Another car question: Snow tires or 4 wheel drive more important?

violadad
Thu, 31 May 2007 15:18:06 +0000

One more thought. Actually, a manual transmission is your best bet in the snow, allowing you to more effectively control acceleration, speed, and braking. In the absence of a manual, it’s important to use the gear ranges on an automatic, particularly in icy conditions and downhill grades. Allowing the tranny to provide a lot of your braking power can help you avoid braking too hard or when you don’t have to.

It’s a skill that takes a bit of a learning curve, but can help you avoid an unfriendly tree or an unexpected rear end.