy snow storms, and have seen no end of people on the edge of the road putting on chains, or at the entrance to the motorways where the police have told them to put on chains or they can't get on. Always think, I'm glad I have snow tyres on and 4wd and no need to put chains on. When I first came to Japan I used a rent a car ff drive only and put on snow chains once I hit the snowy areas, what a hassle that was, and I still got stuck too, after that I made sure I would buy a 4WD car, and put snow tyres on in winter, which I did. For the past 10-11 years I have had 4wd cars with winter tyres on in winter. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 anytime I rent a car for a boarding trip, we get the company to make sure they have snow tires on....then can laugh at the chumps putting chains on at the side of the road!! Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Do they give you a choice there with that Tubby then? Is there a difference in price? Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I live in an area of Shizuoka that never gets snow. I own snow tires. I go snowboarding most weekends during the season as well as a week (or a few) during the xmas/ n.y. time. I spun my car out pretty bad a few seasons ago even with chains on... since then I decided it was easier and safer to just change tires. I also don't drive my car very much (a handful of times a month) so I'm not really worried about wearing them out too quickly. Most of the people I know in this area that go to snow country also use snow tires. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Do they give you a choice there with that Tubby then? Is there a difference in price? can't remember if there's a difference in the price....I don't think there is. I think we've always told them its to go snowboarding and they have them on as standard. Their insurance maybe demands that they do this Link to post Share on other sites
bikertom 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I grew up in a pretty snowy area... my 2cents, if you are driving a 4wd, don't overbreak the tires can't get a grip when you break, once you get into some snow try and find a safe place to mess around a little in; practice breaking/accelerating and sliding (always turn into your slides)... just a few minutes so you get the feel for the car. Link to post Share on other sites
norcal 5 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 anytime I rent a car for a boarding trip, we get the company to make sure they have snow tires on....then can laugh at the chumps putting chains on at the side of the road!! Hey! I was one of those chumps last year! lol...but I had those nice chains...the plastic ones with the studs & the twisting tool thing lol. Got me some snow tires off of tire rack this year, and an extra set of rims from up garage. Best to save them during the off season (swapping the set after winter) Link to post Share on other sites
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