Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 Forum - View Single Post - It sounds like a stupid question... at first

Scalded Dog · 12-26-2016, 11:18 AM

I live in a snowy, icy, mountain area. Every summer (when it's NOT snowy and icy!), newbs move up here to the mountain. When winter hits, they have questions.

Today I heard the question posed, "Will partially deflating my tires help my snow/ ice traction?"

At first, I scoffed, because, well, who ever heard of that for winter conditions? Of course, off- roaders do this for certain extreme activities, as it can greatly increase the tire's contact patch over rocks or when climbing obstacles. But come on... ice and snow?

But... I got to thinking about it... deflating the tires some WOULD increase the contact patch, and, presumably, increase traction, even in ice and snow.

So... does this idea have some validity?

12-26-2016, 11:18 AM	#1
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	It sounds like a stupid question... at first I live in a snowy, icy, mountain area. Every summer (when it's NOT snowy and icy!), newbs move up here to the mountain. When winter hits, they have questions. Today I heard the question posed, "Will partially deflating my tires help my snow/ ice traction?" At first, I scoffed, because, well, who ever heard of that for winter conditions? Of course, off- roaders do this for certain extreme activities, as it can greatly increase the tire's contact patch over rocks or when climbing obstacles. But come on... ice and snow? But... I got to thinking about it... deflating the tires some WOULD increase the contact patch, and, presumably, increase traction, even in ice and snow. So... does this idea have some validity?