Does a car's traction increase or decrease on icy and snowy roads?

[OJanelle]

On icy and snowy roads, a car's friction decreases, leading to reduced traction and extended braking distance. When driving in rain or snow, pay attention to three aspects: starting smoothly, maintaining a safe distance, and turning slowly. Starting smoothly: In low-temperature environments, when starting the engine for the first time, the car's various fluids have not yet reached their optimal working state, providing limited protection to the car's components. Only after the car has been running for a while can the fluids gradually function normally. It is recommended that owners warm up the car before driving in winter; start gently to prevent wheel spin and skidding. Maintaining a safe distance: While driving, control the speed and maintain a safe distance. Avoid frequent lane changes, sudden acceleration, emergency braking, and sharp turns. When meeting another vehicle, keep a necessary safe distance to prevent the car from skidding and causing danger. Turning carefully: Due to the complex and variable road conditions in winter, some areas may have ice that is difficult to observe. As temperatures drop, the road surface becomes harder, and friction decreases accordingly. Therefore, adjust your speed before entering a curve, slow down appropriately in advance, and avoid oversteering or understeering. When the road is slippery or icy, turn slowly. Reduce speed before turning, increase the turning radius appropriately, and steer gently to prevent loss of control.

[LaIsabel]

I usually enjoy delving into car-related topics, and this time let's talk about icy and snowy road conditions—traction definitely decreases! Just imagine, the road is covered with ice or snow, slippery like soapy water, making the surface that tires could originally grip become extremely slick. Anyone who has driven in winter knows that when you brake, the wheels seem to float, and deceleration is painfully slow. This is because the friction coefficient drops significantly—on regular roads, it’s somewhat better, but on ice, it’s practically like a skating rink. I once test-drove on snow and felt like the car was sliding down a playground slide. My advice is to switch to winter tires with deeper treads, which can slightly improve traction; control your speed, maintain a safe distance, and avoid sharp turns. In short, traction on icy and snowy roads is reduced, so drive carefully to stay safe.

[Joy]

Having driven for decades, I have a deep understanding of snowy and icy roads—the traction decreases significantly! I remember driving during a heavy snowstorm last year; the wheels were slipping badly on the snow, making turns unstable. The reason is simple: icy surfaces are slippery, snow particles are loose, and the friction between the tires and the road drops drastically, increasing the braking distance by two to three times compared to dry roads. Compared to the solid grip of summer driving, winter feels like walking on muddy ground. My advice is to regularly check tire pressure and tread wear—don’t wait for problems to arise. When driving, try starting in a lower gear and avoid rapid acceleration. Safety comes first—reduced traction is a fact, so don’t risk speeding.

[StReagan]

When picking up and dropping off kids at school, I often worry about the dangers of icy and snowy roads—the car's traction decreases significantly! With snow covering the ground, the wheels become slippery, making it hard to brake, a far cry from the usual good grip. Once, my husband nearly slid into a ditch while driving, which scared me to death. The reason is that snow and ice surfaces are too smooth, and the friction just isn't enough. Winter tires can help a bit, but driving slowly is still the safest option. For safety's sake, I always remind my family to avoid peak hours and drive slowly near the school.