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ABS in the winter and TC Light



I roll with no ABS... I like it in most every case...

While the ABS is pretty smart and crap, I really want to be able to just lift off the brakes... steer... then resume stopping like a boss if needed.

It is a very well known and undisputed fact that no ABS + snow creates a shorter overall stopping distance than ABS + snow... No amount of "testing for ****s and giggles" will disprove that statement.
 


Ok. Here we go. He'res the Thread Killer.

An ABS generally offers improved vehicle control and decreases stopping distances on dry and slippery surfaces for many drivers; however, on loose surfaces like gravel or snow-covered pavement, an ABS can significantly increase braking distance, although still improving vehicle control.[SUP][1][/SUP]
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In gravel, sand and deep snow, ABS tends to increase braking distances. On these surfaces, locked wheels dig in and stop the vehicle more quickly. ABS prevents this from occurring. Some ABS calibrations reduce this problem by slowing the cycling time, thus letting the wheels repeatedly briefly lock and unlock. Some vehicle manufacturers provide an "off-road" button to turn ABS function off. The primary benefit of ABS on such surfaces is to increase the ability of the driver to maintain control of the car rather than go into a skid, though loss of control remains more likely on soft surfaces like gravel or slippery surfaces like snow or ice. On a very slippery surface such as sheet ice or gravel, it is possible to lock multiple wheels at once, and this can defeat ABS (which relies on comparing all four wheels, and detecting individual wheels skidding). Availability of ABS relieves most drivers from learning threshold braking.
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A June 1999 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study found that ABS increased stopping distances on loose gravel by an average of 22 percent.[SUP][18][/SUP]
According to the NHTSA,
"ABS works with your regular braking system by automatically pumping them. In vehicles not equipped with ABS, the driver has to manually pump the brakes to prevent wheel lockup. In vehicles equipped with ABS, your foot should remain firmly planted on the brake pedal, while ABS pumps the brakes for you so you can concentrate on steering to safety."
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Source: Wikipedia Anti-Lock Braking System


 Over!
 
Either way, what us Subaru guys do is more correct for experienced drivers and for anyone really in a pinch when the guy in front of you slams on it, NO ABS means you might have the ability to stop a 22% faster in distance than you would with ABS, which could make the difference.
 


I saw some mentions of brake distribution, but I didn't see anyone mention weight distribution of the vehicle. I'm sure a Subaru is pretty close to 50/50 because of the AWD. Our cars are pretty front heavy. That must play a factor in stopping distancing since stock all 4 tires are the same size on a Grand Prix or Regal so there's some difference in the weight per square inch contact with the road.

As far as locking the wheels to dig them in, if the snow is deep and no one else has traveled the road, this might work, otherwise from the refreezing effect of creating ruts in the snow, I'd think it would just increase your stopping distance cause of loosing contact with the ground to cause drag. Which brings up another item, having a good suspension to maintain contact with the road.

I don't think that much of the Active Stability Control Systems. I was driving my 2010 Malibu this weekend doing 40mph in snow (1 to 3 inches max) that I would of driven 50mph with the Honda and wouldn't of thought twice. I hit a small rut on the left side of the car and it threw me sideways. WTF, this car shouldn't handle like this. I got out of it after 2 steering corrections, but it scared the crap out of me and my girl. And no this wasn't the first time I've driven in bad weather. In the Regal, Honda and other cars and trucks, I used to go to parking lots to test driving in the snow. I go to Illinois to visit my Grandparents and most times in the Winter, I don't see bare pavement or gravel the entire trip.
 
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