Bad winter weather is a huge factor in accidents according to AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety. Even the most seasoned drivers wince at winter conditions because driving in snow requires high levels of concentration and carries big risks to you and your vehicle.
This understandably leads to winter driving anxiety.
Chill out with Discount Tire’s tips on how you should drive in snow. Hint: driving on winter tires is one of the best moves you can make!
ALL WINTER TIRESYou can also check out our picks for the best snow tires and best truck snow tires to get you started!
HOW TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW
The first rule of how to drive in the snow is: don’t, if you can avoid it.
More than at any other time, it’s important to drive safely and with heightened caution when snow is involved, regardless if it’s actively snowing during your drive or not.
The presence of snow significantly increases the chance of something going wrong. Snow is slick and, in cases of heavy snow, difficult to overcome. It’s very easy to get stuck in a snowbank or pile on the roadside.
If you can’t avoid driving, here’s some tips to make driving in snow as safe as possible:
Drive smoothly and slowly
Look and plan (far) ahead
Stay calm if you skid
Constantly assess your traction
Don’t become overconfident
We cannot guarantee you won’t get into an accident, but these tips can help mitigate potential risk. Safe driving means you’re less likely to deal with skidding or loss of traction.
While driving on snow and ice, smooth, consistent, and slow acceleration with gentle braking is the way to go. You want to give your tires as much opportunity as possible to catch and keep traction.
Drivers easily become accustomed to driving in good conditions and become complacent. But sudden starts, stops, or jerky movements have a greater consequence in winter.
If you live in areas with wildlife, driving slowly will also allow you to respond to their sudden presence on the road. Deer tend to be unpredictable in winter months.
You need to plan your route out further and more carefully in winter conditions.
Avoid roads and routes that aren’t maintained by snowplows or DOT services. Even if your reaction time is the same, your vehicle will be delayed due to slippery conditions.
Allow for triple the distance to stop in snow and even more for ice. Intersections and corners can be problematic areas where ice and snow gather so take special care around them.
If you feel your vehicle start to skid, do not slam on your brakes!
Even the most careful driver will occasionally skid. Don’t panic – you can manage skids and gain back control.
For front wheel loss of traction: ease off the gas. Your front tires should regain grip within a few seconds. When you start to feel traction return, steer where you want to go.
For rear-wheel loss of traction (some call it a spin-out or fishtailing):
Turn steering wheel in the same direction the rear of your vehicle is sliding
Ease off the gas
If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), don’t slam on them. Gently brake and continue steering the direction your vehicle is sliding.
If you don’t have anti-lock brakes (ABS): gently pump your brakes at a moderate rate and continue steering the direction your vehicle is sliding.
When you feel traction return, steer where you want to go
Note that most modern vehicles have ABS.
If you have ABS and need to stop ASAP (due to an obstacle or are in a skid you can’t recover from) don’t brake, continue steering:
Push down your brakes hard and don’t release.
Continue steering around the obstacle.
Don’t release the brakes until you come to a complete stop.
Your computer will adjust the brake power as you steer around the obstacle. Most ABS systems cause the brake pedal to thud when they’re active – don’t worry, this lets you know they’re working.
Snow and ice are not consistent so you will likely experience varying degrees of traction while you drive. You should constantly monitor your grip and adapt your driving accordingly.
It’s best to always assume you have as little traction as possible, especially as black ice is incredibly difficult to see.
You can test how slippery a road is with your ABS. Do this when there are no cars or nearby obstacles:
- Apply your brakes gently for one to two seconds while driving in a straight line.
If your ABS activates, the roads are very slick.
If ABS doesn’t activate and you can slow down at a reasonable rate, you’re on more stable footing.
Newer vehicles also have tons of features that help you monitor and control traction. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for more information.
Drivers can become complacent because newer vehicles have lots of features that make driving in inclement weather easier. However, all the special features available and even adding a set of winter tires (which are superior to all-season tires for winter traction), cannot prevent all accidents.
Your vehicle’s safety features are not a guarantee against accidents or skidding.
It can be emotionally difficult and taxing to constantly be on high alert while driving in snow, and it’s tempting to slip into dangerous driving habits just because the weather clears up.
WHAT GEAR IS BEST FOR SNOW?
When it comes to driving in the snow, slow is best. That’s why we recommend keeping your vehicle in low gear (at low speeds).
This is especially true for going up and down a hill. Low gears on hills helps you maintain a steady speed and prevent jerky gear changes, giving you more control.
Some other things to keep in mind:
If your vehicle has D, 1, and 2 available gears, use 2 on snow and ice.
Use second gear when taking off from a stop in snow and ice for better traction and a smoother start.
Downshift to slow down instead of tapping your brakes (like you would on a dry hill).
Modern automatic vehicles have computerized traction systems that automatically adjust for you but you still have the ability to move into manual mode for more control.
Newer vehicles also include convenient snow traction modes and buttons to automatically put your vehicle in the proper gear.
However, be careful with these snow functions because they are not a replacement for safe driving skills. Reckless driving can make even a properly equipped vehicle (winter tires, AWD, etc.) unreliable on snow-blanketed roads.
TIPS FOR DRIVING IN SNOW
Constantly changing road conditions is part of what makes driving in snow so challenging. The high risk of accidents or getting stranded require higher than average diligence.
Here are some additional driving tips to give you the edge this winter:
Prep your vehicle
Remove snow and ice before moving your vehicle.
Maintain your vehicle’s winter vulnerable components like batteries, fluids, wipers, headlights, and tires.
Make sure your air pressure and tire tread are in good working order. Good tread depth is imperative for stopping safely.
We highly recommend using winter tires for regions that see a true winter with low temps and snowfall!
Carry an emergency kit with tools, hand warmers, shovel, tow strap, blankets and sand/cat litter for added traction if you get stuck; check out our safe winter driving infographic for more tips!
Check out our trip pre-check safety list.
This is a big one. Make sure your vehicle is fit enough to handle any emergency situations that may arise. You should:
Plan ahead
Check for weather and road conditions ahead of time so you know what to expect. Plan the safest route possible or cancel entirely if the conditions are too poor.
Look where you want to go, not into the skid
It’s tempting to focus on obstacles as you skid. Don’t do this; focus on where you want to go and your body will naturally direct the vehicle toward your focus.
We should note that if you “fishtail” or oversteer you should turn (don’t jerk) your wheel into the skid so the tires roll with inertia instead of fighting against it.
Don’t use cruise control
Specifically, don’t use cruise control in slippery (read: wet, snowy or icy) conditions. Cruise control sets speed according to your input and does not take into account available traction on the road. If your tires lose their grip, cruise control will continue to charge ahead at the chosen speed, worsening the situation.
Even adaptive (or dynamic) cruise control only takes into account other vehicles, not the state of the road.
Increase your buffer zone between vehicles
You need to increase the distance between you and other vehicles to give you more time to stop. The typical buffer zone is 3 seconds but winter conditions call for at least double, 6-10 seconds between cars.
Respect snow plows and emergency vehicles
Snow plows are key to making roads safe and clear but also pose potential risks to drivers already on the road. They are large and often have obstructed vision due to flying snow and the plow itself.
Snow plows cast away snow which can obstruct your field of vision as well. They can move in unpredictable patterns as the driver works to clear specific areas first.
You can find more winter driving tips here!
Ready to roll?
We know installing winter tires can be a hassle. That’s why we offer winter/snow tire changeover and installation services!
If you’re wondering whether tire chains or studded tires may be a good option for you and your region, check out our blog about studded tires vs tire chains!
Still lost? Give us a ring, or drop in and we’ll help you get the best option possible for you and your vehicle.
Walk-ins are always welcome but we encourage you to buy and make your appointment online first. Buy and book online to save time!
For more information on this and other tire and wheel services, check out our YouTube Channel or reach out to us on X, Facebook and Instagram.