How to Drive in Snow in Crete

Before you know it, the leaves will be gone, and the colder months will be here with new automotive challenges. Here in Crete, we endure our fair share of tricky weather conditions, so learning how to drive in snow and ice is a great way to feel prepared for winter. In our guide below, our expert service team will provide you with tips on how to drive in the snow and how to get prepared for winter. Get started with our team today!

Tips for Driving in the Snow

Whether you drive a rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, or some kind of all-wheel drive model, navigating through snow and ice can still be a bit overwhelming. Below, you can review our tips to learn how to drive in snow based on your particular drivetrain:

Rear Wheel Drive

In the past, you may have been a bit worried about driving in the snow with your rear-wheel drive vehicle. While caution is always advisable, modern traction control systems and electronic stability control systems offer greater handling in slippery conditions. Even still, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind when driving a rear-wheel drive model in the snow:

• Add weight to your trunk. Sand bags or cinder blocks will do the trick
• Accelerate slowly to avoid wheel slippage.
• Don’t overgrip the steering wheel as you may overreact when you feel your wheels slip.
• Avoid braking and cornering at the same time.
• Upgrade with winter tires.
• Travel at moderate speeds.

Front Wheel Drive

Front-wheel drive is a common drive train, so getting a feel for how to handle these vehicles in the snow is essential. Tips for driving a front-wheel drive vehicle in the snow include:

• Avoid unnecessary brake taps.
• Try not to jerk the steering wheel.
• Scan ahead on the road.
• Don’t oversteer.
• Add winter tires to your vehicle.
• Accelerate at a reasonable pace.
• Take on corners gently.

All-Wheel Drive

Advanced all-wheel drive systems offer instant power direction to adapt to changing road conditions. While this certainly inspires a ton of confidence behind the wheel, you’ll still want to keep the following in mind when driving your vehicle:

• Accelerate softly to accumulate traction.
• Don’t overcorrect if you start to slide.
• Avoid sudden stops or slamming on the brakes.
• Drive with more defensive thoughts than normal.

4-Wheel Drive (4×4)

4-wheel drive setups offer many of the same benefits as all-wheel drive systems. However, you’ll likely need to manually adjust your drivetrain to 4×4 mode if you have a part-time 4WD system. Once you switch over, you’ll want to select 4WD high for traveling at high speeds or 4WD for low-speed driving. Other 4-wheel tips for driving in the snow include:

• Typically, you’ll want to drive at 55 MPH or less.
• Be sure you have matching tires.
• Take corners slowly.
• Turn off traction control.

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter

Along with having the right skill set, acquiring the right supplies is crucial for learning how to drive in snow. You’ll want to prepare yourself and your vehicle for the nasty conditions that can sometimes take hold on the Omaha streets! Here are a few items to gather and services to handle before the first snowfall this year:

Prepare Your Vehicle:

• Replace old batteries
• Make sure there’s plenty of tread on your tires
• Replace bad windshield wipers
• Ensure your gas tank is filled
• Checking antifreeze levels

Prepare Yourself:

• Ice scraper/snow brush
• Blankets
• Hats, gloves, and scarfs
• Jumper cables
• Kitty litter or sand (for increased traction on ice)

Rely on Sid Dillon Ford Crete for Automotive Support

Whether you’re trying to commute from Lincoln to Seward in the snow or need to learn how often to rotate your tires, Sid Dillon Ford Crete is here to help! Our team is proud to serve the Crete area, and we look forward to caring for you and your vehicle all year round! Get in touch with our service team if you need automotive assistance.