Winter car rides. Myths, and what an expert has to say about them.
BACK TO OVERVIEWDOTZ takes the current weather conditions as an opportunity to discuss with racing driver and professional driving safety instructor Reini Sampl what really matters, busting the most common myths on the topic of riding cars in winter. In the first part of our story, Reini will show you where the dangers of driving in wintery conditions lurk by demonstrating a braking test.
But first things first. DOTZ has been friends with Reini Sampl for many years. Be it at video shoots, driving tests, client events or simply over a coffee. Reini always has an open ear when we knock on his door. Just like this time. But who is Reini?
A through-and-through athlete
Reini is from Salzburg’s Lungau region and started his sports career at the tender age of four years by winning his first skiing race. Many years later, skiing was the reason that Reini became a diagnosed paraplegic after a severe skiing accident. Total shock. No more walks, no more skiing, never ever…
As a through-and-through athlete, Reini had learnt and internalized one thing: pushing the envelope! Through tough and rigorous training and enormous willpower Reini managed a comeback – into life, but even more importantly as a sportsman. Wheelchair basketball, monoskiing, hand-biking, and since 2015 rally and motorsports for Audi. Competitive sports are top-level sports, whether you’re in a wheelchair or not.
But if that were not enough, Reini is also sharing his knowledge and experience here, giving you the pleasure of top professional tips of what to look out for when riding on snow and ice.
#winterautomythos1
Winter tyres? We hardly have any snow. Are winter tyres really necessary?
Reini Sampl:
Definitely. It’s important to select the right winter tyre on the right rim for every single car. Winter tyres are definitely the means of choice as the rubber mixtures of summer tyres become “hard” starting at a temperature below 8 degrees Celsius, resulting in a longer braking distance even if the road is dry! I recommend using known tyre brands. My professional tip: You get what you pay for.
What about braking distance on snow and ice?
On snow and ice, you are left with roughly only one tenth of road grip as compared to dry road conditions. This means that you have to adjust the speed. Winter tyres can only have a supportive role, because the road will not adjust to the speed, the contrary is the case. As the driver, you have to adjust the car to the conditions and the road. If you drive 20 km/h faster than is allowed this will result in nearly double the braking distance. So, slow it down!
Isn’t it sufficient to drive on tyres with lower pressure to have better grip in winter?
NO. That may work for off-road vehicles but not for driving on snow and ice. The general rule is to closely follow and adhere to the tyre manufacturer’s specifications for your car. Also, a lower tyre pressure will increase the rolling resistance and hence fuel consumption, resulting in higher CO2 emissions. Low tyre pressure also poses a safety issue in the long term, as it places a huge strain on the tyre sidewalls which leads to faster tyre wear and, in the worst case, tyre damage.
#winterautomythos2
SUVs perform better in snowy conditions – What do I do with an all-wheel-drive when the car starts to spin? How do I regain control? Do tyres play a different role for 4WD as compared to 2WD?
Reini Sampl:
SUVs generally have higher floor clearance, hence a higher centre of gravity. No matter whether 2- or 4-wheel drive, the contact with the road consists of four palm-sized surfaces. Both drive concepts are equivalent to each other. An ice sheet makes no difference for the respective car and can quickly lead to disaster even for ALL-WHEEL cars. It’s important to act according to the road conditions, adjust speed by reducing it and practice defensive driving.
#winterautomythos3
With ABS you can brake as usual even on snow. Can ABS influence steering behaviour on snow and ice?
Reini Sampl:
ABS (anti-lock braking system), as the name suggests, prevents the wheels from blocking up during braking. This allows the car to remain steerable also during emergency braking. So, when you spot an obstacle you have to instantly reduce speed, get off the gas and slow down by braking. A slippery surface may also “confuse” the system, which results in a significantly longer brake path.
Some career facts about Reini Sampl:
What triggered you to become a driving skills instructor?
A racer drives fast, but also safe. Motorsports is all about driving on the edge, pushing the material to its absolute limits. Coming from a racing background, I’m happy to share my experiences and show “regular” car drivers how to act correctly and safely in different situations.
How do you become a “driving skills instructor”?
There is no special training as such. I have gathered my knowledge through years of motorsports. My classes are for car drivers who already have a certain amount of experience and wish to hone and improve their driving skills. Having said this, beginners are always more than welcome to join.
Has there been a change in the layout of winter driving classes?
The fact that cars are becoming increasingly more high-tech and are equipped with many assisting tools, tricks us into believing that we are good drivers. In reality, a car using safety tools only helps us balance out our own mistakes. This, in turn, results in the misjudgement of one’s own skills. That’s why, driving skills classes are a good opportunity to practice how to handle extreme situations in a safe environment. The frequently quoted phrase “practice makes perfect” applies specially to driving training because once you find yourself in a dangerous situation you have no time to think about how to react correctly. Only if you expose yourself to such situations and practice them you can “recall” the experience and react correctly, hopefully preventing an accident.
To be continued
Would you have done it the same way as the expert? In the second part of our story Reini will demonstrate how to make emergency turns on snow and ice. So, stay tuned.