Tips for driving in the snow and NOT getting stuck??

Question

I drive a 2000 Toyota Avalon with 2 wheel drive and I just moved to Colorado...I've been stuck while driving in the snow at least 5 times this past week!! Luckily, I've had strangers come and help me but I need to learn how to NOT get stuck in stupid snow...or what I should do if I do get stuck

Answer 1

Drive in the tred marks of other cars, don't get in deep snow, or freshly plowed street; tends to be very slick unless sand has been thrown on it. Don't drive over 19 mph. if it's a white out or icy, just stay steady same speed no quick turns, no brakes! use gas reduction to slow down, or gears if manual shift; down shift to lower gear to slow. If you try to pull out and the wheels spin, do not give allot of gas! you will dig in deeper or slide in a circle, carry some salt and some sand in bags in your trunk, for weight, it helps! But mostly to sprinkle behind your tires if stuck, sprinkle then medium slowly give the gas. Good luck.

Answer 2

There has been alot of snow in the Colorado area this last week. A Toyota Avalon does not have a lot of ground clearance to start with. You need to pick your path and a good set of snow tires on the front, maybe on the back to with an aggressive tread would help to get you going again.

Just remember there's a reason you see all the 4 wheel drives in that part of the country.

Good Luck

Answer 3

There are a few things you can do. I am not a fan of chains. In Colorado, they may be a necessity though. First look at your tires. What brand are they? You need a tire that's good in snow.

I.E. Michelin Pilot

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Exalto+A%2FS&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=065HR5EXAS&minSpeedRating=H

Tire Rack are the experts at tires and do testing on tires on ice rinks. Explore the web site.

2nd. Get a good snow shovel- not a piece of crap or a portable shovel & keep it in the trunk.. It takes up room, but I'd rather be digging myself out of the snow for 10 minutes, then be stuck for hours.

3rd. Practice. You get good at driving in the snow from experience. Nothing else. If you need to practice go with an experienced driver to a parking lot to practice (have your shovel).

4th. Read #3 again.

5th. Full tank of gas. When it snows, keep that tank full to have weight over the back wheels. Cars are funny with this. Some cars are just downright horrible in the snow if they have under a half tank of gas. I don't know how Avalons are.. you need to find out for yourself.

6th. Patience is key. Forget about being in a hurry.

7th. Know the roads and what shape they are in. Colorado is one of those states where if you are on a lonely road you may run into trouble and not get help for days due to snow- if you live in one of these areas & everybody owns a jeep instead of a car- it ain't without reason.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Welcome to Colorado (unless you are from California). We get snow here, just so you know. Here are some tips:

1. Don't drive in the snow if you don't know how. Stay home and leave the roads to the natives. Nothing personal.

2. If your vehicle can't handle it, stay out of snow deeper than 2-3". The locals are the ones in the modified 4x4s, and just laugh at you.

3. You are not driving, you are in a continuous controlled skid. You will slide while accelerating, braking and turning. Go EASY on the pedals, and use your gears before your brakes.

4. Turn your damn lights on! When the ground is white, the sky is white, and the falling snow is white, you are invisible. Especially if your vehicle is white. The reason you slid off the road from mashing your brake pedal to avoid the car that turned in front of you is because the other driver can't see you. Turn your lights on in ANY inclement weather.

5. All-wheel drive helps but it is NOT magic, and neither are anti-lock brakes, traction control or stability control. Just ask the Lexus SUV owners stuck in the shoulder on I-25 how their wannabe toys worked out for them.

6. If you are headed for a deeper spot that you might get stuck in, hit the gas. If that spot will just lead to getting you stuck in deeper snow, take your foot off the brakes and gear down.

7. Get used to sliding and correcting; practice in an empty parking lot. If the rear end comes around, turn into the slide and give it more gas. The INSTANT your rear end starts correcting, straighten the front out or you'll just whip the car around the other direction.

8. Carry a couple 4 foot lengths of 1x6" plank in your trunk as well as a folding camp shovel. Stapling sandpaper to the boards will help, but it's not necessary. If you get stuck shovel away as much snow from the CENTER of the car as possible, then jam the boards in front of your tires. They have more traction than snow/ice does, and you may be able to pull yourself out.

9. DO NOT sit there spinning your tires. It just melts & freezes a nice deep hole that you will not escape from without assistance. You may want to invest in a set of tire chains.

10. Dress for the weather, not the office. If you get stuck hard, you will need to keep warm until you get help. Keep an emergency blanket and a couple handwarmers (get them at Sportsman's Warehouse or REI) in your car.

Remember, if you don't know how to drive in snow and/or your vehicle can't handle it, STAY HOME!

Answer 5

Get studded snow tires for your car. Stay away from large piles of snow that build up on the shoulder of the roadway. Do not slam on the brakes. Drive slower and make subtle movements with the steering, throttle, and brakes.. You are not on dry pavement anymore. Then goto large empty parking lot and practice putting your car into a skid ( at slow speeds under 20 miles hour). Then learn how to use the steering to get you out of a skid and not the brakes. Is a learning curve. Above all slow down.
Happy New Year !

Answer 6

I drive a very little, light weight car. I knew I had to get all the help I could before facing Nebraska /Iowa winters. I bought some tires --can
t remember the brand name, and too dark to go look--but they are called "studless snows". They are absolutely amazing.

They were not that expensive either--in fact rather cheap (under $50..00 each, although I do use 13 in tires)

A good set of tires will make all the difference whether you get through the snow or not.

Answer 7

Been alot of snow this past week, lots of people are getting stuck I imagine! Traction is key, if you have the means, get studded snow tires on a different set of wheels, so you can remove them during the warmer months. They will last a few winters. Momentum is important when trying to drive in snow. When you feel your tires slipping, let off the gas until you feel your tires regain traction. if you lose all momentum, stop, before you dig yourself in. Front wheel drive cars such as yours back up well as long as you dont dig too far in!

Answer 8

always go slow in the snow....always brake 3 times earlier than normal in the snow and never stomp the brakes.

the best way to learn snow driving is to find a huge empty parking lot, like a church or shopping mall, and just go drive around it. turn the wheel, lose control and teach yourself how to get the control back. let the car slide around, have some fun, etc.

this will build your confidence in snow and take the fear and panic out of it. plus like anything, practice makes perfect.

at 18 a buddy and I use to do just this for kicks and fun.....at the time never realized how much it was teaching me. but since then, every winter, that fun I had in a church parking lot has saved me countless times on the road.

if you get stuck in a front wheel drive car....always go in reverse to get out. the weight is over the front tires so you have to use that to your advantage. again...don't stomp the gas or brake as this will just dig you in deeper. its all patience.

Answer 9

Slow down. Pump your brakes instead of slamming on them. Keep away from the edge of the road where the fogline is. Get studded snow tires. But the best idea is just slowing the hell down. If you do get stuck, try to rock your car out. Put it in drive, then reverse, then drive, then reverse, really quickly and rock it till you break free.

Answer 10

To avoid getting stuck, keep the automatic transmission in lower gear, such as 1st or maybe the Avalon just calls it "L". That will us eengine braking to keep the car in better control. Then, be sure to use gradual and smooth steering inputs and pay attention to drifts, as that car will bottom out on snow deeper than 5 inches.