Snow driving observations

[Thunderbirdsport]

All other things being equal, the tire's contact patch is the same, regardless of whether it's rolling as intended or skidding laterally. The difference is the compound of the tire and it's intended use.
Airing up/down for particular terrain is a tangent, but until there's an effective method of instantly adjusting pressures on the fly and independently, much less at the different levels as needed, it's best to tailor the tire, the width, and the compound to what the vehicle's biggest use will be.

Since we're talking about snow rather than absolute traction on straight dry surfaces, once you're in the skid, the tires are already past their effective ability, regardless of whether it's deliberate or otherwise. There's a reason snow tires are called snow tires and not all weather tires, and there ARE differences.

Again, I reiterate...if you're skidding, the tires are merely rudders and nothing more than the space between wheel and surface.

In short, skidding isn't not the way to slow down a vehicle in slick stuff. If the tires are able to do their job effectively, you wouldn't be skidding unless, as I said above it's a deliberate action.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Driving on snow is definitely an art. I live on a hill so my biggest concern is always coming down the hill vs going up. Going up can be a challenge (learned the importance of completely turning off traction control) but it's coming down that I pucker up the old sphincter. It goes against natural tendency to let off of the brake to regain control when starting to slide down.

I remember one time when I was backing out of the driveway onto the sloped road in front of the house. I started sliding down the hill, sideways. It's a dead end cul de sac so not a big deal but it was scary none the less. I ended up shifting into reverse as I was sliding sideways, backed the rear of the vehicle up so that it was now facing straight down the hill, shifted back to drive and slowly drove down into and around the cul de san and right up the hill.

Another time I was driving down a road and as I was coming around a slight corner, the back end came loose. I counter steered to keep from spinning more and, for what seemed to be minutes, I was driving down the road at a 45 degree angle! I had enough time to think about my options and decided to give a little gas thinking I would "drive" out of the slide. Which I did... she straightened out immediately and I was back in full control. I think what really happened is as I gave a little gas I shifted some weight to the back tires and they regained traction.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

The most memorable snow driving incident... I was trying to back out of my driveway but was stuck! Snow was not deep, just a bit icy. Not skating rink icy... cuz the neighbor lady and a friend were able to push me out. The part of this that butt hurt me the most was when the lady says, "Doesn't this have 4 wheel drive!?"!! And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is when I decided I would some day have true 4 wheel drive .