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Old 13th January 2025, 14:31   #1
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Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Video;



^ Above video talks about how I coped with driving in Canada during Winters & also my experience driving in Snow, followed with some Tips.

The video is split into two parts;

00:01 : My Experience
04:39 : My Tips

For those who prefer text may read on from the next post.
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Old 13th January 2025, 18:59   #2
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re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

I was in Toronto region since mid December onwards & had the opportunity to experience proper Winter conditions with a White Christmas & New Years eve. Got to experience temperatures as low as - 18 Deg. C to a high of + 8 Deg. C. Also got a couple of sunny days & also a wet rainy day. However majority of the time spent was in snowy conditions with a good amount of snowfall experienced.

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-untitled-design.png

^ The ride with me was the 2024 BMW X5 LCi xDrive with the 40i engine (B58 + 48V Mild Hybrid system);

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241224_120818.jpg

Being in Toronto region the backbone highway is the 401;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-screenshot-20250113-7.04.078239pm.png

407 which is a Toll Route Expressway;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20250103_141009.jpg

Or the backroads like the Highway 7;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-screenshot-20250113-7.08.238239pm.png

Never did I experience any snow accumulations on these roads.

Thanks to the pre-treatment of Brine;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-tmpf8392etmptcm11119454782.jpg

This is sort of a mixture of salt & water, hoping to lower the freezing point of water & effective to avoid snow/ice accumulation on roads.

If there is any accumulation on roads like this;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-screenshot-20250113-7.28.368239pm.png

Then the snow ploughs come into action, ploughing the snow to the side of the road;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-snow-ploughs-.jpg

Definitely the highways are prioritised over the back roads or small lanes.

In case of Downtown region;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241230_162403.jpg

Snow is again ploughed by the snow trucks and if there is excessive snow then there are Snow removal operations conducted where the ploughed snow is collected by the snow trucks and dumped outside city limits at designated snow dumps.

Overall not praising Canada as this is expected of any developed country, but yeah just sharing what I learnt while having a great time this Canadian Winters. Also apologies if anyone is offended by me being in Canada (was visiting family) during a time when there's an unfriendly government with their attitude towards India. However a prediction came true, its a start;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-screenshot-20250113-8.08.468239pm.png


Last edited by karan561 : 14th January 2025 at 19:31.
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Old 14th January 2025, 13:10   #3
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re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Some pictures of me driving around the GTA;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241224_124117.jpg

Parked next to a semi frozen lake;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241224_123701.jpg

Quaint Lighthouse;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241224_123726.jpg

At Tim Hortons;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241227_084134.jpg

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241227_084612.jpg

At a Costco Fuel bunk;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241226_193207.jpg

Enroute a local Ski Resort;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241228_111226.jpg

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241228_111156.jpg

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241228_111139.jpg

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241228_111452.jpg

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241228_113330.jpg

Street Parked in a Small village;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241228_140201.jpg

At the top of CN Tower;

Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips-20241230_132406.jpg

Last edited by karan561 : 14th January 2025 at 15:19.
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Old 14th January 2025, 13:22   #4
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Winter Driving Tips

Some Basic Winter Driving Tips;

- See & be Seen;

For your own & others Visibility, hence Its essential to remove (brush off) snow from the vehicle which would have been accumulated overnight during a snowfall. This is also important as the snow should not fly off your vehicle & bothering other drivers causing safety concerns, you could get into trouble too.

- Winter Tyres;

The X5 is traditionally running a staggered setup with really wide tyres at the rear but for the winter it's been equipped with a squared (275s, Continental Ice Contact) winter tyre setup. Many residents follow this practice of having 2 tyre sets. It's mandatory in some states too around December to March.

- Tyre Pressure;

Cold weather reduces tyre pressures faster, hence its best to check tyre pressure at least once a month.

- Washer Fluid;

Best to equip the Washer fluid tank with Anti Freeze or some performance washer fluids rated for upto -40 Deg C as temps. in this region dip upto - 30 - 35 Dec. C too.

- Avoid sudden braking;

Even experienced drivers can skid hence it's always best to be attentive on the road & maintain safe distance. Engine braking (downshifting) can also be practiced.

Load;

- Was discussing with locals they keep something heavy in the trunks, this was a tip from someone driving a Golf & a Mazda 3 hatchbacks (FWD models).

Emergency Kit;

- Best to have a shovel, a snow brush etc. Snow chains not necessary unless venturing into the National parks then it's good to have as a backup.

Last edited by karan561 : 14th January 2025 at 15:37.
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Old 14th January 2025, 21:59   #5
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re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!
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Old 15th January 2025, 01:34   #6
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re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Winter tyres are the single best thing for driving on snow. In many countries they are mandated for winter periods.

Even better studded tires, such as you will see in all Scandinavian countries make an incredible difference. But they hard in the roads and not allowed everywhere.

Just an overview what is allowed where in Europe

https://www.stronordic.com/informati...res-in-europe/
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Old 15th January 2025, 14:42   #7
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Re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Nice pics and thanks for sharing your experience.

I used to have a different set of wheels for winter and summer on my 3. Used low profile for summers.
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Old 15th January 2025, 22:51   #8
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Re: Winter Driving Tips

Quote:
Originally Posted by karan561 View Post
Some Basic Winter Driving Tips;

- Washer Fluid;

Best to equip the Washer fluid tank with Anti Freeze or some performance washer fluids rated for upto -40 Deg C as temps. in this region dip upto - 30 - 35 Dec. C too.
Hey Karan, thanks for sharing these tips. Just one additional note that is BMW specific. BMW recommends their own windshield washer fluid concentrate that has anti-freeze properties as well. It is blue in color if I remember correctly. They are against using any other off-the-shelf solutions (especially Rain-X) as they clog the washer reservoir sensor and sometimes the pump as well. This was an issue I had with my X5 a couple of winters back and had to stock up on the OE washer fluid after draining the Prestone branded washer fluid that I usually used.
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Old 19th January 2025, 11:33   #9
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Re: Winter Driving Tips

Quote:
Originally Posted by PreludeSH View Post
Nice pics and thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks

Quote:
I used to have a different set of wheels for winter and summer on my 3. Used low profile for summers.
Yes, this set of winter tyres on the x5 was also on downsized rims.

I would personally would want to know how would an all season tyre perform in these conditions to avoid having a different set, will be a good experiment IMO.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sharkashwa View Post
Hey Karan, thanks for sharing these tips.


Quote:
Just one additional note that is BMW specific. BMW recommends their own windshield washer fluid concentrate that has anti-freeze properties as well. It is blue in color if I remember correctly. They are against using any other off-the-shelf solutions (especially Rain-X) as they clog the washer reservoir sensor and sometimes the pump as well. This was an issue I had with my X5 a couple of winters back and had to stock up on the OE washer fluid after draining the Prestone branded washer fluid that I usually used.
Thanks for your inputs.
Yes, the x5 I was driving was equipped with OE washer fluid only.
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Old 19th January 2025, 16:53   #10
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Re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Nice video, Karan.
My basic rule to driving in snow is to brake early, brake slowly, avoid braking or accelerating while turning and be very very careful when changing lanes on the highway because of the slush that accumulates between the lanes.
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Old 20th January 2025, 21:17   #11
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Re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Nice pictures.
Karan, there is nothing to make anyone feel offended by you visiting Canada, or, as a matter of fact, anyone visiting or staying in Canada. As long as we behave civilized and don't disrespect our country in foreign land, we don't have to be aligned with the politicians.
This whole ruckus happened bcoz of Trudeau, and Thankfully, finally, he has even stepped down now. I don't think such a thing will happen ever again (at least in that way). However, I don't see the whole immigration thing easing OFF anytime soon.

Coming to the point, I believe our govt should learn a thing or two from the way Snow is handled in Canada, or any other developed cold countries. Every now and then, I see cars skidding OFF in (or, near) Manali. The reason - of course, none of them have winter tires (or at least all season tires), and there is also no rule for winter tires or chains there. The icing on top is - I don't think our state/central govts cares about clearing snow OFF the roads (nor they have the equipment). Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here.
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Old 21st January 2025, 11:32   #12
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Re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Nice article with useful tips and beautiful photographs. Thank you for sharing and keep on munching miles.
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Old 4th February 2025, 11:18   #13
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Re: Driving in Canadian Winters: My Experience & Tips

Quote:
Originally Posted by amitoj View Post
Nice video, Karan.
My basic rule to driving in snow is to brake early, brake slowly, avoid braking or accelerating while turning and be very very careful when changing lanes on the highway because of the slush that accumulates between the lanes.
Thanks amitoj for your appreciation & sharing your experience / tips

Quote:
Originally Posted by rajendra2278 View Post
Nice pictures.
Karan, there is nothing to make anyone feel offended by you visiting Canada, or, as a matter of fact, anyone visiting or staying in Canada. As long as we behave civilized and don't disrespect our country in foreign land, we don't have to be aligned with the politicians.
This whole ruckus happened bcoz of Trudeau, and Thankfully, finally, he has even stepped down now. I don't think such a thing will happen ever again (at least in that way). However, I don't see the whole immigration thing easing OFF anytime soon.
Thanks

Quote:
Coming to the point, I believe our govt should learn a thing or two from the way Snow is handled in Canada, or any other developed cold countries. Every now and then, I see cars skidding OFF in (or, near) Manali. The reason - of course, none of them have winter tires (or at least all season tires), and there is also no rule for winter tires or chains there. The icing on top is - I don't think our state/central govts cares about clearing snow OFF the roads (nor they have the equipment). Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here.
True. Such videos are aplenty on Social media. Definitely need strict vehicle & road regulations for regions getting snowfall in India particularly the hilly areas.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kkumar View Post
Nice article with useful tips and beautiful photographs. Thank you for sharing and keep on munching miles.
Thanks Kkumar.

Last edited by karan561 : 4th February 2025 at 11:19.
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