Should I Drive In 4WD On Ice?
Driving on ice can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it doesn’t mean you should avoid it entirely if you have 4WD.
Although your vehicle will have to work harder in slippery conditions, it’s the only way to be 100% sure you won’t get stuck.
If you’re wondering whether you should put your car in 4WD when it’s snowing, this article has the answer you need.
Should I Drive in 4WD on Ice?
Yes, but make sure you charge your battery first and read about the disadvantages of driving on ice before going out. You can drive on snow with 2WD if it’s not too deep, but it won’t be as good for traction and control as 4WD.
Modern cars are perfectly capable of getting you out of trouble on icy roads, as long as they’re equipped with winter tires and 4WD.
However, this doesn’t mean that it’s the best choice for everyone, especially if conditions aren’t too bad.
If it isn’t snowing or raining, you’ll probably be better served by putting your car in 2WD mode. +
You should also avoid driving on ice if you have no experience with 4WD.
If the surface is very slippery, 4WD won’t help much because there will be no resistance for the tires to grab onto.
This may result in your being unable to control your car.
It’s always a good idea to keep in mind that you should avoid excess speed on slippery roads if you’re not experienced with 4WD and winter driving.
Driving fast won’t help much either.
The best way to get out of trouble is by having enough momentum for your tires to gain traction and regain control.
Even if you get away with it, an accident on ice can be hazardous for you and other drivers.
It only takes a split second for one car to lose control and become a danger on the road.
How Does 4WD Help?
4WD sends power to all of your wheels, no matter what the road condition is.
This way, you can always have maximum traction on slippery roads.
If your car loses control, 4WD will compensate by sending extra power to any tire that’s not losing its grip.
If you feel like your car isn’t gripping the road properly, it’s best to ease off the pedal and avoid sudden movements.
It would be best if you also tried using less acceleration so that your tires have time to adapt to the new driving conditions.
Modern 4WD systems are usually smart enough not to send power to all four wheels together if one of them starts losing grip – this is known as a technical diff lock.
Some 4WD SUVs have the option to lock up the center differential, which means that power will be sent to all four wheels at once.
This is useful for driving on heavily slippery surfaces, but it’s not something everyone needs or should use.
If you choose to do so, make sure your car is equipped with this feature.
This doesn’t mean you should only use 4WD on snow and ice – it’s still better to put your car in 2WD on a dry road if possible, but there are some cases when 4WD may be the only solution to get out of trouble.
What About Tire Type?
It’s a good idea to have snow tires installed on your car in cold areas where snow is expected.
However, they’re not mandatory if you have 4WD.
The only thing that matters when driving on ice is having enough traction from all of your tires.
Modern snow tires, also known as snow chains, are designed to be effective in winter conditions even without 4WD, but all-season tires don’t provide the same level of grip.
If your vehicle is only equipped with regular summer or all-season tires, you should think twice about driving on ice.
Building the right car for winter road conditions is essential, but it’s not possible to create a vehicle that would be good for everything.
Having an SUV 4WD is not the same as having one that’s equipped with snow tires.
What About ABS and ESC?
ABS stands for the anti-lock brake system.
It prevents your wheels from locking up when you’re braking.
When braking hard, this can sometimes result in a loss of traction and control.
With ABS, the driver gets a warning before the wheels lock up completely, so he has time to respond and avoid a collision.
ESC stands for the electronic stability control system.
It assists the driver by preventing loss of control and sending power where it’s needed.
To be effective, ESC needs all four wheels to have a grip on the road, so it cannot be turned off even if you have 4WD.
Shifting into low range is also helpful when driving on slippery surfaces.
Some car models even allow going between high and low range while on the move, so if your 4WD has two ranges, i.e., low and high, you can always choose the one that’s best for the current road conditions.
High range is best when you want to maintain normal driving speeds while low range is better when you need extra torque but lower speeds.
If you’re not sure what to do when driving on ice or slippery surfaces, the safest thing would be to stay on paved roads where possible.
If you have 4WD, you don’t need to wait for a sign with a snowflake to realize when driving conditions are wrong – it’s better to set your mind on driving at a reduced speed and in 4WD.
If you’re a skilled winter driver and still have a problem, pull over to a safe place as soon as possible – don’t risk going any further on slippery surfaces.
You can wait for service or call a rescue team if needed.
What Happens When You Drive in 4WD On Ice?
If you’re driving on ice and snow-covered roads in 4WD, it means that all four wheels are rotating at the same speed.
This is unlike 2WD when only the rear or front axle is engaged.
Benefits of Using 4WD on Ice
4WD was initially created for use in off-road conditions.
It helps you have greater control when driving on loose surfaces, deep sand, mud, and slush.
Even if this is true, 4WD doesn’t replace winter tires or snow chains.
Getting stuck can still happen if your ground clearance is limited or when the maximum angle of approach or departure is too steep.
Shifting into low range helps you reduce engine speed and torque delivery to the wheels, so it may be helpful when trying to get out of a snowbank or go uphill on slippery surfaces.
Note that once you’re stuck, other benefits from 4WD aren’t available anymore.
If you shift into 4WD high or 4WD low, your car won’t move any faster unless you’re driving in deep snow.
4WD may also help overcome wheel slip when accelerating from a stand-still on ice or packed snow.
It’s not enough to press the gas pedal slowly and evenly because there won’t be any torque transmitted to the wheels if they’re spinning at different speeds.
Disadvantages of using 4WD on Ice
4WD can create a problem called “binding” or “pack down” when driving on ice – this usually happens when you’re trying to stop, so you should avoid using 4WD for braking as well.
Try not to use any of the AWD modes if you’re not sure what you’re doing.
It’s better to experience some wheel spin when starting from a stand-still than to get stuck in the snow.
If your car also has front-wheel drive, make sure that it’s disengaged.
This setting is usually called “4WD” or “AWD,” You need to refer to your owner’s manual for instructions.
Should I Drive in 4WD on Dry Roads?
If you have 4WD, it’s better to set your system to the “2H” position when driving on dry roads.
This will allow all tires to rotate at different speeds, providing more incredible grip and control during acceleration or braking.
If your car also has front-wheel drive, make sure that it’s disengaged.
This setting is usually called “4WD” or “AWD,” You need to refer to your owner’s manual for instructions.
If you have a 4WD with a locking center differential, it will send power equally to all four wheels, but only when you detect wheel slip.
This means you’ll still experience some loss of traction in turns.
Generally speaking, it’s better to use 4WD on ice than 2WD.
It reduces torque delivered to the wheels and makes driving safer, but only if you know how.
Some AWD cars may lose traction even in 4WD modes, particularly when driving straight uphill.
This can be a problem because there’s no way you can spin the wheels to gain additional traction.