Driving on Slippery Surfaces

The information in this section will help you achieve safe, controlled starts in adverse conditions.

Acceleration

Rapid acceleration on snowy, wet, or other slippery surfaces may cause the drive wheels to pull erratically to the right or left. This occurs when there is a difference in traction under the front (drive) wheels.

Traction

When driving on wet or slushy roads, a film of water may form between the tire and the road surface. This is known as hydroplaning and may result in partial or complete loss of steering control and braking ability. To reduce this possibility, observe the following precautions:

• Reduce speed during heavy rain or when roads are slushy.
• Reduce speed when there is standing water or puddles on the road.
• Replace tires when the tread wear indicators first become visible.
• Keep tires properly inflated.
• Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead to avoid a collision during sudden stops.

Your vehicle may be equipped with a limited-slip differential (LSD), which reduces but does not eliminate the amount of wheel slip on a given axle to improve handling.