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As the temperature falls and snow covers Canada's streets, it is important to remember that winter driving is different from driving on a sunny summer day. Below are Globe Drive's best winter driving stories and advice from experts about everything from warming up the car to how to get a car unstuck:

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The myth about warming up your car on a cold day

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Millions of drivers today who own relatively new cars still warm them up. In the days of carburetion this was a necessity, but now with fuel-injection it just wastes gas, harms the environment and damages the car. The best way to warm the engine is to drive away as soon as possible and drive under low load. Peter Cheney explains the science.


Stuck in the snow? Tips on getting out from an Icelandic off-road expert

Matt Bubbers travelled to Iceland for some serious winter off-roading with a Land Rover Super Defender. While driving with off-road driving expert Jon Baldur, they get stuck and it turns into a master class in getting unstuck. Baldur's tips include deflating the tires, not spinning the wheels and using momentum. Bubbers explains how Baldur got unstuck in much greater detail - including this video.


How not to drive

It is important to never drive when your car looks like this.

Or this.

These motorists were pulled over on consecutive days in Ontario and Nova Scotia. They each received a fine, which according to police in both provinces, is much better than getting into an accident or hitting someone.


The myth of all-wheel-drive and why it can be a deadly trap

Vehicles slip and slide their way up Avenue Rd. as snow made driving conditions miserable for morning commuters on Dec. 11 2014.
Vehicles slip and slide their way up Avenue Rd. as snow made driving conditions miserable for morning commuters on Dec. 11 2014.

Vehicles slip and slide their way up Avenue Rd. as snow made driving conditions miserable for morning commuters on Dec. 11 2014.

Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

Some people think they don't need winter tires because they have all-wheel-drive. This is false. AWD helps the vehicle accelerate on snow and ice, but when it comes to stopping or turning tires are what make the difference, not the drivetrain. And AWD can hurt because drivers may have added confidence while driving in a car with it, so they go faster. Peter Cheney explains the myth and the truth.


The cold, hard facts about seven winter driving myths

A bus passes through the intersection of Lake Michigan Dr. and Wilson Ave. in Walker, Mich., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. Lake-effect storms in Michigan produced gale-force winds and as much as 18 inches of snow, and cancelled several flights at the Grand Rapids airport.

A bus passes through the intersection of Lake Michigan Dr. and Wilson Ave. in Walker, Mich., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. Lake-effect storms in Michigan produced gale-force winds and as much as 18 inches of snow, and cancelled several flights at the Grand Rapids airport.

AP

In addition to all-wheel-drive being a saviour and all-season tires being good enough, Peter Cheney discusses the myths about locking up tires, that winter tires only help in snow and that bigger treads are better.


Don't want to switch to winter tires? Then consider the all-weather option

If you don't want to switch your tires twice a year and live in a moderate urban climate such as Vancouver or Toronto, there is another option. All-weather tires don't perform as well as winter tires in extreme winter conditions, but they carry the mountain snowflake symbol and are competent in warmer weather. They don't have as long of a tread life as all-seasons, but the gap is closing each year as research advances. Darren McGee puts a set on his car to test them out in different conditions.


The Ten Commandments of winter driving

Among Peter Cheney’s winter-driving rules: Always keep an eye on a spot a good distance ahead of you.

High up on Peter Cheney's list are to not spin thy wheels, thou shalt remove all snow from thy vehicle and thou shalt not despair when thy vehicle doth slide. It is a handy guide of what to do and more importantly what not to do when driving during the winter. Plus Cheney explains why following these commandments will greatly improve your safety.


Testing tires in White Hell – the birthplace of winter tires

Peter Cheney travelled to the tiny, remote town of Ivalo in northern Finland. It is about as far north as Baffin Island and is the birthplace of winter tires. Known as White Hell, it is the testing facility for Nokian Tire. He learned about how winter tires are made, including rubber compounds, tread patterns and tire profiles, and got to ride along with professional drivers as they tested the different prototypes. It is a snapshot of the incredible complexity behind producing winter tires and what it takes to keep us safer on snowy roads.

A little run through the woods at the Finnish winter tire test track Nokian Tyres

Posted by Peter Cheney - Globe Drive on Tuesday, January 20, 2015


Spotted: How not to park during a snow storm

Last winter, when Peter Cheney went to leave his house, he spotted a minivan blocking the alley. The alley wasn't plowed, there was a lot of snow and the minivan didn't have winter tires. It couldn't get into the actual parking spot and caused everyone else with garages in the alley to be stuck.