Alternate Route

Oct 14, 2009 - Be Forewarned

I live in an area that actually has winters, pretty much every year. And there's snow in the forecast coming up in the next couple of days.

Now understand that I'm coming off an experience yesterday of dealing with what had to be the world's stupidest appliance installation guy, (Dub may deal with that this weekend)  so my tolerance for stupidity is at zero at the moment, but I'm going to make this wish list anyway.

When that first snow hits the ground, you do have to be careful, but for the love of Pete, please remember that you remember how to drive in the snow. I'm just constantly amazed at the folks who have been living here forever who seem to forget how to drive when conditions are slippery.

To the 4x4's and SUVs out there... your vehicle doesn't make you invulnerable, nor does it mean you don't have to worry about road conditions. But fear not, I'll have plenty of time to explain it to you down in the ditch when I stop to see if your OK after you run it off the road.

And for those mental giants who absolutely have to use their cell phones or text while driving... those stopping distances are going to get longer. Almost rear-ending me at the traffic light this summer because you couldn't tear yourself away from that riveting text message, is going to end differently once the snow is on the ground and it's not going to be pretty for you.

I know this is all futile, but I had to try, right?

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Jan 18, 2009 - Most Wonderful Ride

I like the winter, I really do.

But today was one of those wonderful confluence of circumstances where I had to drive home about 230 miles across I-80 from NJ into PA with snow and slush and all the other vehicles on the road liberally dousing me with road spray.

Too bad I didn't get to enjoy the winter scenery, but when you look at my view of the driver's side mirror you can see why I may sneak a nap during the NFL championship games!

Be careful out there folks!

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Jan 17, 2009 - Ask Dub Schwartz!

Dear Dub,
Man, I can't wait for Spring to get here so I don't have to worry about SUVs and pickups thinking they're invulnerable and sliding all over the roads. But most of all, I'm tired of having to warm up my car for 20 minutes so it's comfortable to drive and the windows are clear. My wife says I only really need to let the car run for a minute or two, but she doesn't know anything about cars, so she must be wrong, right?
Henry Peck

Well Henry, if you followed your wife's advice, you'd be getting a bit better mileage this winter for sure. With modern cars and motor oils you really only have to have the engine running for a short while to get the lubricants coursing through the engine and that's the really important thing. Your immediate comfort is secondary. So next time you have a snowy morning, start your car, grab your StickMop to clean off the snow (all the windows, please), and then get in and start your trip. The heat will become effective in just a couple of minutes. No need to waste gas running the car for 20 minutes. With the gas you save you could take your wife out to a "honey you were right" dinner.

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Nov 22, 2008 - Ask Dub Schwartz!

Dear Dub,
We had our first snow of the year and it's so pretty. But I'm a new driver and I'm just about to get a car. Do you have any recommendations for a car that's best in the snow?
Millicent

Well Millie, it is that time of year when first snows are falling in a lot of areas. Here in Potlicker Flat we call it SUV Alignment Season. I understand the local body shop also has a name for it.

Whatever vehicle you choose, it's important to remember that you're the biggest safety factor when it comes to driving on slippery roads. Just because you have an SUV or a 4x4 truck doesn't mean the laws of physics don't apply to you. That's why you always see them in ditches or dinging off curbs when the first snows hit the ground because they think they don't have to worry about it.

So choose your vehicle to fit your budget, put good tires on it - preferably snow tires if you live in an area that gets lots of snow - and be extra careful as the winter starts up and everyone re-learns to drive in "conditions".

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Oct 10, 2008 - Snows? Oui Whee

The snow tire police are coming in Quebec. A new law on the books requires all taxis and passenger vehicles to have snow tires on all wheels in Quebec between December 15 and March 15.

This is causing a bit of a potential problem as tire manufacturers scramble to meet the forced increase in demand.

Another real problem is exactly how this is going to be enforced.

Each police station will have to decide how it will check for winter tires because no across-the-board procedures have been mapped out, Sûreté du Québec Sergeant Mélanie Paul said.

"For now, we have no specific operations planned, but simply put, officers who stop someone for another infraction will be checking if the car has winter tires," Paul said.

It's going to be a fun winter up North!

Read more at the Montreal Gazette

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Dec 8, 2007 - Ask Dub Schwartz!

Dear Dub,
With as good as the new all season tires are, do I really have to get snow tires and ruin the look of my car? Why go to the expense and hassle of having to store a set of tires all year long?
Theodor G.

The sun did not shine
It was too wet to play
But I had to drive
on that cold, snowy day

I sat in the drive
while the engine got warm
and wished I had thought
to get snow tires on

There was almost no snow
and some pavement was showing
I looked at the time
and I had to get going

So I let off the brake
then put it in gear
and thought to myself
Why, there’s nothing to fear

Sure, there’s snow on the road
and conditions seemed dicey
But I’d seen this before
and come through it quite nicely

So off down the road
I cocksurely sped
knowing for sure
I had nothing to dread

Then just up ahead
the road took a turn.
To get the car slowed
was my major concern

I eased off the gas,
the brake I’m ignoring.
Making this turn
was almost quite boring

I started to turn
so simple and sweet
and there was the jaywalker
hitting the street

I had to avoid him
Had nowhere to hide
I eased the wheel right
and I started to slide

Straight towards the curb
the sliding car ran
With no more to do
I held on… then BLAM!

Right after impact
I knew my assignment
Replace one wheel cover
and get an alignment

The lesson I learned
on the road into town?
Next time I think
I’ll just run the clown down

To check out Dub's previous adventures in automotive commentary, click here!

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Dec 2, 2007 - Huff & Puff

From the BBC News

A new traffic filtering system has come into effect on the M48 Severn Bridge.

Strong winds meant that on Sunday, for the first time, high-sided vehicles and motorbikes were diverted around to the Second Severn Crossing on the M4.

The new traffic filtering system has been introduced to keep the old Severn Bridge open and vehicles moving during high winds.

Under the old system, once wind speeds reached 40 knots, the M48 Severn Bridge was closed to all traffic.

It will now remain open to other vehicles until winds speeds reach 60 knots.

The scheme will operate between 0600 and 2200 BST.

Outside of these times, the bridge will be closed to all traffic if the wind speed is greater than 40 knots.

Chris Pope, from the Highways Agency, said: "We recognise that closing the crossing to all vehicles during periods of high winds has a significant impact on road users by increasing journey times and congestion on the M4.

"This is why we are looking at ways to keep the crossing open to smaller vehicles for longer whilst still operating safely during high winds."

This reminds me of the time I was driving on I-83 just south of Harrisburg, PA following a VW Microbus. Wooded area on both sides of the road, but as we crossed a bridge over a stream, there was the natural break in the trees over the water and it created a wind tunnel of sorts and that VW was just blown right over onto it's side in an instant.

Lesson learned. Drive carefully all the time, but especially when dealing with any kind of weather conditions.

Wind, rain, sleet, or snow
Know your capabilities
and limitations

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Oct 7, 2007 - Out To Stud

Talk about diminishing importance! If you look it up in the dictionary, you'll find the automotive reference for stud in definition 4B. Not even in the top 3!

Metal tire studs were introduced in the United States in the 1960s. Studs that could be inserted into tires were developed to enhance traction on the slipperiest road condition...ice. The studs were designed to use the vehicle's weight and centrifugal forces to provide more ice traction as they repeatedly chipped into the driving surface. However, when the road wasn't covered with snow or ice, tire studs noisily chipped into the road itself. So studded tires are good for ice traction, but not good for roads.

Because of that road damage, some states have banned their use completely or restrict them to seasonal use. That, coupled with the development of "studless" winter tires has pretty much made the sound of a studded tire rolling down the road a thing of the past in my neck of the woods.

I'm sure that FWD and all-season radials have cut into the demand for studs as well. The last time I even put snow tires on a vehicle was in 1979.

Typically 80 to 100 studs per tire are inserted into holes molded in the tire's tread design. The installer uses a special pneumatic tool that spreads the rubber and inserts the stud. Once the stud is correctly inserted flush with the tire surface and the tool is removed, the tread rubber compresses around the stud's flat head (inserted into the bottom of the hole) to hold the stud in place. It's a time consuming process, so I'm also assuming that the cost of getting your tires studded has risen over the years.

My buddy Harold at Tire Town (diligently inspecting for a leak in the picture) holds the shop record for number of tires studded in one day at 119. A record that should stand the test of time as the number of people using studded tires continues to dwindle!

Got to get a grip
Buggy whips went away too
Retired to stud

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