What to Do When Tires Are Stuck and Slipping in Mud?
3 Answers
Get out of the car to check the depth of the mud. If it's not too deep, gently press the accelerator first. If there's a tendency to move forward, maintain low-speed driving to get through. When a car is stuck in a mud pit, it's mainly because the tires lack traction. Finding some auxiliary materials to fix on the tires can help regain traction.
Last time I went camping, I encountered this exact situation—the tires were spinning in the mud, smoking. I quickly shifted into reverse, lightly pressed the gas to back up half a meter, then gathered some gravel and branches to place in front of the slipping front wheels, and turned off the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) on the car. When asking my companions to help push the rear of the car, I noticed that keeping the wheels less turned actually made it easier to get out. If that didn’t work, I’d try digging out the mud, using a jack to lift the deeply stuck wheel and placing wooden planks underneath. Pro tip: Mud is especially slippery after rain, so always keep a tow rope in your car—after all, waiting for rescue in the wilderness can take hours.
Back when I was in the transportation business, I often drove to construction sites where wheels would frequently get stuck in mud pits. Don't panic and stomp on the accelerator - the more you spin the wheels, the deeper the rut becomes. First, get out and check if the chassis is scraping the ground. If the tire treads are clogged with mud, clear them out. Having a shovel is ideal - dig a slope in front of the slipping tires. Try engaging low gear and gently pressing the accelerator. Once you feel the wheels turning, have someone push at the waist position of the vehicle. I always keep recovery boards handy - two plastic boards placed under the wheels are ten times more effective than branches. For 4WD vehicles, remember to engage the differential lock - it's more troublesome when rear wheels lose power while front wheels are digging pits.
