How do I stop sliding on ice and snow in 2005 Camry? Snow tires, all season tires, sand bags for weight?

Chicago weather, car has extremely long stopping on snow and ice, ABS kicks in often but doesn't appear to help that much. Has original Goodyear Integrity tires, with a lot of tire tred left on them. It's a front wheel drive. Would it help to add weight via sand bags in the trunk? Tire options appear to be new All Season, which according to Consumer Reports would be hard to get one tire that handles well on snow and ice but stops well in dry conditions too. Can I put Snow tires on only the front wheels, then change them in the Spring? Any other options?How do I stop sliding on ice and snow in 2005 Camry? Snow tires, all season tires, sand bags for weight?
Well, the Goodyear Integrity tires are your problem. Even when new this tire is horrible in rain and snow. There are probably a hundred or more tires you could buy that would do better. Now that they have some wear they certainly will not have improved. Oddly enough it is a very decent dry-pavement tire.



Adding ballast means you are just trying to stop a heavier object. That ain't gonna make it.



So-called ';all-season'; tires are not designed for nor rated for severe winter use. They are only acceptable in ';light snow'; by definition and moderate cold temperatures (above 45-deg F). Deep snow, slush, ice and sub-freezing temps are right out. Yes you can get all-season tires that will be an improvement over what you have, but it is only a matter of degrees. I always recommend for people who live in the snow belt owning 2 sets of tires; a summer-only or all-season set for use from April to October and a set designed strictly for winter use to put on from Halloween to Tax Day. That way you have the optimum traction all year round, not some comprimise that somehow has to work in 95-deg heat and sub-zero cold, ice and snow. No tire can do that.



If purchasing winter tires they can only be applied in sets of 4, particularly on a FWD vehicle. People tend to think of winter traction as ';not spinning my wheels in my driveway'; when really it is a safety issue. And when it comes to safety your rear wheels are critical for vehicle stability. Put 2 winter tires on the front and 2 all-seasons on the back and I guarantee you will either end up in the ditch or slide into a curb.



Winter-only tires are designed strictly for cold-weather use, ice and snow and thus do need to be taken off in the spring. In summer heat winter tires offer poor traction and wear at a phenominal rate.



If owning 2 sets of tires does not work for you there is one alternative - the Nokian WR G2. This is the only ';all-season'; tire sold in North American that has the RMA symbol certifying the tire is rated for use in severe winter conditions. They work phenominally well in the worst of winter weather and don't need to be taken off in the spring so you only need one set. Not as good as the best winter tires in winter and not as good as the best all-season tires in summer but a damn good compromise and the only acceptable one I have ever found - but they ain't cheap.How do I stop sliding on ice and snow in 2005 Camry? Snow tires, all season tires, sand bags for weight?
New Tires, Drive Slower or Dont!
Snow tires would be the best option. You can put snow tires on a front wheel drive car. All four wheels would be best.



Avoid the sandbags. Too much weight in the trunk could cause the front of the car to lift a little bit, costing you traction on the front wheels.





Best advice: Just drive slow. Allow extra stopping time, don't drive if you don't have to.





Good luck.
Sandbags will make sliding and stopping worse. Look for ratings on tires. If you have the money, the best non dedicated snow and ice tires are Goodyear Fortera Triple treads.

Don't put snow tires on two wheels. The axles need to be matched. It doesn't help to put them on the front if your rear end is going to slide. Save money of beer and video games. Not tires.
buy better tires cooper m/s are great in the snow and crap...
well you should have a 4x4 but you can also use snow tire chains and drive slow but not so slow its dangerous
Snow chains
You've already skipped by far the best winter tire combination, Nokian studded snow tires on all four wheels. Take it form an owner of studded snows and a front wheel drive Toyota, you'll be able to climb a wall.



The next time you buy tires for your Toyota, go to: tirerack.com and open the word Survey under every brand of all season tires they sell. When you open Survey under specific all season tires you'll be shocked to see the disparities between models and brands. They test for ice, light and deep snow as well as 9 other criteria. Take time to see how terrible the Goodyear Integrity and all Bridgestone's are rated.



Don't put weight in the trunk of a front wheel drive car. All you do is lift needed weight off the front end!
Well you could put snow tires on the front only, but that's not really a good way of doing it. If you put snow tires on you should put them all the way around. Snow tires on the front will only keep the front of the car on the road and no sliding, while the back will spin and slide. More control with four then two. And safer!
Tires are the things that are giving you traction on the ground, so this should always be the first to be addressed when driving in the wintertime. I can tell you from experience that All Season tires are not the way to go if you want any sort of traction in anything that is more than light snow. You need to be using dedicated winter tires in a place like Chicago. And if you're gonna buy winter tires, get them for all four. Many retailers will actually refuse to sell you just two brand new winter tires. Consider a set of brand new studded tires or even chains on your existing front tires if the city of Chicago permits them. Regardless, I would not drive around Chicago with just a set of All Seasons, which really is only good for occasional very light snow, not heavy snow or very slick roads.

Weight in the trunk is only helpful if the vehicle is RWD since that is where the drive wheels are.

Take it easy on the roads. Are you using low gear?
SLOW DOWN !
Alot of these people seem confused. agh! Sand in the back will not lift up the front but it wont really help you front traction. SNow tires will help but if you dont put them on the back they are not gunna spin like that idiot said becuase there is nothing on the drivetrain tryin to spin them. But it will help you brake better.

Goodyear eagle gt all season tires have really great treads.

If you have to uprgrade the wheel to a wider tire. But that will cost alot because wheels can be expensive.
snow tire will help in the snow but there is,nt too many vehicles can go on ice.