Winter driving guide: how to prepare your car and drive safely on snow and ice

Safe winter driving starts before the first snowfall: a tested battery, the right tires, fresh wipers and an emergency kit in the trunk. On the road, it comes down to slowing down, leaving far more space and keeping every input smooth so your tires never ask for more grip than the road can give.

Here is how to prepare your car, choose tires, handle skids and black ice, protect EV range and stay safe if you get stuck.

Prepare your car before winter

Most winter breakdowns come from a few predictable weak spots. Check them in the fall or during a routine service.

• Battery. Cold cuts a battery's cranking power just as a cold engine needs more of it. Many parts stores and shops will load-test a battery, often free, and batteries commonly last around three to five years. Replace a weak one before it strands you.
• Coolant. A typical 50/50 mix of coolant and water protects to roughly -34°F (-37°C). A shop can test yours; use the type your owner's manual specifies.
• Wipers and washer fluid. Replace streaking blades and fill up with washer fluid rated for freezing temperatures, since summer fluid can freeze in the lines.
• Lights and defrosters. Check every bulb and make sure the heater and defrosters work.
• Tire pressure. Pressure drops roughly 1 psi for every 10°F fall in temperature, so check it often when the tires are cold.
• Fuel. Keep the tank at least half full so you have a reserve if you're stuck.

The maintenance planner helps you fit these checks into regular service.

Winter tires vs all-season tires

Tires are the biggest factor in how well your car grips, stops and turns on snow and ice. All-wheel drive helps you accelerate, but it does nothing to help you stop.

All-season tires stiffen as temperatures fall, commonly cited as below about 7°C (45°F), and lose grip. Winter tires use softer compounds that stay flexible in the cold, deeper tread that packs and releases snow, and thousands of small slits called sipes that bite into ice. They wear faster in warm weather, so swap them out in spring.

The three-peak mountain snowflake symbol

Look for a snowflake inside a three-peaked mountain on the sidewall, often called 3PMSF. It means the tire passed a standardized test on medium-packed snow, accelerating at least 10% better than a reference all-season tire. The test covers snow traction only, not braking on ice, so winter tires still differ on ice. An "M+S" (mud and snow) marking describes tread pattern and doesn't require a performance test. Some all-weather tires also carry 3PMSF and can stay on year-round, a reasonable choice in milder climates.

Rules vary by location

Québec requires winter tires on registered passenger vehicles from December 1 to March 15, and only 3PMSF or studded tires count. British Columbia requires winter tires or chains on many highways from October 1, mostly through April 30. In Ontario, insurers must offer a winter tire discount, and some insurers elsewhere offer one too. Studded tires are banned or date-limited in some states and provinces, so check your local rules. If you buy a second set of wheels, use the tire size calculator to keep the overall diameter close to stock.

Build a winter emergency kit

A kit costs little and can turn a dangerous night into an uncomfortable one.

• Snow brush, ice scraper and a compact shovel
• Sand, cat litter or traction mats
• Jumper cables or a charged jump starter
• Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
• Warning triangles or flares
• Blankets, plus a spare hat, gloves, socks and boots
• Phone cable and a charged power bank
• Water, nonperishable snacks, first aid kit and any medication you need
• Hand warmers and a brightly colored cloth to signal for help

The NHTSA winter driving tips page has a similar list and other seasonal reminders.

How to drive on snow and ice

Your tires have a limited amount of grip to share between accelerating, braking and steering. On slick roads that budget shrinks, so do one thing at a time and do it gently.

• Smooth inputs. Accelerate slowly, brake early and steer without sudden jerks.
• More following distance. Leave at least 5 to 6 seconds on snow, and more on ice. Stopping distances can be several times longer than on dry pavement.
• Lower speed. Slow down before curves, hills and intersections, not in them.
• Hills. Build gentle momentum before climbing and avoid stopping partway up. Descend slowly in a lower gear.
• No cruise control on wet, snowy or icy roads.

Braking with ABS

With anti-lock brakes, press the pedal firmly and hold it in an emergency stop. Don't pump. The pedal may pulse and buzz; that's normal. Keep steering around the hazard. On an older car without ABS, squeeze the brakes just short of lockup and ease off if the wheels lock.

Recovering from a skid

Look and steer where you want to go, not at what you're trying to avoid. If the rear slides out, ease off the accelerator and steer smoothly in the direction you want the front to go, ready to straighten as it recovers. If the front slides and the car won't turn, ease off the gas and unwind the steering slightly until the front tires grip again. Avoid slamming the brakes mid-skid.

Black ice

Black ice is a thin, clear layer that makes pavement look merely wet. It forms first on bridges, overpasses, shaded stretches and low spots, especially near freezing. If you hit it, hold the wheel steady, lift off the gas and avoid hard braking until you reach better grip.

EV winter tips

EVs handle well in snow thanks to their weight and smooth power delivery, but cold cuts range. AAA testing cited by fueleconomy.gov found range can fall by about 41% in cold weather with the cabin heater running.

• Precondition while plugged in so the cabin and battery warm up on grid power, not battery power.
• Use heated seats and steering wheel, which use far less energy than heating the cabin air.
• Park in a garage and plug in overnight when you can.
• Expect slower fast charging with a cold battery. On many EVs, navigating to a fast charger warms the battery on the way.
• Keep a bigger buffer and expect weaker regenerative braking until the battery warms.

See our EV ownership guide for more on charging and range.

What to do if you're stranded

If you slide off the road or get stuck in a storm, your car is usually your best shelter.

1. Stay with the vehicle unless you know exactly where you are and help is very close.
2. Call for help if you have signal and turn on your hazard lights.
3. Make the car visible with a bright cloth on the antenna or window, and keep the dome light on at night if the battery allows.
4. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe, then run a gas engine and heater for about 10 minutes each hour with a window cracked slightly. Hybrids may start their engines on their own, so keep their exhaust clear too.
5. Stay warm with blankets and layers, keep your limbs moving and avoid overexerting yourself shoveling.

An EV produces no exhaust, and a well-charged one can usually run heat for many hours. Lower the cabin temperature and lean on the seat heaters to stretch it.

Tire chains and snow socks

Chain rules vary by state, province and country. Some mountain routes require you to carry or fit chains or other traction devices in bad conditions, and textile snow socks are accepted in some places but not others. Check your owner's manual, since some vehicles allow only certain low-profile chains. Practice fitting them at home, keep to the chain maker's speed limit, commonly around 30 mph (50 km/h), and remove them on bare pavement.

The bottom line

Test your battery, fit tires with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol if you face real winter, refresh wipers and fluids, and keep an emergency kit in the car. Then drive slowly, leave plenty of space and keep your inputs smooth. Check your local tire and chain rules, and if you do have a crash, follow our guide on what to do after a car accident.