How To Get Your Car Unstuck in Snow

The big thaw has begun but the aggravation is not over yet.  There is still enough snow to get stuck in.  And as drivers begin to dig their cars out, the slip and slid auto ballet is just beginning. Here are tips on how to extricate your vehicle from the grips of the ice demons.

If your car gets stuck in ice or snow , use your floor mats to  give your tires enough traction to get you moving again. Turn the floor mats upside down and put them under the wheels that are slipping (either front or rear wheel drive vehicles). Then drive forward as far as you can. You can stop and move the mats again to keep "inching" your way back to better road. Sometimes it may take multiple attempts to get you back to a safe spot, but this is a very effective trick to help get you unstuck. Also, remember to take it easy on the brakes and try to keep the accelerating/decelerating to a minimum. Slow, steady speeds are the best approach.

Also, there are products such as Tyre Grip that spray on and increase tire traction. There is research from the Norwegian State Institute of Technology that says there are properties in the product that improve traction.  It's an organic resin adhesive that may help  with traction on ice but its no substitute for snow tires.

Keep a bag of kitty litter or sand in the trunk.  By pouring sand, kitty litter, or rock salt around your tires, you are creating a place where your tires can find traction.  Another alternative is plain table salt.  Since there has been a shortage of rock salt, table salt is the best substitute.  It will melt the ice and snow.  However, you have to use a larger amount.  

The best way to remain unstuck is with a good set of snow tires.  But not everyone has that luxury.  In the interim, these tips should work for the spin you're in.