2001 Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual - Page 172

Driving inMud, Sand, Snow orIce When you drive in mud, snow or sand, your wheels won't get good traction.You can't accelerate as quickly, turning is more difficult, and you'll need longer braking distances. It's best to use a low gear when you're in mud -- the deeper the mud, lower the gear. In really deep mud, the the idea is to keep your vehicle moving you don't so get stuck. When you driveon sand, you'llsense a change in wheel traction. Butit will depend upon how loosely packed the sand is. On loosely packed sand (as beaches or sand on dunes) your tires will tend to sink into sand. This has the an effect on steering, accelerating and braking. may You want to reducethe air pressure in your tires slightly when driving on sand. This will improve traction. Hard packed snow and ice offer worst tire traction. the On these surfaces, it's very easy to control. On wet lose ice, for example, the traction isso poor that you will have difficulty accelerating. And if you get moving, do you poor steering and difficult braking can cause to slide out of control. Driving on frozen lakes, ponds or rivers can be dangerous. Underwater springs, currents under the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your vehicle could fall through the ice and you and your passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle on safe surfaces only. 4-27