Winter Driving Tips

Driving safely in winter conditions requires knowledge, skill and four winter tires with proper tread.

You don’t have to live in Iceland to benefit from winter tires. If you frequently encounter snow or ice, or if the temperature is consistently near freezing, your tires need the extra grip and turning capabilities that only winter tires can deliver. Even if you have 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, you still need winter tires on the front and back to conquer the elements and help you stay safe.

Turning safely

Turning in bad weather requires extra attention.

Before turning, slow down while traveling in a straight line. While turning, maintain a slow and regular speed. If you accelerate suddenly, your tires could lose traction. While turning, don’t make any sudden steering wheel movements.

Braking in winter weather

Try to avoid sudden braking in winter weather.

Only brake in a straight line before the turn, and do so gradually. Do not brake during the turn. Increase your following distance from other cars significantly. If your wheels lock and slide, release the brake pedal to recover traction, then slowly brake again.

Driving with care

Keep this checklist in mind as you navigate the winter weather.

Drive with two hands. Always. Try to avoid changing lanes in slush. It’s safer to change lanes when slush is not on the road. If using chains, check for proper clearance between the tire and the vehicle, as well as the clearance between dual tires.

Read our Frequently Asked Questions.

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Slow down and extend your following distance. Winter conditions — cold temperatures, ice, snow, and reduced visibility — all reduce the margin for error. A lower speed means more time to respond to what's ahead, and more following distance means more space to stop if the vehicle ahead brakes. Every other winter driving technique (smooth inputs, gentle braking, careful cornering) is more effective when you've already reduced speed to a level appropriate for the conditions.

Black ice is a thin, nearly transparent layer of ice on the road surface — it looks like wet pavement, which is why it catches drivers off guard. It forms when temperatures drop to or below freezing on a wet road surface, most commonly overnight, in the early morning, or in shaded sections of road (under bridges, in tunnels, on north-facing stretches). The road will appear shiny in a way that doesn't look like normal wet road reflection. If the road ahead looks unusually smooth and reflective, treat it as ice until you can confirm otherwise.

Overconfidence based on AWD or 4WD. These systems help with acceleration traction but not with braking or cornering on ice — mistakes there are entirely a function of the tires, which are the same on any vehicle. Other common errors: braking while turning (which reduces control significantly on slippery surfaces), following too closely when stopping distances are much longer, and not slowing before reaching icy sections like bridges and shaded roads where ice forms first.

Yes — more gently. Hard acceleration causes the driven wheels to spin on slippery surfaces, which loses traction rather than gaining it. Smooth, gradual acceleration gives the tires time to find grip. On an uphill in snow, maintaining steady momentum is often more effective than stopping and trying to restart on the slope. If your wheels start to spin, ease off the accelerator until traction returns, then apply power again more gradually.

Michelin recommends fitting winter tires when average daily temperatures consistently fall below 45°F. The reason is the rubber compound, not just the tread pattern. All-season and summer tire compounds begin to stiffen as temperatures drop, reducing grip on any surface — dry, wet, or snowy. Winter tire compounds are formulated to stay more pliable in the cold, which maintains their grip and braking effectiveness. The 45°F threshold is the point where that difference in compound behavior starts to matter for safety.

Stay as calm as possible, ease off the accelerator, and steer toward where you want to go. Don't brake hard — it locks the wheels and removes steering control. If the rear of the vehicle is sliding out (oversteer), steer gently in the direction the rear is sliding to straighten the vehicle. If the front isn't turning (understeer), ease off the accelerator and allow the front wheels to regain grip before steering. Recovery is easier the earlier you respond and the smoother your inputs are.