[xeromal]

A thing I started doing when I lived in my first snow climate was finding an empty parking lot after the first snow of the year and really testing out my car.

Accelerate to 30-40 and slam on the brakes.

Take a sharp turn in both directions and find the speed you lose traction.

Do a few donuts.

30-40 minutes of practice every year really helps you understand how your car will perform in the snow and you can decide if you need new snow tires, brakes, etc. You'll also be honing skills for that avoiding the inevitable bozo that tries to kill you that year.

[jmspring]

For my Tacoma, I make sure to put enough weight in the back (over the rear axle) to help offset the vehicle being front heavy. Typically in straightaways, if no one is around, on some of the rural roads I drive I'll test braking (not slamming, but just steady) to check traction. I've also replaced tires considered to have sufficient tread, but were a couple of years old, to make sure getting through a season was as safe as possible. I also do a bit of off roading.

I used to have a subaru and the better weight distribution made the car much more stable.

Multiple times in the last month, I've driven a stretch of Hwy 80 between Sierraville and Truckee (about 25mi) and have seen all sorts driving beyond their ability and having or coming very close to accidents. Always love when people try and pass with a blind turn coming up. I also tend to pull over and back off to let darwin do his thing.

[xeromal]

Yeah, blows my mind when you see a 2500 with knobbies flying down the highway and you seem them in a snow bank about 5 miles down the road. lol

[jmspring]

Pretty much. Trucks with snowmobiles on the bed or in a trailer typically are on ones ass If ahead of them.