DIY Traction Control
There's nothing as helpful as an all-wheel drive vehicle and studded snow tires for driving on ice- or snow-covered roads. Not all states allow studded snow tires, and not everyone owns all-wheel drive vehicles, so you may need to look at low-cost, legal alternatives. Fortunately, there are a few inexpensive steps that can be taken to increase your margin of safety when you have to drive in bad winter weather.
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Instructions
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Get extra weight in your car. Small bags of sand, usually weighing about 70 pounds, can be found at most hardware stores. Place them between the rear wheel wells and secure them, if possible. They can freeze and turn into dangerous projectiles otherwise. Don't overload the car; this will lead to less traction by unbalancing the car's front and rear ends.
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Carry a large bag of cat litter in your car. Besides adding a bit of extra weight, cat litter is an excellent source of grit for cars that get stuck in snow. Dig as much snow as possible from around the tires and divide the cat litter between front and back of two wheels -- the front, if your car is a front wheel-drive vehicle, or the rear, if your car is a rear wheel-drive vehicle.
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Inspect your tire pressure and treads monthly. Low air pressure and worn treads can lead to a sudden -- and catastrophic -- loss of traction while driving. A blown-out tire in any weather is a problem; a blown-out tire in ice or snow is a serious hazard.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't use cement blocks to add weight to your car. They can be extremely dangerous if you have to brake suddenly.
References
- Photo Credit snow image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
