How to Use the Anti-Skid Function
3 Answers
When starting the vehicle on snow-covered or waterlogged roads, the wheels are prone to skidding. The onboard computer will detect the wheel skidding and limit the engine output, requiring the ESP to be turned off. When encountering situations like getting stuck or off-road driving, the vehicle needs appropriate skidding to help extricate itself or climb, so to ensure successful extrication, the ESP should be turned off first. Snow chains used for driving in snow can interfere with the sensor data in the ESP system when altering the wheel's outer diameter, causing signal inaccuracies, thus requiring the ESP to be turned off. When the vehicle is drifting, the wheels are in a skidding state, and the ESP will intervene to limit the vehicle's skidding, necessitating the ESP to be turned off.
When I first started driving, I was also curious about how to use the anti-skid system. Later, a mechanic told me that actually, I didn’t need to do anything. The system automatically turns on when the car starts, and a small green light on the dashboard will illuminate. If you feel a slight tug on the steering wheel while taking a sharp turn on the highway, that’s it working—quietly braking a specific wheel to stabilize the car. The only time you need to manually intervene is in special situations, like being stuck in snow during winter. In such cases, you’ll need to press the small button near the steering wheel with a car skid curve symbol to turn it off, allowing the wheels to spin freely and help you escape. After getting out, remember to press it again to turn it back on; otherwise, it will remain off the next time you start the car. Normally, don’t turn it off randomly—especially on rainy days, it can be a lifesaver.
Once while driving on a mountain road during a heavy rainstorm, I personally experienced how crucial anti-skid control is. It requires no input from you—it's active as soon as the car starts. When the tires slip during a turn, the system reacts much faster than a human, instantly applying brakes to individual wheels to prevent fishtailing. There are very few situations where you'd want to turn it off—just two scenarios: first, when stuck in mud or sand and need wheel spin to get free, and second, when drifting on a professional track. Look for the physical button on the center console with the car skidding symbol, press it once, and the dashboard will light up with a yellow indicator to confirm it's off. Don’t forget to turn it back on afterward—the safest way is to restart the car, which will default to reactivating it. Never turn it off just because the indicator light seems annoying—safety always comes first.
