Going to Tahoe for the Snow for the first time

[JLW]

I recommend never turning off DSC when moving. Particularly for an inexperienced winter driver, stability control is very valuable.

You won't burn the brakes unless you are using far too much throttle. The brakes will be applied on one wheel, to allow the other wheel on the same axle to drive. Turning off DSC doesn't stop the brakes from being applied.

I did not recommend he not use DSC. When Stoped or moving around in slow/step areas it will get you stuck. Second, how about this, your brakes will smoke just like a burning clutch if your are shifting drive/reverse and do not realize DSC is working against you. Around 40K miles (in 2002) I did this and had my brakes replaced for free. Ever done it?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by JLW

I recommend never turning off DSC when moving. Particularly for an inexperienced winter driver, stability control is very valuable.

I did not recommend he not use DSC. When stopped or moving around in slow/step areas it will get you stuck. Second, how about this, your brakes will smoke just like a burning clutch if your are shifting drive/reverse and do not realize DSC is working against you. Around 40K miles (in 2002) I did this and had my brakes replaced for free. Ever done it?

Must be my mistake, I read "#1 step was to turn off DSC when stopped or not moving down a fairly clear highway/road". If you are moving down a snow covered road I think it should be on.

Turning off DSC does not turn off traction control (DTC), so you still have brake intervention with the button pushed or not. If you are hitting the gas enough to smoke the brakes you can do it with or without DSC on. You can't turn off DTC, there is just a higher threshold for brake intervention.

If you burned out your brakes from rocking it back and forth, it isn't a DTC or DSC problem, you just don't have the right tires.

Yes, I have used DSC and DTC extensively in snow. Yes, I have been able to smell hot brakes. No, I have never burned up my brakes, I knew to stop prior to that.

[JLW]

Your academic opinion continues. This is why you have so many posts. You have nothing better to do than sit around and pontificate. Jezz go drive your truck. Everything I said holds true. In essence you are the driving force that drive knowledgeable people away from these boards. For the record at the time yes I did have MXV4 (as stated before) and Snows for years now. Feel free to show me pictures of your X5 (or now X3) where it is buried to the floor pans.

[Storm13]

Edited for poor taste.

[chilliwilli]

OP...i'm actually flying into SFO next week and driving to the South Lake area in a 4x4 Tahoe SUV. I keep a shovel and chains at all times for such trips. As c4racer mentioned, always keep tabs on Caltrans website for requirements and updates, it's the most consistent source, outside of opinions and experiences.

Safe travels.

[c4racer]

Originally Posted by chilliwilli

OP...i'm actually flying into SFO next week and driving to the South Lake area in a 4x4 Tahoe SUV. I keep a shovel and chains at all times for such trips. As c4racer mentioned, always keep tabs on Caltrans website for requirements and updates, it's the most consistent source, outside of opinions and experiences.

Safe travels.

they have a road conditions hotline too, put this in your address book on your phone: 800-427-7623

you can verbally enter the highway number, recommend you check both 50 and 89 if going to South Tahoe area.

[chilliwilli]

Originally Posted by c4racer

they have a road conditions hotline too, put this in your address book on your phone: 800-427-7623

you can verbally enter the highway number, recommend you check both 50 and 89 if going to South Tahoe area.

Yep...just checked my phone, same #. Thanks for the reminder though.

If conditions are bad, will add melting salt to the mix. Better safe than sorry.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by JLW

Your academic opinion continues. This is why you have so many posts. You have nothing better to do than sit around and pontificate. Jezz go drive your truck. Everything I said holds true. In essence you are the driving force that drive knowledgeable people away from these boards. For the record at the time yes I did have MXV4 (as stated before) and Snows for years now. Feel free to show me pictures of your X5 (or now X3) where it is buried to the floor pans.

I presume you are having a bad day. I hope tomorrow is better for you.

You were right about rocking the vehicle in snowbank, you just blew it when you advised turning off the DSC when driving down a snowy road. Sorry if pointing that out was harsh. It would be a shame for the OP to lose the benefitrs of stability control on snowy roads because of misinformation.

While I don't for a moment think you are serious, I can post pictures in deep snow if you like, but it will have to wait until I am back home at my desktop. I have a laptop with me here in the mountains, and it is snowing heavily, but I don't have a camera with me. I'll see how the BB works.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by JCL

you just blew it when you advised turning off the DSC when driving down a snowy road.

Totally agree. That's the time when you want it the most.