1niceSi

hmmm tough question.

chris has a good point. i mean, if we are selfish, we'll say gravel, because we are only thinking about our cars.

however salt is beneifical and practical because its makes the roads more safe, which then leads to less accidents.

imported_gatherer

thats why I brought it up... thinking about it has been hard on the head for the past week

Cantonagod

I would love to say to hell with you all and move to Miami where they don't have this problem. But alas that is not going to happen for a few years so I'll say salt and spray off your car at the coin-op regularly.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

gatherer, here in ON they use ROCK SALT, which first causes rock chips, then causes those chips to rust. I'd rather have neither, but snow tires should be a MUST on every vehicle on the road after DEC 1st. Gravel is dangerous too though cuz in the dry it acts like marbles or ball bearings under a tire.... but rock salt does that as well.

imported_BlackCiv

since everyone is on the rust topic I kinda had an idea. Has anyone ever thought of putting rhino coat (spray on truck bedliner) on the underside of the car and wheel wells ???
I think it might be worth a shot. any thoughts ? anyone attemted it ?

imported_gatherer

how much does it cost I'd be willing to attempt that followed by the standard oil undercoating to finish it off

punkindrublic

i am doing that when i get my car painted next spring.... you just gotta make sure there is no moisture under the rhino stuff.... i might do my floor in it too... then i dont have to worry about carpets getting dirty anymore

BOND007

THIS INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL POST PERSON

imported_JookSingKid

Sand

imported_ryanhook

Having driven in Saskatchewan in the dead of winter when the snow is falling faster than they can clear it, I can say that sand does just as good a job as providing traction on the freeways & highways as salt. The reason they use sand out west is because the extreme cold makes salt completely ineffective. What Ontario should be using (because salt seems to be pretty useless here too) is urea. Urea works in very low temperatures... as to whether it's less harmful to your car, I don't know.

The biggest problem with using salt is that it melts the snow to a certain degree and then once people start driving over the melting snow it compacts to ice much easier. I personally think the salt makes ice form easier around here.

Now, in regards to driver training: I am a graduate of the Petro-Canada Skid Control School and it definitely was one of the most important days in my driver education. I think everyone that drives should attend a program like this before they are allowed to drive (in any type of weather).

Finally, no matter how much salt, sand or whatever is laid down, nothing can beat having a road plowed. You can have all the salt you want on a road, but if the snow is higher than the underside of your car, you're either not going to get anywhere or you're going to get stuck a lot.

Oh yeah, and while we're at it... spinning your tires when you get stuck in the snow is the dumbest thing you can do. Slow and steady acceleration is the best way to get around in the snow & ice. Just remember that when the winter comes.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

YES!!! totally true!! I had my auto saturn last year, I got stuck ONCE when the snow was so deep that I could barely open my door, and even then I got 1/2 way down the block with the weather like that, but the snow got so compacted under the underbody that it literally lifted the car up off the ground. Slow and steady!!! spinning tires just makes ICE under your tire

Nova_Dust

Just quickly spray your shocks once a week to 10 days and under body spray every 2 to 3 weeks. If you love your car this much, then you would dish out that money to take care of it.

Salt is what we have in winter and it ain't gonna change. It is used for the mass majority of drivers not for a small group of experienced people.

Next time your driveway is covered with snow, use stone chips to deforst then.