Stopping car with ABS in the snow.?

Question

My car refuses to brake in the snow even if I'm only doing about 5 -10mph.

I had to apply the handbrake in order to get it to stop.

How on earth can this be deemed to be safe?

The snow wasn't deep and I'm a careful driver and can handle my car well, but this was just impossible.

It's the first time I've had a car with ABS.

How exactly are you supposed to stop if you're coming to a junction or need to turn off the road?

Answer 1

For one thing, if you buy 2 new tyres, they go on the rear, and it doesn't matter if you have FWD or RWD.  You really don't want to be in a slippery situation and have the front end brake faster than the rear, it can pass you as you spin wildly out of control.

If your tires are summer touring tires, with no M&S symbol, you will not stop in snow.

With ABS, you tromp on the brake pedal and hold it down, and the brakes pump themselves at high speed, to keep the wheels from locking.  Pulling on the handbrake is probably one of the worst things you can do in slippery conditions.  ABS is meant to allow you control to avoid obstacles or accidents, using the handbrake to lock up the wheels means you totally lose that control.  I live in winter country, in Canada, and have 42 winters driving experience.

Octoberken, i, unfortunately, wrong about stopping faster with wheels locked up in snow.  You actually stop faster, if you don't have ABS, if you learn to threshold brake, in snow, on ice, in the rain, etc, which means applying the maximum steady pressure without actually locking them up.  You stop faster, and you still maintain control.  Most people are never taught how to do it properly, which is why ABS was invented, to protect people from their own lack of braking skills.

Again I say, I have 42 winters under my belt, started when bias-ply tires were top of the line, and "winter" tires were unheard of, we had "snow" tires.  I have lived in Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg, all winter cities, and I have never had a winter accident

Answer 2

Do not pump your brakes! That is the job of ABS and it would be less productive if you pumped. If you live in the snow country, you need to buy snow tires or at least multi purpose tires. Good luck!

Answer 3

you probably have some type of performance tires. they really suck asss in the snow. get all-season or snow tires. works 100 times better than performance tires in the snow

as for ABS, let it do it's thing. pumping the brakes while the ABS is engage is really bad. it can lead to your ABS and brakes going bad.

Answer 4

ABS does not stop you any faster, it only keeps the tires from locking up so you can maintain steering.  Tromping them all the way down is not good, as the ABS then activates and "pumps" the breaks, which is a weird feeling... Ideally, you apply the maximum brake pressure short of activating the ABS, which is difficult to do without practice.  Maintain a larger following distance and brake earlier...

Answer 5

ABS does NOT shorten stopping distances. Without traction and friction nothing is going to stop your vehicle. ABS only allows steering control on icy/slippery surfaces. What you need is a first rate set of snow tires. This will eliminate the bulk of your problems.

Answer 6

Pump your brakes.

Answer 7

Always "brake and steer" when using four-wheel ABS. Unlike conventional brakes which require drivers to pump the brakes to prevent skidding or sliding, four-wheel ABS does the pumping for you automatically at a rate as fast as 18 times per second whenever a sensor detects the start of lock on one or more of your wheels.

To engage four-wheel ABS, keep your foot on the brake pedal until the car comes to a complete stop. Maintain firm and continuous pressure on the brake while steering clear of hazards. Do not take your foot off the brake pedal or pump the brakes because either action will disengage the anti-lock system.

Rear-wheel ABS requires different braking behavior than four-wheel ABS. Rear-wheel anti-lock brake systems prevent the wheel lock of the vehicle's back wheels only. This allows you to maintain directional stability and prevents the rear end of the trunk from skidding sideways in emergency situations.

The vehicle's front wheels can still lock up on rear-wheel ABS systems, just like conventional brakes. If this occurs, you should ease up on the brake pedal with just enough pressure to allow the front wheels to roll again so the driver can steer.

Practice using your ABS in all weather conditions. It is important to practice using your ABS so that you are familiar with the feedback you will get from the system. You will know that your ABS is activated if you hear mechanical noise and feel some pedal pulsation. This indicates that your anti-lock brake system is working. Do not take your foot off the brake pedal during this feedback; instead, continue to apply firm pressure to the brake.

As a driver, not only should you become familiar with your ABS in a non-emergency situation, such as an open parking lot or drivers' education range, but you should also practice ABS techniques on a variety of road conditions.

For instance, braking with ABS on a snow-covered road will feel different than braking on a normal road surface. Be sure to set aside time for all drivers of your ABS-equipped vehicle to practice using your ABS at the beginning of each season or when there is a significant change in driving conditions.

Answer 8

You probably have tires that are part of a sport package from the dealer. They're only for dry pavement and rain. Make sure you get all season or better yet Winter snow tires.

Answer 9

just apply steady pressure to the brake pedal an the abs will do the rest if you have any problems your abs may not be working you need to have a mechanic look into it be safe

Answer 10

Snow is a "deformable" surface which means it will change its shape to surround your tire. Gravel and sand are other examples.

With deformable surfaces, the car will actually stop faster if you lock the wheels and let the surface build up in front of the tires. ABS prevents wheel lock which decreases the surface build-up and, therefore, increases the stopping distance on this type of surface.

On this type of surface ABS really only helps you maintain stability by keeping the wheels rotating with the surface.

If you are driving on a slick surface, I would keep the speed down very low and start braking well before you normally would. If you start braking earlier and you notice that the vehicle is not slowing down, then you will get a much earlier warning and avoid having to make a sudden stop near the turn.

Answer 11

You must press as hard as you can on the brake pedal.Edit..............who's the twit giving thumbs down?