Winter Driving Tips

I HAVE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. WHY DO I NEED WINTER TIRES?

Antilock brakes do not create traction. They prevent you from locking up your tires by taking away braking until the braking force matches the traction level of your tires on the road surface. If you don’t have the proper tires for the current conditions (such as winter tires for winter conditions), your stopping distance will be lengthened significantly. To maximize your car’s braking efficiency and to shorten your stopping distance, you need to use the best tires for the conditions. In winter, that means a rated snow and ice tire, which is made of a softer rubber compound than an all season or summer tire.

Similarly, traction control can’t create traction. It takes away acceleration until the acceleration force matches the traction level of your tires on the road surface. An expensive, high-horsepower car with traction control and poor quality tires accelerates only to the level of the tires’ traction – not the car’s potential. To enjoy your car’s full potential and to accelerate as efficiently as possible, you must have the best possible connection to the road surface. A winter tire (formerly called a snow tire) will give you that connection in snow, ice and slush.

“It was great to have the opportunity to get on a course with adverse conditions to test and improve our skills.”