How To Drive A Car In Snow?
According to the statements made by the General Directorate of Meteorology, it is stated that the snowfall, which affects the country, will increase its severity in the coming periods. The most difficult conditions for vehicles are snowy and icy surfaces. What should be considered when driving on snowy and icy surfaces where road holding is very difficult and braking distance is extended? Here are the dos and don’ts…
HOW TO DRIVE ON SNOW?
The most difficult conditions for vehicles are snowy and icy surfaces. Recently, difficult conditions have arisen for drivers in much of the country. What should be considered when driving on snowy and icy surfaces where road holding is very difficult and braking distance is extended? Here are the dos and don’ts…
WINTER TIRES MUST BE USED
Tires called all-season tires, which come as standard on our vehicles, can provide maximum road holding at 7 degrees and above. When the temperature drops below 7 degrees, the adhesion problem of these tires starts and your braking distance increases. For this reason, winter tires must be used in the winter season.
BELOW 7 DEGREES CAUTION!
Winter tires are designed for temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius, and as the weather gets colder, grip performance improves and your braking distance significantly decreases.
How To Drive A Car In Snow?
CHANGE FOUR TIRES TOGETHER
Replacing only two of the tires with winter tires is a serious mistake. In this way, it is not possible for the vehicle to press firmly on the ground. All four tires must be converted to winter tires.
NEVER DEPRESS THE TIRE
One of the biggest mistakes made is to lower the tire pressure of the vehicle in snowy weather. This big mistake should never be made. If you lower the tire air; The shoulder parts of the tire are loaded, there are contact problems on the tread that should be on the ground. As the tire air decreases, the gap between the grooves, channels and patterns that provide snow removal begins to close. For this reason, clinging, skidding and slipping problems begin.
For safe driving on snowy surfaces, it is necessary to increase the tire pressure by 2 psi instead of reducing it. By increasing the air, the gap between the discharge channels opens a little more and adhesion increases. On normal surfaces, the tire pressures specified by the vehicle manufacturer should be used.
DO NOT CHANGE LANES AS POSSIBLE
Move as little as possible on snowy floors and areas with hidden ice and avoid unnecessary lane changes. Due to sudden and hard steering movements, the weight transfer of the vehicle may deteriorate at any time and understeer or oversteer may occur. It would be a good solution to increase the following distance so that the steering movements are very smooth and not affected by the mistakes of other drivers.
How To Drive A Car In Snow?
DO NOT MAKE CONTINUOUS THROTTLE, BRAKE AND GEAR MOVEMENTS
Drivers driving on snowy surfaces where it is difficult to hold on should avoid sudden gas and brake movements. Any sudden or hard movement, skidding and sliding problems occur. The accelerator and brake pedals should be used very carefully.
Drivers who prefer to slow down by downshifting rather than braking should take their foot off the clutch very slowly. Otherwise, the load suddenly gathers forward, the weight transfer of the vehicle is impaired and the slip problem begins.
YOU CAN WORK IN SECOND GEAR
Applying too much force to the front tires on snowy surfaces can cause them to spin. For this reason, you can put the vehicle in second gear and apply the gas and clutch movements very slowly and get a smooth start. It will be sufficient to press the accelerator pedal very slowly and gradually in vehicles with automatic transmission that do not have this facility.
CHOOSE A TOP GEAR
Increasing the speed of the vehicle while driving creates a disadvantage for snowy surfaces. Therefore, choose lower revs and higher gears. For example; If you drive in third gear at the same speed instead of 45 km/h in second gear, it will be a little easier for the vehicle to hold onto the ground.
HIDDEN ICE HAZARD
Places where snow melts, bridge tops, viaducts and very windy grounds pose a great risk in terms of hidden icing. When approaching these areas, halve your speed and double your following distance. Do not deal with distracting equipment such as telephone and music system in the vehicle, keep your reflexes ready.
CHAIN IS FITTED TO THE WINTER TIRE
Many drivers who use winter tires do not have chains on their vehicles. The vehicle must have chains for both legal and safe driving.
Above a certain level of snow, winter tires also have a grip problem. Therefore, the only remedy is to use chains, especially on the ice-covered parts of the road. To remember; A chain is attached to a winter tire.
ATTENTION TO BLACK SPILLED TIRE
If one or more of your vehicle’s tires are stuck in snow, there is little that can be done. Giving too much gas doesn’t drive the car off the road, but rather the idling tire deepens the hole it fell into.
If possible, the vehicle can be put into 2nd gear and diagonally forward and backward maneuvers can be made. However, if the vehicle does not move after 4-5 tries, it should not be forced any further. Otherwise, both the vehicle will be damaged and the exit time of the vehicle will be extended. Therefore, it is best practice to seek towing assistance without being overly insistent.
How To Drive A Car In Snow?
