Safe Winter Driving

Winter is now in full swing across most of the country. It's the se...

1. Pick the right tires. Worn tires can be dangerous, especially in slippery conditions. Ensure that your tires are the right ones for the conditions - for example, the rubber compound in summer tires get stiff and inflexible in cold temperatures, which can lead to a loss of control. Depending on how severe the conditions are, pick the appropriate all-season or winter/snow tires. For snowy regions or extreme conditions, studded snow tires or tire chains may be a good idea as well.

2. Clear off your car before driving. Snow and ice can easily obscure the critical areas that need to be clear for safety. Brush off the front and rear windows, side glass, and make sure that mirrors, headlights and taillights are clear too.

3. Drive gently. Avoid sudden starts or stops - starting in second gear can be helpful to prevent spinning tires. Tires don't grip as well in low-friction conditions, so turn, accelerate and brake gently to avoid loss of control. Drive more slowly than you usually would - remember that speed limits are the maximums for clear conditions. Braking distances can be drastically longer in snow and ice, even with ABS, so plan your stops far in advance.

4. Accelerating, braking and turning - do one at a time. The friction that your tires have on the road are responsible for all of these things, and trying to do these things aggressively or more than one at a time can overwhelm what your tires are capable of.

5. Do you know how to correct a slide? It's possible for both the front and rear ends of your car to slide out. If the front end starts to 'plow' off course, gently let off the accelerator and look where you want the car to go, and steer in that direction. If the rear end slides out, or 'fishtails', gently let off the acclelerator and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide - and be ready to turn the steering wheel back in the other direction once the car comes around.

6. All-wheel drive and 4WD can't defy physics! These systems only provide extra traction when accelerating, but they do nothing to improve braking or turning. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security - you still must be alert.

We hope that these tips will help you stay safe during the winter. If you have any questions about whether your car is prepared for the winter, or for help picking out the right tires and winter gear for your car, please give our service department a call and they'll be happy to answer your questions.