Best Things to Use For Traction to Get Car Your Unstuck From Snow

Getting stuck in the snow is practically a Minnesota rite of passage, but the real test is if you know how to get your car unstuck from the snow.

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Does Cat Litter Work For Traction in the Snow?

A question was sent to Sgt. Troy Christianson of the Minnesota State Patrol’s “Ask a Trooper” series from someone questioning the idea of using the ol’ cat litter trick for traction.

The person explained that in their experience, traditional clay cat litter didn’t work well because instead of helping the tires grip, the small clay chunks quickly dissolved into a slick mess in the snow, making traction even harder to find.

So if kitty litter isn’t the magic fix some people think it is, what actually works when your car won’t budge?

What Are the Best Items to Use to Give Tires Traction When Stuck in Snow?

Christianson says there are several reliable alternatives drivers can use if they become stuck during winter travel, and some of them are simple items you can keep in your car all winter long. Here are some of the best options.

Sand:

Tire Traction Mats:

Tire Chains:

Snow Socks:

Sgt Christianson says in some situations, people have even successfully used everyday items like vehicle floor mats, cardboard, or branches as temporary traction aids.

How to Get Your Car Unstuck When You Get Stuck in the Snow

If your vehicle does get stuck, the first step is clearing snow away from the tires to create space for the vehicle to move. From there, placing traction material directly in the path of the drive wheels can help the tires gain grip.

Slowly applying the gas pedal is key, since spinning the tires too aggressively can dig the vehicle in deeper. In some cases, temporarily turning off traction control or gently rocking the vehicle between forward and reverse can help free it.

There is still plenty of winter ahead in Minnesota, and you know we’ll get dumped on again before it’s over, so keep these tips somewhere handy.