In previous blog posts, we’ve looked at the importance of safe driving techniques during the winter. Making sure your vehicle is properly outfitted for the season is as important as safe winter driving practices. One of the best ways to ensure that your car is ready for winter is to have winter tires installed. Many new drivers underestimate the importance of winter tires, but they can go a long way to keeping you safe and secure on icy and snowy roads. Here is some more information about the importance of winter tires from the driving experts at Ambitious Drivers.

Uncompromising Design

One of the main benefits of winter tires is their uncompromising design. Winter tires are made from a flexible rubber compound and feature unique threading that is specially crafted to give drivers better grip and control on icy roads. These design features allow drivers to experience increased traction during acceleration, improved directional stability, and more responsive brake times. With winter tires, seasonal driving is made much safer and more comfortable—especially for first-time drivers.

Longer Tire Life

Many drivers, especially new ones, are hesitant about committing to winter tires. However, the investment will save you in the long run. Switching to winter tires will prevent your regular tires from undergoing seasonal wear-and-tear, helping you to extend their longevity. Having winter tires installed on your vehicle means you’ll have to get your regular tires replaced less frequently, which can sae you on pricey repair and replacement costs. Winter tires are the smart and financially prudent way to keep your vehicle safe while driving through harsh weather conditions.

Winter tires are an important part of seasonal car maintenance. At Ambitious Drivers, we teach new drivers the skills they need on the road, as well as provide helpful maintenance tips so that you can keep your vehicle safe and secure while driving. Get the skills and confidence you need to get behind the wheel by registering with us today.

Driving on icy roads and piles of snow can be dangerous—even for motorists with years of driving experience. But as long as you take the necessary precautions, you don’t have to worry about involuntary sliding.

Here are some highly recommended winter driving tips to avoid motor accidents:

Avoid driving. Funny and fairly obvious, yes—but effective. If the weather is looking rather frightening and you’re not comfortable driving, then stay home and avoid risking your safety and that of other motorists. It’s that simple.

Don’t accelerate. When driving in bad weather conditions, you have to be patient. The quicker you accept that it’s not the time to be in a hurry, the less chances you’ll have of skidding or getting stuck in a snow pile. So to regain traction, press on the gas pedal lightly and accelerate gradually.

Drive below the speed limit. It’s normal for traffic to slow down during a snow storm or on ice-covered streets. Take your time to drive smoothly and steadily, and avoid stopping or turning in an abrupt manner. You’ll find you have more control over your vehicle.

Try not to make full stops. When your car comes to a full-stop, it takes a huge amount of inertia to get it going again, which increases the risk of skidding. You’ll have much less trouble on icy roads if you avoid stopping and keep your wheels rolling—especially if you’re going up a hill. Instead of powering-up, apply the gas and keep your wheels spinning. When going downhill, release the gas and slow down, applying the brakes softly where necessary.

If you haven’t begun to practice yet, register with us and learn to drive safety in any weather condition from our thoughtful instructors!