Without a doubt, winter driving tests even the most experienced drivers. Driving on snow and ice poses challenges like reduced visibility, unpredictable conditions, and slippery roads. In this blog, we explore essential tips for driving in snowy weather, from preparing your vehicle to driving tactics when handling icy patches. Use our tips to stay safe during Rochester, NY’s winter season!

Related: Avoid these bad driving habits that destroy your tires!

The Key Takeaways:

  • Winter tires are essential in areas that receive moderate snow and ice. These tires are designed to increase traction and improve your handling.

  • Avoid suddenly accelerating, braking, or steering—especially when skidding or spinning. This can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Instead, drive defensively and increase your following distance.

  • There are two types of skidding. If your back wheels are skidding (your car is going sideways), turn in the direction of the skid to straighten out. If your front wheels are skidding (your car is sliding straight ahead), ease off the gas pedal and wait until you’ve regained traction.

  • If you must brake on ice, pump the brakes gently. If you have an anti-lock braking system, brake gently but firmly.

11 Tips for How to Drive on Snow

1. Install Winter Tires

Winter tires are the best safety investments for driving on snow. Unlike their all-season counterparts, winter tires are made of a specialized rubber compound that stays flexible in extreme cold. The deep treads and additional siping increase tracking, making the tires better equipped to grip the road.

Look for winter tires with the 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snow Flake), which indicates that the tire can handle snowy conditions below 45ºF. Winter tires are also a must-have for EV owners to reduce range loss from extreme weather.

2. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

During the winter, your tire pressure will decrease by up to 1 PSI for every 10ºF. This is because air molecules contract under colder conditions. Driving on underinflated tires forces more of the tire into contact with the road, causing tire bulging, tread separation, and potential blowouts.

Fix your tire pressure at any gas station by checking each tire’s PSI level with a pressure gauge. Then, use an air pump to inflate the tire to the recommended PSI. You can find your tire’s optimal PSI on the driver’s side door or by searching your tire model.

3. Be Aware of Black Ice

One of the main dangers of winter driving is black ice (also known as clear ice or glaze), a thin sheet of ice covering the road that can’t easily be seen. As a result, the ice appears black like a wet blacktop.

People may not realize they’re driving on ice and lose control of their vehicles, either by skidding or moving too quickly. 

When driving on black ice, slowly take your foot off the gas pedal to glide across the surface until you regain traction. Focus on the direction you want to go in and steer accordingly—the goal is to avoid any sudden changes in movement or direction.

Signs of Black Ice

  • Black ice typically occurs in the early morning of cold days after melted snow or rain has a chance to refreeze overnight. Be wary of black ice on days after a sharp temperature drop.

  • Depending on your location, you may be more inclined to experience black ice on driveways, back roads, road shoulders, and other pathways that may not see regular maintenance. Black ice often occurs on bridges, overpasses, ramps leading to highways, shaded areas, and roads near bodies of water.

  • If the road seems wet but you don’t see any water spray from other cars, it’s likely black ice.

  • Look for a combination of dull and shiny patches on the road. The dull parts are normal road conditions while the shiny patches could be black ice.

  • Look for signs of ice on side-view mirrors, road signs, and trees, which indicate freezing conditions.

  • Observe how other drivers in front of you behave and adjust your pace accordingly. Are their brake lights on for no obvious reason? Are they suddenly swerving or skidding along the road?

  • Look for signs that cars have lost control such as tire tracks leading into a ditch, car accidents, or stranded vehicles.

4. Drive Defensively and Slowly

Even with the best winter equipment, you never know how other drivers will behave. Drop your speed dramatically and increase your following distance based on the road condition. For reference, check out this breakdown of stopping distances vs road surface conditions at 35 MPH: 

  • Dry Road: 60–100 feet

  • Wet Road: At least 120 feet

  • Packed Snow Road: At least 180 feet

  • Icy Road: At least 600 feet

The more distance you have between your car and the next, the more time you have to react to any emergencies. Ample reaction time is crucial when driving on snow or ice. If you lose control of your vehicle from skidding or spinning, you’re less likely to cause heavy damage when moving slowly.

5. Accelerate Gently to Prevent Spinning

Accelerating quickly while driving on ice can cause your tires to lose traction and spin in place. It doesn’t matter if you have all-wheel or four-wheel drive—icy roads have less grip. Instead, accelerate gently and evenly to maintain control.

6. Avoid Slamming on the Brakes

Do not slam on the brakes if you’re skidding on black ice. Sudden deceleration causes your car to lose traction, which only exacerbates skidding. On top of that, you could cause your brakes and wheels to lock up.

Brake gently to maximize traction and retain control of your car. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS) you don’t need to pump the brakes as the system will activate automatically as soon as it detects a skid. You may hear a mechanical clicking noise, which is the ABS pumping to prevent wheel lock-up.

7. Never Use Cruise Control Under Icy Conditions

Using cruise control on slippery roads can cause you to lose control of the vehicle, especially at high speeds. On low-traction surfaces, cruise control can make your wheels spin at different rates and affect your steering—this increases your chances of hydroplaning, spinning, and skidding. 

Excessive exposure to moisture can also make your cruise control sensors less reliable. The system may keep your car accelerating, even after you take your foot off the gas pedal. Drivers might not realize they’re still accelerating until it’s too late.

8. Drive Cautiously on Bridges, Overpasses, and Ramps

Bridges, overpasses, and ramps leading to highways often experience black ice because the structures are thinner and lack ground insulation. Regular roads built directly on the ground will retain heat from the sun during the day, releasing the heat slowly at night and keeping the road above freezing. 

Elevated roads like bridges and overpasses are thinner and surrounded by air, which causes them to lose heat rapidly. As a result, moisture in the air will condense on the road and turn into black ice if the external temperature drops enough. These roads are also the last to thaw.

9. Avoid Passing Other Vehicles

It might be tempting to accelerate past slower cars when driving on snow, but drivers are taking precautions for a reason! Snowy and icy road conditions can be unpredictable, and snowdrifts can hide obstacles like curbs, potholes, and other debris. You may think that a patch of snow isn’t too deep but find yourself stuck.

If you must pass someone, remember to:

  • Keep an eye out for signs of danger such as stranded cars and uncontrolled tire tracks

  • Stick to plowed roads to avoid hidden surprises

  • Make sure you have ample room to pass and use your signals

  • Accelerate, steer, and brake gently to avoid losing control

  • Get out of the passing lane after passing

If someone is passing you, gently steer to the shoulder to give the driver more room.

10. Slow Down When Driving Downhill

Driving downhill in slick conditions is scary. If you have ABS, leave it in normal gear. To allow your braking system to maintain traction, apply light and steady pressure on the brake pedal to continue at the right speed. If you don’t have ABS, take it slowly and lightly pump the brakes as you head down. 

11. Keep a Winter Emergency Kit in Your Car

You never want to be stranded while driving in snow—especially when faced with life-threatening extreme weather. We recommend keeping a winter emergency kit in your car, including: 

  • Shelf-stable food and water

  • Flashlights

  • Hand warmers

  • Survival blanket

  • Road flares

Winter Driving FAQs

If you encounter an issue while driving, remember to turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers.

What Should I Do If My Car Skids on Ice?

If your car begins to skid, avoid panicking and overcorrecting as sudden movements can worsen the skid. In general, you should focus on where you want to go as looking at obstacles may cause you to subconsciously turn toward them. 

How you steer will depend on the type of car skid:

  • Oversteer (Rear-Wheel Skid): This happens when the rear wheels lose traction and the back of the vehicle slides sideways. In this case, you should:

    • Gently steer in the direction of the skid (where the rear of the car is sliding).

    • Avoid braking or accelerating until you regain traction.

    • Once in control, straighten the wheels and drive cautiously.

  • Understeer (Front-Wheel Skid): This happens when the front wheels lose traction, causing the vehicle to continue straight instead of turning. In this case, you should:

    • Ease off the accelerator.

    • Avoid turning the wheel further—this won’t help and may make the skid worse.

    • Wait for the tires to regain traction, then gently steer into your intended direction.

How Do I Brake on Ice?

The way you brake will depend on whether you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS) or not, but the overall principle is the same. 

  • My Vehicle Has ABS: Apply firm, steady pressure to the brake pedal. The system will pulsate and click, which is normal. This is the system automatically pumping your brakes to prevent lock up.

  • My Vehicle Does Not Have ABS: Pump the brakes gently to avoid locking the wheels.

What Should I Do If My Brakes Lock?

If your brakes lock up, turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers. Gradually release the brake pedal completely to disengage the hydraulic pressure. Then, rapidly pump the brakes gently. Look for a safe place to pull over to come to a complete stop.

What Should I Do in a Whiteout?

The easiest solution is to avoid driving in a whiteout! There aren't many good reasons to put yourself in such a dangerous situation. Not only does a whiteout severely limit visibility, but you may also find yourself stranded in the snow, making it more difficult for snowplows and other emergency vehicles to perform their duties.

If you find yourself driving in extreme snow, drive defensively with these tips:

  • Turn on your fog lights to help you see the road, but avoid your high beams which may reflect off the snow and limit your visibility further.

  • Slow down and increase your following distance.

  • Keep your windows and mirrors clear to increase your visibility.

  • If you don’t feel confident, get off the road and find a safe parking area. It should go without saying, don’t stop in the middle of the road.

All-Wheel Drive vs 4-Wheel Drive: Which Is Better for Driving on Snow?

Both AWD and 4WD improve a vehicle’s ability to drive under different road conditions. However, they serve different purposes and should not be a replacement for cautious driving tactics.

  • All-Wheel Drive (AWD): AWD automatically powers all wheels on your vehicle at the same time, based on sensors. They’re typically found on smaller vehicles and perform well for city driving. AWD improves handling and traction when driving on snow, ice, and wet roads.

  • 4-Wheel Drive (4WD): 4WD manually powers all wheels on your vehicle and is typically found on SUVs, trucks, campers, and larger vehicles. The driver can engage the mechanism with a lever to tackle unique road conditions. 4WD is best for extreme winter conditions such as deep snow, back roads, and icy hills.

What Should I Do If My Car Is Stuck in the Snow?

If stranded in the snow, you should prioritize visibility and personal safety. Remember these tips:

  • Conserve Fuel: Idling uses a significant amount of fuel, so it’s usually best to turn off your vehicle to conserve gas and battery. You may turn on the car periodically to warm the cabin.

  • Keep Your Vehicle Visible:  Turn on your hazard lights and set up road flares or reflectors around your car to keep it visible. If you don’t have either, place a brightly colored cloth on your window. These tactics help emergency rescuers find you.

  • Call for Help: Call emergency services or roadside assistance to retrieve you and your vehicle. Depending on the app used, you can share your location via your phone’s GPS or describe landmarks near you. You should also inform your personal emergency contact of your situation. After reaching out, conserve your phone’s battery to maintain communication lines.

  • Stay With Your Vehicle: Your car acts as a shelter, keeping you warm and protected from the winter elements. Wandering from your car will make it harder for rescuers to find you, especially if you become disoriented in the snow.

  • Stay Warm: Layer extra clothing or blankets to insulate yourself and conserve heat. If you must, you can turn on your car periodically to warm the cabin. 

Find Winter Tires That Can Handle Driving on Snow and Ice

Driving on snow and ice requires preparation, caution, and a calm mindset. By equipping your vehicle with the right tools, understanding how to handle skids, and being mindful of unique hazards like black ice and reduced visibility, you can significantly reduce risks on winter roads. Remember to drive slowly, maintain a safe distance, and prioritize safety over speed. 

Need tires that can weather the winter? Hooper’s Tire Outlet offers a wide range of high-quality, affordable used tires designed to drive in Rochester, NY, and Syracuse, NY conditions! Visit our locations to see our selection of winter tires.