Toronto was hit with its first major snowstorm of the year this week, Canada’s largest city receiving its largest single-day snowfall on record Monday. The storm closed down schools and businesses and brought aspects of the city’s sprawling public transit system to a halt. Those without snow tires or all-wheel drive were left spinning their tires in vein as they tried to get home, clogging up the streets and highways as well.
Watch: lots of vehicles dealing with high snow drifts on side streets, but this SUV wasn’t waiting. For the latest on cancellations, road conditions and more during this #ONStorm , tune to NEWSTALK1010. pic.twitter.com/o0OBUtQ89S
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) January 29, 2019
Some commuters are smarter than others, though. While certain folks attempt to survive the harsh Canadian winter without snow tires or all-wheel drive, others come prepared. Toronto’s Newstalk1010 radio station tweeted out a video Monday showing a red Chevrolet Cobalt stuck in deep snow at an intersection in the city, attempting to turn left. A black Cadillac XT5 then enters the frame at considerable speed and absolutely demolishes the snow that has accumulated near the edge of the intersection, continuing onward before turning left and leaving the red Cobalt to sit there in shame.
“Lots of vehicles dealing with high snow drifts on side streets, but this SUV wasn’t waiting,” Newstalk 1010 tweeted.
While we can see how some might see this as an aggressive manoeuver, it can also be frustrating to dodge stuck and sliding cars that aren’t equipped with snow tires – especially if you live in a region where this happens every year. Sooner or later, you just have to learn to drive around them and continue on your way. In the province of Quebec, all vehicles must be equipped with winter tires from December 1st through to March 15th. That a law that should become more widespread, we think, although it’s easy to understand how it came into effect in Quebec- it receives an average snowfall of 123 inches annually.
(via The Truth About Cars)
Comments
It is winter and this is just a daily thing this time of year,
Contrary to popular belief you can get around with out AWD and snow tires.
Generally we have enough equipment to clear the roads since this is normal.
Also all season tire work well. Odds are great the Cobalt just had worn out tires or just cheap poor tires.
If you would check so many people go out in snow on worn tires that prove useless.
We had 13-16 inches last week and life goes on.
Also not all snow in intersections like this are light and puffy. Often it is a icy slush that is heavy and thick. It will hang up a AWD and it can do some damage to a XT5 nose. We broke a Fiat unibody on some of that once years ago.
You sure about winter driving without snow tires, chief?
Been doing it for years nary an issue if you have a quality all season with tread.
Lately been using Goodyear Assurance Tripletreads with threes different compounds on the tread.
Compounding today on some tires really makes a difference.
The last set I owned that were snow tires were back in the late 70’s.
My Sonoma did have Goodyear Wranglers I had left over from my S10 both two wheel drive. I changed them just to save the wheels.
Note we are in the snow belt of the Great Lakes. Snow is a thing you just grow up with.
This is my first winter in a 4×4. I parked it for my Malibu last year to save stone chips but I had to pass the Bu to my kid.
Tires and car design do make a difference, had an old Taurus during one winter with 2 blizzards and 3 other snowstorms that year and only got stuck once during the whole winter because of new performance all-season Generals I gotten months prior, drove in one of the blizzards without getting stuck also.
A Fiat will break just sitting in the driveway – fixitagaintony!
The best Cadillac commercial I’ve seen in a long time.