What Does Snow Mode Do In a Car?

Winter could be dangerous for drivers, as snow and ice can make driving risky. Equipping your vehicle with winter tires is a great way to ensure safety when traversing snow terrains. If your ride has a “Snow Mode,” you can also activate it to help you navigate icy roads.

What Is Snow Mode?

Snow mode is a driving mode that alters a vehicle’s driving dynamics to achieve better control and grip.

It enables the transmission to start in second gear and reduce wheel spin. It also minimizes the engine’s power and accelerator response to prevent skidding. Snow mode accomplishes these feats by adjusting certain transmission settings.

If you turn on snow mode, expect your wheel’s sensitivity to tire slippage to increase. This is particularly helpful when you’re driving on slippery and icy roads.

When your ride’s computer detects that one wheel is spinning out of control, it’ll transfer more torque to the other wheels to keep you in control of your vehicle.

Snow mode can modify various functions, including vehicle torque distribution, power, and transmission settings.

When to Use Snow Mode

You can activate snow mode anytime you’re driving on snowy or icy roads and terrains. Turning on this mode also helps when traversing mud-slick surfaces.

It’s up to you when you’d like to use snow mode. Get to know your ride’s strengths and weaknesses to know how your vehicle performs in different road conditions.

Where Is the Snow Button In a Car?

The snow mode button’s location can vary depending on the vehicle. It’s usually near the gear shift level or on the center console, labeled “Snow,” “Winter,” “W,” or “Snow Mode.”

On some vehicles, this mode can be integrated into the vehicle’s electronic control system. This setup allows drivers to switch between different driving modes through the infotainment display or driver information center.

If you’re having trouble finding your car’s snow button, you can refer to your owner’s manual for more information.

How Fast Should I Drive in Snowy Conditions?

There’s typically no lower speed limit set when it comes to driving in snowy conditions. However, there’s always an upper speed limit. Experts recommend reducing vehicle speed by half. Driving slower than usual will give you more time to react if something happens on the road. It’ll also help reduce skidding or slipping.

Safety Tips When Driving During the Winter Months

While turning on snow mode helps, you shouldn’t rely solely on it. Here are some helpful tips to help you arrive at your destination safely during winter:

Know Your Ride’s Features and Systems

If you know your ride well, it’ll make a huge difference in attempting to control your vehicle when there’s imminent danger. Determine whether your vehicle has ABS (Anti-Lock Braking), TC (Traction Control), and ESC (Electronic Stability Control). Note that the term “ESC” can vary according to the manufacturer.

Check Your Tires

Check the condition of your tires before going out. Tire pressures of 32 to 35 psi are recommended for most cars, the ideal tread depth is 6/32 or deeper. If your tread depth is 4/32 or less, it might not offer enough traction on slippery roads, so you should consider replacing your tires.

Be Gentle on the Pedals

Don’t abruptly slow down or speed up to avoid losing traction and momentum. Prioritize safety over speed to avoid skidding and other accidents.

Increase Your Following Distance

Experts advise increasing your following distance by at least five or six seconds because slowing down on snowy roads can take longer than usual.

If you don’t do this, you might hit the car in front of you if it brakes or slows down abruptly. Giving enough space will help you avoid getting involved in collisions.

Don’t Use Cruise Control

Don’t use cruise control when driving in snowy or icy terrain. The cruise control function will try to maintain your ride’s speed set, and it can be dangerous if your car continues to accelerate through a puddle or snow.

Shift to a Higher Gear

If you’re driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, experts advise shifting to a higher gear. Starting in the second gear can help you gain traction because the wheels will move slower.

Stay at Home During Snow Storms

Even if your car has a snow setting, it still isn’t advisable to go out in extreme weather conditions. Go out only if it’s extremely needed—especially when the roads are filled with ice or snow.

Snow Mode vs. AWD

An All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle is beneficial for those who are often driving on icy terrains because it improves handling. However, even if your vehicle is not an AWD, you can still have improved handling during winter months if your car has a snow mode setting.

So what’s the difference between the two?

Snow mode is a setting that can be turned on and off. Meanwhile, AWD is a permanent drivetrain system. Also, in snow mode, the computer increases torque to the different wheels as needed to prevent loss of control on icy roads.

In an AWD vehicle, wheels are independently powered, which also improves traction during these conditions.

Both snow mode and AWD will give you an advantage when driving on icy and slippery roads. Whichever one your vehicle has, don’t depend on it solely. Practice safe driving during cold winter months.