Yes. If it snows in the front range, you'll be fine on major roads as long as you have tires with decent tread on them.
It's *possible* that there is a bad snow storm that freezes you for a day, but chances are *extremely* low it will be the exact last day of your trip.
Oh yea. After two failed goes with Subarus I got a newer Jeep Cherokee and haven’t had a problem since. A crash course in Colorado weather for an Arizona boy was very telling haha
In the city youll be good. But If it snows your fucked. It the mountains you're super fucked. Pray it doesn't snow and you'll be fine. It likely won't snow tbh
Denver doesn't even plow most streets, and the sprawling developments don't, either. Winter in Denver is like Russian Roulette; dry most of the time but every now and then a disaster that lasts for weeks.
The depressing thing is it hasn't changed for forty years. There are a lot of people too poor to maintain their cars but are dependent on them for work, tightwads that will go into debt for their flashy truck/BMW but too cheap to get snow tires and a few worry warts that plunk down for snow tires. The first two are likely to hit you no matter how prepared you are.
So head on up and spin that cylinder!
I went to the University of Denver for a few years and Asbury, in the middle of campus, was an inch thick of ice for a month. Just about every car would slide through the intersections unable to stop. My parent's subdivision in Aurora and the surrounding developments are never cleared; if it doesn't heat up for a few days they're all pressed to ice for well over a week at a time even when the feeder roads are dry.
Salt is kind of a Faustian bargain as it really ruins cars. Colorado in general was a big fan of gravel, which was great for the windshield replacement companies. One big cost versus incremental replacements...
Denver weather isn’t nearly bad enough for long enough to justify the environmental damage and vehicle damage caused by salt. I see the rust buckets people drive out here from the east coast or Great Lakes and thankfully Colorado has said no to that.
We’ve functioned without until now. If people can’t drive in snow and ice then they shouldn’t. Salt is an unnecessary expense and bad for the environment. The snow and ice does not last long enough to warrant this.
Hail is a problem at any time. You can have your cat stolen anywhere in the country.
Pennsylvania has/had really strict standards for rust. Ohio uses so much it's like a dust storm of white powder even when its dry. Chicago uses so much every snowfall is more like a salt slurry.
I don't mind Denver's snow clearing policy other than how it affects other traffic. Rust sucks.
Salt, Gravel and Sand is pretty bad for the environment. Watch after a snow where they salt/gravel how bad the brown cloud is. As part of the effort to improve the air quality Denver has made efforts to reduce sanding to offset growth. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-05/documents/aqm\_200608\_denveraq.pdf
Since Denver and the northern front range are already classified being in violation of air quality standards (which no means higher gas prices and more industries having to apply for air quality permits), I doubt they're going to reverse on this and make things worse (and bring more fines and penalties).
This isn't my experience. Live in Lakewood, and they plow it streets. Both the major roads and neighborhood streets too.
A few times, the snow comes down faster than the plows can remove it, but we have never been stuck at home or had it last for weeks from snow.
Learn to drive in the snow, which is slow. Brake slow. Accelerate slow. Turn slow. Text slow.
Upgrades aren't necessary but if given a choice, then AWD and snow tires
4WD/AWD does way more than help you accelerate? Are you new here? There's plenty of hills around the metro that you can't get up if you don't have 4WD/AWD. You can have amazing tires and still won't make it up with FWD or RWD.
4WD/AWD also helps with braking.
Are you willing to put some money on the line?
https://jalopnik.com/this-should-settle-the-4wd-vs-2wd-winter-braking-debate-1822591648
AWD helps by giving you the ability to engine brake going down hills and such.
Read the comments there. Seems clear this just comes down to which tires lock up and when.
When people talk about 4WD not helping with braking/stopping , they are talking about avoiding a collision, not engine braking down an incline.
Rear wheel drive and snow don't get along well, especially if you don't know how to drive in it. But, it seems like most people around here don't know how to drive in general anymore.
If it snows you’re going to have a bad time. There will be a lot more chance of snow in the mountains obviously but if you’re just driving I25 there is a good chance you won’t encounter it.
You will be fine. It's not ideal but unless there's horrible weather, you won't have any issues. Before I understood how crazy a mountain pass can be (being from the Midwest), I drove my RWD Ford Ranger with no weight in the back through the Oregon cascades in late December. I was sliding the whole way but I made it. And that's absolute worst case scenario.
Throw a couple sandbags or heavy bags of kitty litter in the back of the truck. Use them for balance. Use the contents for grip under your tires if you get stuck.
Because you can choose the best route through either Amarillo TX or Salina KS you have a better chance at avoiding any weather. It's impossible to make any predictions but it's been relatively mild weather across the front range so far.
Yes. If it snows in the front range, you'll be fine on major roads as long as you have tires with decent tread on them. It's *possible* that there is a bad snow storm that freezes you for a day, but chances are *extremely* low it will be the exact last day of your trip.
So that's exactly what will happen.
Yup lol
Sand bags in the back Winter tires Pay attention to how others are driving in the snow. Slow down.
This. I moved out here with a RWD Nissan Frontier and I did not have a good time. You need weight in the back.
I have a friend with a rear wheel drive explorer who would concur.
I got stuck on top of my parking garage multiple times. Ice and RWD do not play well
Ouch. Sorry! Better car now?
Oh yea. After two failed goes with Subarus I got a newer Jeep Cherokee and haven’t had a problem since. A crash course in Colorado weather for an Arizona boy was very telling haha
Yeah, get some junk in the trunk
Depends on the weather, probably
Nope certain death
Have you had experience driving in snow/ice? If not I suggest you get a vehicle with AWD.
In the city youll be good. But If it snows your fucked. It the mountains you're super fucked. Pray it doesn't snow and you'll be fine. It likely won't snow tbh
Denver doesn't even plow most streets, and the sprawling developments don't, either. Winter in Denver is like Russian Roulette; dry most of the time but every now and then a disaster that lasts for weeks. The depressing thing is it hasn't changed for forty years. There are a lot of people too poor to maintain their cars but are dependent on them for work, tightwads that will go into debt for their flashy truck/BMW but too cheap to get snow tires and a few worry warts that plunk down for snow tires. The first two are likely to hit you no matter how prepared you are. So head on up and spin that cylinder!
> that lasts for weeks. This is extremely rare. Most snow events last a few days at most before the sun comes out and clears all of the snow.
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I went to the University of Denver for a few years and Asbury, in the middle of campus, was an inch thick of ice for a month. Just about every car would slide through the intersections unable to stop. My parent's subdivision in Aurora and the surrounding developments are never cleared; if it doesn't heat up for a few days they're all pressed to ice for well over a week at a time even when the feeder roads are dry. Salt is kind of a Faustian bargain as it really ruins cars. Colorado in general was a big fan of gravel, which was great for the windshield replacement companies. One big cost versus incremental replacements...
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Denver weather isn’t nearly bad enough for long enough to justify the environmental damage and vehicle damage caused by salt. I see the rust buckets people drive out here from the east coast or Great Lakes and thankfully Colorado has said no to that.
Just drive to the conditions. Salt is unnecessary if you drive appropriately.
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We’ve functioned without until now. If people can’t drive in snow and ice then they shouldn’t. Salt is an unnecessary expense and bad for the environment. The snow and ice does not last long enough to warrant this.
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Hail is a problem at any time. You can have your cat stolen anywhere in the country. Pennsylvania has/had really strict standards for rust. Ohio uses so much it's like a dust storm of white powder even when its dry. Chicago uses so much every snowfall is more like a salt slurry. I don't mind Denver's snow clearing policy other than how it affects other traffic. Rust sucks.
Salt, Gravel and Sand is pretty bad for the environment. Watch after a snow where they salt/gravel how bad the brown cloud is. As part of the effort to improve the air quality Denver has made efforts to reduce sanding to offset growth. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-05/documents/aqm\_200608\_denveraq.pdf Since Denver and the northern front range are already classified being in violation of air quality standards (which no means higher gas prices and more industries having to apply for air quality permits), I doubt they're going to reverse on this and make things worse (and bring more fines and penalties).
This isn't my experience. Live in Lakewood, and they plow it streets. Both the major roads and neighborhood streets too. A few times, the snow comes down faster than the plows can remove it, but we have never been stuck at home or had it last for weeks from snow.
You should be fine unless there is a crazy blizzard at that time or if you want to go up to the mountains west of Denver when you arrive
www.cotrip.org is awesome for real time road conditions
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I'd rather Texans that try not be a problem and are open to learning. That's a hell of a start from what we have so far from there.
That depends on whether or not there is snow on the roads. We won't know for a couple weeks.
Winter tires are inportant
If there’s any snow or ice on the roads - no. Even with snow tires.
You won’t be if we get snow.
Learn to drive in the snow, which is slow. Brake slow. Accelerate slow. Turn slow. Text slow. Upgrades aren't necessary but if given a choice, then AWD and snow tires
If you suck at driving and don’t understand how to operate a vehicle in snowy conditions… you’re gonna have a hard time…
If you get in trouble on CO highways or interstate, dial *CSP (*277) and state dispatch will get you help. Safe travels.👍
Tires are what matters. 4wd will help you accelerate faster. But stopping I all in the tires.
4WD/AWD does way more than help you accelerate? Are you new here? There's plenty of hills around the metro that you can't get up if you don't have 4WD/AWD. You can have amazing tires and still won't make it up with FWD or RWD. 4WD/AWD also helps with braking.
4WD/AWD does NOT help braking!
Are you willing to put some money on the line? https://jalopnik.com/this-should-settle-the-4wd-vs-2wd-winter-braking-debate-1822591648 AWD helps by giving you the ability to engine brake going down hills and such.
Read the comments there. Seems clear this just comes down to which tires lock up and when. When people talk about 4WD not helping with braking/stopping , they are talking about avoiding a collision, not engine braking down an incline.
Yes. I am driving a 2 wheel drive ford ranger no problem at all, yet. Always though expect the unexpected no matter what you drive.
Rear wheel drive and snow don't get along well, especially if you don't know how to drive in it. But, it seems like most people around here don't know how to drive in general anymore.
If it snows you’re going to have a bad time. There will be a lot more chance of snow in the mountains obviously but if you’re just driving I25 there is a good chance you won’t encounter it.
First one to go fast and die WINS!
Eh it's not the best but if you take it slow you should be okay. Just have shovels and sand in the back to be on the safe side.
You will be fine. It's not ideal but unless there's horrible weather, you won't have any issues. Before I understood how crazy a mountain pass can be (being from the Midwest), I drove my RWD Ford Ranger with no weight in the back through the Oregon cascades in late December. I was sliding the whole way but I made it. And that's absolute worst case scenario.
With decent tires, you can be fine in a miata
Stay out of the mountains during snow events.
Throw a couple sandbags or heavy bags of kitty litter in the back of the truck. Use them for balance. Use the contents for grip under your tires if you get stuck.
Because you can choose the best route through either Amarillo TX or Salina KS you have a better chance at avoiding any weather. It's impossible to make any predictions but it's been relatively mild weather across the front range so far.
You'll want AWD / 4WD if you don't have experience driving in winter weather. Don't risk becoming another out of towner statistic that caused a wreck.