How to drive in snow safely

Smooth is the name of the game when driving in winter. Because snow and ice reduce the friction between the tires and the road, any sudden vehicle movements can cause you to lose control. Follow the advice below to safety navigate wintry conditions on the road.

The way your vehicle’s drivetrain distributes power to the wheels is key to how it handles on slick surfaces. The four main types of drivetrain configurations are front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), all-wheel drive (AWD), and four-wheel drive (4WD). AWD and 4WD layouts are the best for winter conditions.

Each configuration behaves differently on slick roads, as detailed below.

• FWD — This setup is most common in passenger cars and crossovers. It sends the engine’s power to the front wheels, which provides some advantages on icy roads: the front of a vehicle has more weight, so the tires with power to them are pressed more firmly onto the road and have more traction. This actually keeps the rear of the car more stable. If you live in an area with regular snow and have a vehicle with this layout, it is very important to have winter tires.
• RWD — In this configuration, the power goes to back wheels. Trucks, large SUVs, and sports cars usually feature this design. It is not ideal for snow, as it can cause the vehicle to spin out or fishtail because it is lighter on the back end where power is. Snow tires are even more crucial for RWD vehicles than FWD ones in regions that see winter weather.
• AWD — Here power is distributed to all wheels depending on the amount of traction each has (which is determined by sensors). Under normal conditions, most power goes to either the front or back of the vehicle, but not both. In slippery conditions, AWD systems distribute more power to the wheels with the most traction. This is very helpful when accelerating but does not enhance performance when turning and braking on slick roads. It is, however, an improvement over FWD and RWD. An AWD and all-season tire combination could work in areas where snow is not too frequent and for driving on roads that are constantly plowed.
• 4WD — This layout sends power to all wheels equally. Vehicles with 4WD usually have a low range of gears and are manually engaged (meaning 4WD does not operate at all times). It is good for all kinds of conditions, including unplowed or rough roads. It is a good alternative for rural driving, especially if there are steep grades where low gearing is needed.

All-season tires can suffice for some vehicle models in mild winter conditions. However, their rubber and tread is designed for a wide variety of conditions, so if you run an all-season tire in winter, you will sacrifice performance in some areas.

Dedicated snow tires have softer rubber compounds that preserve grip at low temperatures, their tread is specifically designed to bite into snow, and they may even have studs. These features will not be present on all-season tires, which also have to be able to handle hot temperatures and large amounts of water on roadways, requiring harder rubber and different tread patterns.

If you live in a place where winter brings rain rather than snow, the biggest risk to avoid will most likely be hydroplaning rather than slipping and sliding on slush. Regardless of the model, the best tire for rain is one with deep tread.

One of tread’s main functions is to quickly push water out from underneath the tire so the rubber surface stays in contact with the road. The deeper the grooves in the tread, the more effectively the tire will perform this function.

Therefore, the best tire for rain is one with good tread depth, which can be maintained by rotating tires, switching out winter and summer tires according to the season, and replacing tires before the tread reaches a depth of 2/32nds of an inch.

Snow tires have a tread pattern optimized for biting into snow, ice, and slush, not necessarily for flushing water out from under tires. For that reason, snow tires are not the best solution for prolonged rainy conditions. All-season or summer tires will provide better protection against aquaplaning.

Beyond changing your driving style and equipping your car with the right tires, there are a few more steps you can take to get your vehicle ready for winter.

To get the right winter tires for your vehicle and region, contact your nearest tire dealer.