ALT-1 Give Tires more Traction in the Snow
When you need to drive frequently in snowy and icy winter weather, one of your major safety concerns is being sure your tires will give you maximum traction. There are many ways to do this, and some common-sense tips could make your winter driving safer and more pleasant.1. If you live in an region where winters are harsh, use snow tires during those months. They have deeper, studded treads and more ability to grip the roads than regular all-year tires. For the winter driver who most go out on the roads often, especially at night, snow tires will give an extra level of safety and confidence.2. Be sure your tire treads are deep, and not worn down in any dangerously smooth areas. Replace all worn tires that could reduce the car’s traction in the snow. Safety should be more important to you and your family than trying to get the old tires to last one more winter.3. Use a blunt screwdriver frequently after winter driving to clean out the tire treads of accumulated mud, stones and other debris. While doing it, be absolutely certain there are no nails, sharp glass or metal pieces embedded in the treads that could cause loss of traction, s slow leak or sudden blow-out while you're on the road.4. Check for punctured or torn areas on tire walls. This may be caused by sharp debris picked up from the road, or when the driver accidentally drives too close along a cement curb. While minor abrasions can be repaired, tires with heavily damaged walls should be replaced.5. If your car is caught in deep snow or very slick ice, the tires may keep spinning and there’s no traction. Use a plastic shovel or flat piece of thick cardboard under one or both rear wheels. Apply steady engine power and rock the car back and forth slowly until the traction takes over and moves the car out.6. When your car is on slick snow or ice, and you need to stop, pump the brake pedal slowly as your tires gain traction and allow the brakes to function most efficiently.7. If your car begins to skid on an icy surface, turn the steering wheel slowly into the direction of the skid. This will allow the tires’ traction to reduce the effect of the skid until you can gain total control again.When driving in snow, your tires and their treads need to have total traction control for utmost safety and control.
