Volvo Winter driving tips

Always carefully read the owner's manual and the installation instructions before installing any winter traction product. All winter traction products wear out and eventually break with use. They also break due to misfit or misapplication. If this should happen, stop immediately and repair or remove the broken parts to avoid any damage to your vehicle.

Park on firm, level ground and always set the emergency brake before installing any winter traction device under any circumstances.

Always pre-fit the traction products to the vehicle before they are actually needed. While winter traction procucts are uniform in size, tires are not. They vary in size by manufacturer, age, tread and type. Snow tires may require larger traction products than a like-sized highway tire. The same is true for larger, more aggressive tires such as all-terrain or off-road.

If using a traditional link chain, always inspect each chain link and carefully remove any tangles or twists prior to installation. Premature breakage in link chain is usually caused by
1) driving on twisted links; 2) driving at speeds greater than 30 mph; 3) extended driving on bare pavement; and 4) excessive tire spinning.

Avoid spinning the tires. Remember, when your tires are spinning, you don't have traction. When starting from a stop on slick roads, depress the accelerator lightly, starting slowly to maintain traction and avoid spinning.

Avoid locking your brakes. The best braking technique is a pumping action. Begin braking early, much sooner than you would on dry pavement. If you do not have ABS and you feel
your wheels lock up, release the brakes and re-apply. Vehicles equipped with ABS automatically perform this pumping action internally.

Avoid quick manueuvers. Slow down. Keep the speed under control and steer smoothly and more gradually to prevent skidding under hazardous driving conditions.

If a cross member should break during use, stop immediately and remove or replace it, otherwise severe damage can occur to the vehicle.

After use, always rinse your traction products with fresh water and spray them with an all-purpose lubricant such as WD-40, before storing them. This will help retard rust and insure a longer product life.

Before beginning your trip, know the currect road conditions and weather forecast for the areas that you will be traveling. You can access this information by clicking on the U.S. Department of Transportation link and Weather Channel link.

Be prepared for changing conditions. Keep a survival kit in your car consisting of a blanket, water, high-energy snacks, highway warning devices, and a flashlight with fresh batteries. If you have a cell phone, make sure the batteries are charged.

Be aware of potentially dangerous icy areas such as shady spots, bridges and overpasses. Approach these areas with caution. They are usually the first areas to get icy and often the ice is invisible.

Always keep your car's windows, mirrors and lights clear of snow and ice.

Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles, especially plows and sanding trucks.
Remember that stopping distances are doubled or tripled on snow or ice. Never pass a snowplow or sanding truck as they throw gravel that could damage your vehicle. Do not leave your vehicle parked along the roadside where it could be hit by other vehicles or snowplows.

It is always a good idea to tune up your vehicle before the winter driving season arrives. Be sure to check things like the battery, tires, windshield wipers, heater and anti-freeze level. It is also a good idea to keep a good-fitting set of traction devices in your vehicle all winter season as weather conditions can change quickly. Remember to try them on and check for proper fit before you actually need to use them.