How to Free Your Car from Snow or Mud Using Your Floor Mats

The Golden Rule: Stop Spinning Your Tires

When you feel your car slip and realize you are stuck, your instinct is probably to press harder on the gas pedal. Don't do this. Spinning your tires will only friction-melt snow into ice, or dig your wheels deeper into the mud, making your situation much worse. Take your foot off the accelerator immediately.

Step 1: Clear the Path

Before placing your mats, you need to clear a path for your tires. Get out of the car and shovel or kick away any deep snow, slush, or mud from directly in front of and behind your drive tires (the front tires for front-wheel drive, rear tires for rear-wheel drive). If your car is bottomed out on a mound of snow or mud, clear that out too so the wheels can make solid contact with the ground.

Step 2: Position Your Floor Mats for Maximum Grip

Take the floor mats out of your car. You will want to place one mat snugly under each of your drive wheels. Here is how to position them:

• Direction: Wedge the edge of the mat firmly under the tire in the direction you plan to travel (in front of the tire if driving forward, behind it if reversing).
• Orientation: If you have carpeted mats with a rubberized, spikey backing, place them carpet-side down on the snow or mud. The rubberized backing should face up toward the tire tread to give the spinning wheel something solid to grip. If you have all-rubber weather mats, place them ribbed-side up.

Step 3: Keep Your Wheels Straight and Shift Gears

Turn your steering wheel so your front tires are pointing completely straight. Crooked wheels create extra resistance, making it harder for the car to climb out of the rut. If you drive an automatic, shift into the lowest gear possible (usually labeled 'L' or '1'). If you drive a manual, shift into second gear—this reduces the torque sent to the wheels and helps prevent them from immediately spinning.

Step 4: Accelerate Slowly and Steadily

Gently press the accelerator. You want the tire to slowly roll up onto the mat rather than spin on top of it. If the tire catches the mat, the vehicle should climb up and out of the slippery spot. Do not floor the gas; doing so can spit the floor mat out from under the wheel at high speed, which can ruin the mat or injure someone standing nearby.

Step 5: Keep Moving to Safe Ground

Once your car gains traction and starts moving, do not stop immediately. Keep rolling slowly until you reach solid pavement or dry ground. Once you are safely parked, walk back to retrieve your floor mats. They will likely be dirty and potentially scuffed, but they will have saved you a hefty towing fee!