[///Mik3]

my cousin and i are considering traveling to denver in the week between christmas and new years. Would driving be a really stupid idea?

I'm not concerned w/ the time/distance, i'm just wondering about the driving conditions around that time. I'm not too experienced in driving in snow (only done it about 3 or 4 times) and i don't have snow tires or anything.

Anyone familiar w/ this route? How bad is the snow usually? Any major hwy closures or anything?

[Blake]

places where it snows, they know how to handle snow.

[///Mik3]

Originally Posted by Blake

places where it snows, they know how to handle snow.

umm ok... not sure how that helps answer any of my questions...

[Inspired]

I don't understand why you would want to drive there?

If your considering taking your 328i.. GL.

[Comet]

Originally Posted by ///Mik3

my cousin and i are considering traveling to denver in the week between christmas and new years. Would driving be a really stupid idea?

I'm not concerned w/ the time/distance, i'm just wondering about the driving conditions around that time. I'm not too experienced in driving in snow (only done it about 3 or 4 times) and i don't have snow tires or anything.

Anyone familiar w/ this route? How bad is the snow usually? Any major hwy closures or anything?

driving in snow without snow tires is a) illegal and b) extremely stupid as you won't get anywhere

we once had a freak snow in montreal like 1 month before people usually put on snow tires, there wasn't a car on the road

you can't drive on snow with four seasons or summers

[Feyd]

Just buy some chains if you have all-seasons (don't even attempt if you have summer only tires) and get some type of emergency kit together you should be fine.


The weather in that area (because of the mountains) can be a bit hard to predict in the winters. Could be 55 degrees with the sun shining in the morning and then you get 24" of snow in the afternoon.

Worst case scenario, they close I-70 for a day and you have to hold up in a cheap hotel. Best case scenario, you don't even see any snow fall durring your trip.

I wouldn't sweat it too much... just be prepaired with blankets/water, etc. in your car and fill up your gas tank every time you get a chance (especially if the weather gets bad) since you could be stranded for a few hours waiting for a tow out of the ditch should luck not go your way. Might also not be a horrible idea to get a $20 CB radio that you can plug in to your cigarette lighter since cell phone service can be a bit dodgy as well. If you don't use it, just return it when you get back home.

Lastly, don't act like a jack-ass on the roads and try to drive 80mph in blizzard. Ice is the great equalizer and you will end up bottom facing the sky in a ditch if you drive on I70 like that in a storm. There are quite a few agressive direction changes/elevation drops on that road as you are going through aspen/vail, etc.



And +1 on the municipalities knowing how to deal with snow. We drove up to Tahoe from LA the morning after they got 30" of snow and aside from the 6" wall of white on both sides of the roads, they were barely wet when we got there.

[lopealle]

i say go for it. take the proper precautions and you should be fine. just pack for the wrose and hope for the best.

[///Mik3]

Originally Posted by Comet

driving in snow without snow tires is a) illegal and b) extremely stupid as you won't get anywhere

you can't drive on snow with four seasons or summers

this i know, but so that's why i'm asking about what the conditions are normally like around that time of year, on that route.

[///Mik3]

Originally Posted by twinturbo335

I don't understand why you would want to drive there?

If your considering taking your 328i.. GL.

because it's a beautiful drive, and we'd likely want to take our snowboards and of course, road trips are fun. Yes the 328 is a possibility, if not it would be my cousin's 2wd Exterra

[OC Guy]

Why not fly?

[Cyrax91]

I live in NM so I go out to Denver alot. Its about a 4 to 5 hour drive from here and I can tell you that in the winter time driving through Raton and Pueblo mountain areas is insane unless you have your car set up to drive in those conditions. I took my Evo out last winter and had snow tires on it, but it was still pretty scary going through the mountains with large semis trying to do the same and cars sliding off the road constantly. It made me realize its not only if my car can do it, but if others on the road can and if they're going to kill you or not.

[MisterSkiMask]

Originally Posted by ///Mik3

umm ok... not sure how that helps answer any of my questions...

He means they have snow removal equipment and know how the keep the roads open.

Unless you get caught in a storm you should be fine, but you never know where a storm is going to hit. Bring chains.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by dpavlakos91

I live in NM so I go out to Denver alot. Its about a 4 to 5 hour drive from here and I can tell you that in the winter time driving through Raton and Pueblo mountain areas is insane unless you have your car set up to drive in those conditions. I took my Evo out last winter and had snow tires on it, but it was still pretty scary going through the mountains with large semis trying to do the same and cars sliding off the road constantly. It made me realize its not only if my car can do it, but if others on the road can and if they're going to kill you or not.

+1


could be a fun road trip

or you could crushed by a semi in a snow storm.

your move

[inabis]

I have a 325 and having lived in Denver- Don't do it. If the roads have a little snow on them, you'll be fine. Over an inch or 2- you're screwed even with blizzaks. I have the sport suspension so that didn't help me either. RWD + uphill = no fun at ALL. I say do the drive but not in your car. Every time I had to go boarding, I'd get an oil change (while under warranty) and they'd give me an X5 as a loaner. As a result, I had no problems LOL

[new2the3]

If you have summer tires = HELL NO. If you have all seasons then go if you like to gamble but chances are it will snow. In the winter I use 4WD + snow tires and I still had a view scary moments.

[new2the3]

[Oregano123]

lol

[PLAYON]

do it, never turn down a road trip, homie!

[BTM]

Maybe it's because I was raised with the fuckin shit but snow won't stop me from doing anything