5 Tips for Improving Your Vehicle’s Grip on the Road This Winter

When temperatures drop below freezing, ice can form on roadways, putting drivers at risk of serious accidents.

When driving during the winter in Ohio, it’s important to take a few precautions, including reducing your speed, avoiding distractions, and ensuring your vehicle is ready for winter weather. Because ice and rain on the road can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, one of your top priorities should be ensuring your vehicle creates and maintains a strong grip on the asphalt.

Keep reading to learn five highly effective ways to improve your vehicle’s grip on the road this winter and reduce your risk of a crash.

Follow These 5 Tips This Winter to Stay Safe

Your tires are the only part of your vehicle meant to come into contact with the ground, and paying extra attention to them is the best way to improve their grip on the road. However, your driving habits can also make a difference.

Install Winter Tires for Better Traction

Winter tires are designed with unique rubber compounds and deeper treads that remain flexible in cold temperatures. This results in increased grip on snow and ice-covered roads. Their unique tread patterns channel snow and slush away, which helps prevent your tires from sliding. Consider switching to winter tires once temperatures drop below 45°F, as they’re more effective than all-season tires in cold conditions.

Regularly Check Your Tire Pressure

Cold weather can cause tire pressure to drop, which impacts traction and handling. Underinflated tires have reduced contact with the road, leading to less stability on slippery surfaces like ice and frost. Check your tire pressure often, especially during the winter, and keep it at the manufacturer-recommended level for the best performance and grip.

Keep Your Tires Properly Aligned and Balanced

Misaligned or unbalanced tires wear unevenly, which can reduce your vehicle’s stability on winter roads. Regular alignment and balancing of your tires make them wear more evenly, allowing each tire to perform as effectively as possible, as long as possible. This maintenance step improves road grip and provides better control in icy or snowy conditions.

Avoid Sudden Accelerations and Braking

Rapid acceleration and sudden braking can cause your wheels to lose traction, especially on icy roads. To maintain control, accelerate slowly and gently and give yourself plenty of time to brake gradually. This smooth approach prevents unnecessary skidding and keeps your tires gripping the road more effectively.

Reduce Your Speed on Snow and Ice

Reducing speed in wintry conditions is essential for maintaining control and avoiding sudden maneuvers that can lead to skidding. Driving at a slower speed gives your tires more time to respond to the road, providing a more secure grip on icy or snow-covered surfaces. Adjust your speed based on the conditions and stay alert to changes in road texture.

What To Do If You Lose Control of Your Vehicle

If you lose control of your vehicle while driving, especially on icy or slippery roads, it’s important to stay calm and take these steps to regain control:

• Don’t Slam on the Brakes: Braking hard can cause your wheels to lock, which can worsen the skid. Instead, ease off the accelerator gently and allow the vehicle to slow down naturally. If you need to brake, do so lightly, especially if your car has anti-lock brakes (ABS) that prevent the wheels from locking.

• Keep Your Eyes on Where You Want to Go: Focus on the point where you want the car to go, not where it’s currently sliding. Your hands follow your eyes, so looking at the intended path can help you steer more effectively.

• Ease Off the Accelerator: Accelerating during a skid can make it harder to regain control. Instead, gradually let up on the gas and focus on steering until your wheels regain traction. Avoid sudden movements with the pedals and steering wheel.

• Avoid Oversteering or Overcorrecting: A sharp, sudden steering adjustment can send the vehicle into a worse skid. Make small adjustments, keeping your movements smooth and steady as you try to regain control.

• Stay Calm and Avoid Panicking: Panicking can lead to jerky movements and worsen the situation. Try to stay calm and remember these steps to give yourself the best chance to regain control of your vehicle safely.

While taking the right steps can help you reduce your risk of losing control of your vehicle and being involved in a crash if you do, it can’t eliminate that risk completely. Crashes are more common during the winter, especially when roads are icy. If you’re involved in a wintertime accident in Ohio due to another driver’s actions, it’s important to get legal representation right away to improve your chances of getting compensation.

Contact Our Cleveland Car Accident Lawyers Today

At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, our Cleveland auto accident attorneys help people injured in crashes year-round. Whether it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside or the middle of a blinding snowstorm, we know that serious crashes can and do happen every day.

After a crash, you need the peace of mind that comes with having experienced lawyers working on your case. Contact us anytime to learn how we can help. Our consultations are free, and there’s no charge unless we get money for you—that’s our No Fee Guarantee®.

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