Possible to Get Stuck on a Snowy Road?

To answer the question up front, it’s quite possible to get stuck in the snow with a GR Yaris. However, the direct cause isn’t just the low traction (low μ) on snowy roads.

Even with winter tires, an excellent 4WD system, and LSDs in the front and rear, getting stuck can still happen.

What I’m about to say is, as always, just my personal opinion as Rikutsu Konetaro.

When driving a well-equipped 4WD with high-performance winter tires on snow-covered roads, snow begins to accumulate under the car. Over time, this snow hardens into ice, becoming thicker and more solid.

In such conditions, if you continue driving on snow deeper than the car’s ground clearance, the snow under the car can build up, lifting the vehicle off the ground. This reduces the contact between the tires and the road, making it difficult for the car to maintain traction.

In other words, the car ends up riding on top of the snow.

This is what we call “getting stuck.”

No matter how good the 4WD system or the winter tires are, if the car gets lifted off the ground and the tires lose contact, the vehicle’s performance will be completely negated.

For cars with lower ground clearance, even if they have excellent 4WD systems and winter tires, it’s best to be cautious on roads where the snow is deeper than the car’s clearance.

This is especially true for vehicles that have lowered suspensions.

When playing around on snowy roads with low traction, it’s important to consider both the condition of the packed snow and the vehicle’s ground clearance. You might even want to raise the car’s height to fully enjoy the 4WD experience.

That’s all for now.