Stick shift cars: question?

hayley

depends

JustinFordJones

well i had a mustang last winter, i kept 100 lbs in sand bags in my trunk, and i put it in the ditch 4 times. you just have to get some good winter tires, blizzaks or studded, and drive slow.
sometimes the weight will just not let you stop as fast, so it can put you in the ditch easier.. i live on a windy old road though, so if just city driving, just get some studded tires for grip, and go slow and easy.

Sand bags add more weight to your vehicle. Weight gives more traction in slippery situations if placed over the drive wheels. You have a rear wheel drive vehicle. If there is not much weight in the back, the tires will spin if they lose traction, even with snow chains. One way to gain traction is using weight such as sand bags or bricks. This is very common with quarter ton and half ton pickup trucks. I had 12 big guys jump in the back of my half ton 2 wheel drive pickup one winter in order to make it up an icy hill. Funny thing was, 11 guys wouldn't work. Good luck, I hope this helps.

Ask Dr. Dingo

To keep the centre of gravity stablized during braking. When you apply brakes on a slippery road the rear wheel will have less friction due to the weight shift to the front. The front is already heavier due to the engine so the car will take extra time to stop. To increase extra friction in the rear so that all the four wheels apply equal braking...it is better to keep sandbags in the rear....or better 'chain' the wheels to increase 'grip'.

Rampant_Lion

Good tires are always key to traction in the snow, but weight helps. In front wheel drive vehicle I have always placed a sand bag on each floor behind the front seats. Strategically placed sand bags in a front wheel drive can also keep the rear end from passing you since all that weight is in the front.

Jeffrey S

Has nothing to do with stick shift (or manual transmission) cars, but is related to rear wheel drive vehicles. The additional weight in the rear can help apply more pressure on the rear (drive) wheels and increase traction in snow. And the sand can be sprinkled on the ground, adding traction.

akebhart

Only if you have a rear wheel drive vehicle...whether its a stick shift or not matters verry little in that respect. If its a rear wheel drive vehicle then yes put sandbags in the trunk

guestthomas

all of the answers about extra weight are correct and another thing is if you loose traction such as on a grade you can use the sand under you wheels. also a good idea to carry a shovel. better yet move south where we don't have to worry about snow.

Stephen Allcroft

This isn't anything to do with the transmission mode but the driveline layout. Weighing down the rear end may improve traction on a rear-wheel drive car, regardless of wether it has a manual or slush box; although it will cause the car to oversteer.

It is counter-productive on a front-wheel drive car and of no relevance to a four-wheel drive.

kdog

The extra weight increases the frictional forces between the rear tires and the road. It only helps when you have a rear wheel drive vehicle. Unlike what "Ask Dr. Dingo" a car doesn't take longer to stop just because the vehicles weight is shifted to the front. The total frictional forces acting on the car will be the same. Regardless of which set of tires is doing most of the stopping.

dr schmitty

this will only help if the car is rear wheel drive- the extra weight increases the friction between the drive wheels and the ground.

Vulcan 1

Sometimes this is better but it is hard on your rear springs and will reduce your gas mileage
if you have good studded snow tires than i wouldn't put anything in the trunk for weight
I live in snow country and never add anything

69 Trophy stile xxx

If it is rear wheel drive yes because of the extra weight.

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