With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's only a matter of time before the snowflakes begin to fly. But driving on snow- or ice-covered roads doesn't have to be a white-knuckle experience if you're driving a vehicle that's properly prepared.
By far the most important winter prep item on your agenda should be swapping your car's regular rubber for a set of dedicated snow tires. To understand why, it helps to think of the all-season tires your car came with as a pair of sneakers--while you could wear them all winter long, they're not going to give you the same non-slip grip in the snow as a good pair of boots.
Even if your car has high-tech features like stability/traction control and antilock brakes, it's important not to let these safety gizmos give you a false sense of security. Because these systems are only as good as the traction they have to work with it's important to put snow tires on all four corners, since being able to turn and stop effectively are at least as important as being able to get the car rolling without spinning your drive wheels.
If you're concerned your current ride might leave you stranded this winter, you might want to consider replacing it with a new all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive model. To check out some of our current favorites, click on the links below to see our DriverTV "virtual showroom experience" videos:
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