Which Gear to Use for Automatic Transmission in Snowy Conditions?

[McErin]

For automatic transmission vehicles in snowy weather, it is recommended to drive in D (Drive) gear, and snow chains can be installed in areas with heavy snow accumulation. Additionally, when using the snow mode in automatic transmissions, pay attention to shifting gears early to reduce power output, decrease torque on the wheels, and avoid slipping. Precautions for driving an automatic transmission in snowy conditions: 1. Avoid sudden braking on icy or snowy roads: Do not brake suddenly on icy or snowy roads. Instead, you can choose to manually shift gears and then slow down. For drivers of manual transmission vehicles, when starting on icy or snowy roads, lift the clutch slowly and apply gentle throttle. For automatic transmission vehicles, if the car has a snow mode, switch to the snow driving gear in time to ensure the vehicle obtains appropriate torque on icy or snowy roads. 2. Stay focused while driving: For vehicles without ABS, coasting in neutral is not allowed because if control is slightly off, it is easy to lock the tires. Once the front wheels lock, the ability to control the direction of movement is lost, and the car will move in the direction of inertia. If the handbrake is applied, the rear wheels will lock, causing the vehicle to skid sideways, making it even harder to control the direction. 3. Driving on snowy or muddy roads: When driving on snowy or muddy roads, if the gear selector is in "D" (Drive) position and the drive wheels slip, if the driver immediately releases the accelerator pedal, the automatic transmission may upshift prematurely due to the faster rotation of the slipping drive wheels, further exacerbating the slipping of the drive wheels.