Most luxury cars and high-performance sports cars are rear-wheel drive. In normal road conditions, rear-wheel drive vehicles have the benefits of better handling and feel, as the front wheels handle the steering and the rear wheels handle the propulsion. However, rear-wheel drive vehicles are notorious for poor traction in snow. Thus, require special handling in winter weather. Read on to learn more.
Prepare your vehicle for winter conditions. Snow tires and chains may be appropriate for blizzard conditions; in fact, some areas require them.
Slow your vehicle down. Whether you drive a rear-wheel muscle car or a hulking SUV, no safety system is going to keep a sliding car from leaving the road or striking another object.
Drive defensively. Increase the distance between you and the car in front of you by allowing four car lengths for every 10 mph you drive. Approach intersections carefully, watching for cars unable to stop for their red lights.
Approach corners slowly to make sure you can make the turn safely. Brake smoothly as you enter the corner, allowing all four wheels to maintain their grip on the road. Rapid braking followed by over-correcting in the corner causes spinning wheels.
Practice steering, braking and accelerating your vehicle gently. The way you manipulate your rear-wheel drive's controls in normal weather conditions is too jerky for snow-covered roads.
Know where the bulk of your vehicle's weight resides. The greatest traction occurs when the powered wheels carry the bulk of the vehicle's weight. Rear-wheel drive cars tend to lose traction and skid in slippery conditions, and benefit from traction control systems.
Consider taking a driving course to practice controlled skids. Most people's instincts cause them to brake and steer away from the skid. You must steer into the skid and accelerate gently to regain control of the rear-wheel drive vehicle. This feels unnatural and demands practice under controlled conditions.
