Those Conditions: Virgin Snow
If you do a lot of trail busting, or driving over snow that hasn't been packed down by other vehicles or plows, you're going to find that your mud tires will work great. That's because this kind of snow condition is a lot like driving in the mud. Your tires are going to need to claw for all the traction they can get, while not getting packed up with snow caught between the tread blocks. Plus, depending on the snow's depth, you may find that your tires will claw down through the pack and hit rock, stumps, or logs, and you're going to need your mud tire's cleats to track over those obstacles.
Speaking of digging down, there's a fair amount of disagreement over whether digging or floating is the best way to get traction in the snow. Some say you need to dig, with fairly narrow tires inflated to recommended street pressures, in order to find grip on the ground below the snow. Others take an approach more like running in the sand, and air down their tires so they'll act like snowshoes and float over the drifts. Like everything else, your approach will depend on a lot of factors. Are you driving a fullsize pickup or SUV that's too heavy to float? Are you traveling over snow that's so deep there's no ground to reach? As we've said before, tailor your approach to the conditions you're in.
Know, too, that the tire manufacturers take a dim view of underinflating tires, under any conditions, and will warn against the practice because of potential damage to the tire. But we've seen 'wheelers, here and in Iceland, who have great success floating over snowpack and even glaciers with their mud tires aired down to single-digit psi levels.
Whichever approach you take, make sure you go into the winter months armed with four good-quality tires that have plenty of tread left on them. If you're going to use dedicated winter tires, especially those with the severe snow condition rating, make sure all four corners have the same type of tire, so one end of your rig doesn't get a lot more traction than the other, which could make handling a nightmare. And don't get overconfident in your truck's traction abilities just because it's a 4x4. Your truck still contacts the ground through its tires' contact patches, not the transfer case and axles.
Stud Finder
For absolute maximum traction in the snow, many drivers like adding studs to their snow tires. But studded tires are outlawed in some states, while others have restricted their use to certain months. For a state-by-state list of studded tire regulations, visit this link on the RMA Web site: www.rma.org/tiresafety/seasonal_tires.html. Or check with your local DMV.
Winter Driving Tips
Be Prepared!
Cold weather adds a whole new layer of complexity to driving, whether you're traveling the interstate on the way to a hunting lodge or negotiating a frost-covered forest trail. Not only do snow, ice, and slush make roads and trails more slippery-and therefore more hazardous-but ambient conditions can work against you too. Getting stuck on a trail after nightfall can be uncomfortable in the summer. In the winter it can be downright deadly.
Here are some tips we've compiled from various winter driving experts that'll make your cold-weather travel safer.
Winter Driving Emergency Kit
As the Boy Scouts say, Be Prepared! Don't venture into the snowy outback without packing some essential tools and emergency equipment. Here's a short list of what you should have in your winter-weather kit:
*Spare clothes, jacket, hat, and gloves
*Water, sports drink, or other non-alcoholic beverage
*Snacks (like high-energy or granola bars)
*Blankets
*Flashlight and spare batteries
*Cell phone or CB radio
*Small shovel
*Extra-long jumper cables
*Tow strap
*"Traction-in-a-bag" stuff like sand, salt, or kitty litter
*Carpet scraps, traction mats, or other flat, dry materials you could put under your tires if needed
*Windshield scraper
*Basic tool kit
*First-aid kit