Snow VS Sand 4WDriving

Snow Driving:

Before tackling the snow in your 4WD there are some important things that you need to be familiar with. Firstly it is essential that you drive on matching tyres. This is due to the fact that tyres with different circumferences can lead to handling problems as well as problems with the 4WDs driveline.

Other tips for snow driving include:•   Travel at a safe distance from the vehicle in front.•   Apply gradual pressure to the accelerator to avoid wheel spin.•   You should avoid braking when cornering as this can cause skidding and loss of control. Instead, try to       brake before you enter the corner.•   When braking is necessary, apply the brakes gently. Front and/or rear wheels can lock easily resulting in     a loss of steering and control.

Sand Driving:

There are so many great 4WD spots across Australia involving sand driving. When driving on soft sand there are two main factors that you need to take into account; tyre pressures and momentum. By lowering your tyres pressures you are spreading the weight of your 4WD across a larger surface area, which in turn increases the surface area of the contact patch of the tyre on the ground. This increased surface area not only prevents the tyres from sinking deeper into the sand but it will also provide better traction. Always remember to reduce your speed when you reduce your tyre pressure so as not to damage the tyre.

When driving on sand momentum plays a critical part. Keeping up momentum will help prevent your 4WD from ‘digging’ and will mean you float on top of the sand. This will not only reduce your likelihood of becoming bogged but it will also mean that your engine doesn’t have to work as hard.

No matter what the terrain you are driving on remember to adjust to the conditions. If you are looking for a new set of tyres for a particular application click here or give our team of tyre specialists a call on 1300 COOPER.