Snow is beautiful but annoying sometimes, and heavy snow will hinder your movement, not to mention if you leave the car outside in low temperatures for too long, the doors and wheels can get frozen quickly. What if you need to go outside, but your car is stuck, and you don’t know how to get it out?
Don’t worry. Here are several strategies on how to get your car out of the snow, including suggestions on how to prepare for a blizzard, ranging from driving skills to utilizing props. Keep scrolling to discover what they are.
Before It Snows
There are two essential things to perform before the snowstorm hits to ensure that you get your vehicle back on the road after a large snowfall. They may make the difference between looking smart and having a lot of problems.
Have the right tires in the right condition
If you live in a region where storms can drop a foot or two of snow at once, you should use snow tires rather than all-season tires. Because in most situations, all-season tires are intended to provide a smooth, quiet ride, they aren’t built for thick snow, ice, or extreme cold. So before the snow starts to fall, make sure your tire tread is in excellent shape and your air pressure is checked.
Keep a snow shovel in your vehicle
Examine the tires closely for any leak or puncture. Tires that are not intact would gradually discharge air, thus reducing the internal pressure. If you spot any dents or cracks, get the tires replaced. If circumstances allow it, you can perform the procedure on your own. If not, bring the car over to the garage and have a professional install new tires.
Before You Turn Your Vehicle On
Usually, performing one of the tricks mentioned above is enough to handle the TPMS sensor. However, they do not cover all the issues that potentially lead to low tire pressure. If you have done everything suggested, but none of them has proven helpful, check out more solutions below.
Turn off traction control
To get unstuck, you’ll need traction on both driving wheels. On front-wheel-drive cars, those wheels are the front tires; and on rear-wheel-drive (AWD, and 4WD vehicles), those wheels are the rear tires. So first, turn off the traction control system in your automobile (usually with a button somewhere on the dashboard or console).
Clear a path around the tires
- Begin digging the snow out from the front, beneath, and behind the drive tires. If you have adequate room on either end of the automobile, clear a passage long enough for the wheels to go forward and back a few feet. Remove any snow surrounding the tires that are higher than the car’s ground clearance. Snow should be dug out from under your car’s front end. You won’t go anywhere if you’re high-centered and there’s snow or ice under your car obstructing your escape.
If you don’t have a shovel, try breaking up any ice that has formed beneath the tires using a screwdriver, ice scraper, or other instruments. But, again, more traction is provided by a rougher surface area.
- Before starting the engine, dig out the tailpipe as well. People had died due to carbon monoxide buildup inside a vehicle when the exhaust pipe was clogged, and they were unaware of it.
Here are some other simple techniques you could try to make the “car saving mission” more effective:
- Put your car in the lowest gear possible and move a bit forward, then slowly back up without revving the engine. Next, shift into forwarding gear and apply a small amount of gas.
- Trying braking and providing a small amount of gas at the same time. Then turn the wheels slightly in the opposite direction to see if you get more excellent traction.
- Asking for other people to help push your car.
- Using snow chains.
- Put a layer of sand or cat litter in front of (or behind if you’re backing out) the driving tires on the ground to provide traction without damaging your tires.
More to see: Can I Drive With All-season Tires In Winter?
Be Prepared When Your Car Breaks Free
If you’re driving in reverse, don’t stop immediately; instead, drive to a location where you can see less snow and safely halt. If you’re in reverse, continue backing up for a few yards before letting off of the gas pedal. You will come to a halt because of the snow. Next, shift into low gear and slowly drive ahead in the tracks you’ve created, just quickly enough to break through where you’ve been trapped.
Once You’re Unstuck from the Snow
If you turned off your traction control system, re-engage it. Disengage your low-range 4WD if you have it engaged. Examine your radiator to determine whether it is receiving adequate air. Engine overheating can be caused by snow packed into the front of the grille.
If you let any air out of your tires, go to the nearest service station right away and get them refilled.
Check for snow packed into your wheels if you detect vibration in your steering wheel. Then pull over somewhere safe and use an ice scraper or shovel to remove the snow or ice.
Related post: Best All Terrain Tires For Snow – Top 10
Conclusion
It may be aggravating to be stranded in the snow, whether your automobile swerved off the road or it snowed while parking your car. Hopefully, this article on how to get a car out of the snow is applicable to you; please be patient, definitive, and safe.
