Utah winters are demanding. Black ice on I-15, fog in the Salt Lake Valley inversion, and mountain canyons that receive 100+ inches of snow annually create conditions that lead to thousands of preventable breakdowns and accidents each year. Most of them are avoidable.
Before Winter Hits: Vehicle Prep
Tires: The Most Important Factor
All-season tires perform adequately in light snow but degrade rapidly on ice and in temperatures below 45F. Winter tires (formerly called snow tires) are made of a different rubber compound that remains flexible in cold temperatures, providing dramatically better grip on ice and packed snow.
- Consider winter tires if you drive in canyons or mountain areas regularly
- Check tire tread depth with the quarter test: insert a quarter into the tread — if you can see the top of Washington's head, replace the tires
- Check tire pressure monthly — tires lose approximately 1 PSI for every 10 degree drop in temperature
Battery Check
Cold dramatically reduces battery capacity. A battery at 32F has about 65% of its room-temperature capacity. A marginal battery that started fine in September may fail on a January morning. Get your battery tested free at AutoZone or O'Reilly before winter.
Fluids
- Antifreeze: Check the freeze protection level with an inexpensive tester strip
- Windshield washer fluid: Must be rated for below-freezing temperatures — summer fluid freezes in the lines
- Oil: Check that your oil weight is appropriate for cold weather (many modern cars use 0W-20 which handles cold well)
Essential Winter Gear to Keep in Your Car
- Ice scraper and snow brush (full-length, not the tiny plastic ones)
- Sand or kitty litter for traction if stuck
- Portable jump starter
- Reflective triangles or road flares
- Warm blanket and extra gloves
- Traction boards or a folding shovel for mountain driving
- Charged phone and a written list of emergency contacts
Driving Technique on Ice and Snow
General Rules
- Slow down — posted speed limits assume dry pavement. On ice, stopping distance can be 10x longer.
- Increase following distance — leave 8-10 seconds of space instead of 2-3 seconds
- Accelerate slowly — spinning tires provide zero traction. Ease onto the gas.
- Brake before corners, not during them. Braking while turning is a recipe for sliding.
- Never use cruise control on snow or ice
If You Start to Skid
Front-wheel drive or AWD: Ease off the gas, steer where you want to go. Do not brake hard.
Rear-wheel drive: Steer into the skid (if the rear slides right, steer right) while easing off the gas.
Black ice warning: Black ice is transparent — it looks like wet pavement. It forms most often on bridges, overpasses, and shaded sections of road. If the road suddenly feels frictionless, ease off the gas and hold the wheel straight.
If You Get Stuck
- Don't spin your tires repeatedly — you'll dig yourself deeper and may damage the drivetrain
- Straighten the wheels and try gentle rocking (Drive-Reverse-Drive-Reverse)
- Spread sand or kitty litter in front of the drive wheels for traction
- If stuck on a hill or ice, call for help rather than risk sliding further
When to Just Stay Home
The UDOT (Utah DOT) provides real-time road conditions at udottraffic.utah.gov. When conditions are rated "Extremely Difficult" or roads are listed as closed, the best decision is to wait it out. No appointment is worth a crash or a $300 tow.