# Is spinning your wheels dangerous? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2007, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449 "2007-02-16T04:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/1 "2007-02-16T04:13:19Z")
A related thread got me to thinking about something I heard a few years ago. Does it do any damage to your transmission if you spin your wheels while trying to get out of the snow? I did this once about ten years ago and the transmission got gradually worse for a few months, then just died. Coincidence or cause and effect? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/2 "2007-02-16T04:50:57Z")
I’m not sure if that incident affected your transmission, but I would say it is possible. I do know that if the spinning drive wheels suddenly get enough traction, the jolt can damage the differential. The wise thing to do is back off on the throttle as soon as you detect spinning with no forward motion (nothing good is being accomplished at that point), and if you are getting forward motion, keep the spinning as low as possible and ease up as traction increases. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/3 "2007-02-16T05:05:22Z")
It doesn’t work anyway. Any good Canuck knows that you need people to help rock and then you have to do the forward - reverse - forward move. My other strategy was to avoid fast roads and drive the slower roads in second gear. Lots more traction that way. ---
**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/4 "2007-02-16T07:17:04Z")
Not sure about the transmission, but speaking as someone who has helped push many a stranded motorist out of the snow, spinning the wheels is also dangerous for another reason… The tires can heat up surprisingly fast, and depending on their condition _could_ explode, spewing hot rubber and steel belts and shit all over the nice people pushing you out. /happened to me only once, by myself, rocking back and forth on especially compacted snow. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/5 "2007-02-16T13:58:40Z")
I had an incident the other day whereby my traction control held me hostage. Rocking didn’t help. Once I realized I could turn off the traction control, a little wheel spinning cleared the ice/snow from below me, and I was able to move again. I’d only needed just a little forward inertia, and I was good. Much faster than calling triple-A. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/6 "2007-02-16T15:29:39Z")
Controlled wheel spinning is one of many winter driving tools that you need in your quiver. If it seriously damaged your transmission, ever car in the northern reaches would die in the spring. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/7 "2007-02-16T16:35:50Z")
Because of the way normal differentials work, if one wheel has traction, and the other not, only the one wheel will spin, but it spins at TWICE the driven speed. So if your speedometer indicates 60, then that tire is spinning at a 120 mph rotation rate. That is where the problem **hekk** mentioned comes from. Even if the tire doesn’t explode, warm tires on ice have about zero traction once you get unstuck, so it is wise to minimise spinning to keep the tread cooler. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/8 "2007-02-16T16:44:49Z")
[QUOTE=Kevbo] Because of the way normal differentials work, if one wheel has traction, and the other not, only the one wheel will spin, but it spins at TWICE the driven speed. So if your speedometer indicates 60, then that tire is spinning at a 120 mph rotation rate. That is where the problem **hekk** mentioned comes from. [/QUOTE] That’s true unless you have a limited slip differential, and even then sometimes, but mostly I agree. You did say _normal_ differentials and I don’t know if limited slip differentials count as that, but they are pretty common so I figured I’d mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/9 "2007-02-16T18:13:45Z")
Hmmm. I recall reading in a vehicle owner’s manual that your tire may risk detonation above 35 MPH indicated speed. Incidentally, I might suggest taking 5 minute breaks if you have to spend more than a few seconds rocking back and forth. Should be better for your tranny, giving it a chance to cool. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/10 "2007-02-16T18:41:41Z")
This isn’t dangerous, but the friction from spinning your tires can also melt the snow underneath them, which will quickly freeze into ice. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/11 "2007-02-17T05:06:28Z")
agree with the ice thing - it may not be dangerous to spin the tires, but it’s not a particularly efficient way to get unstuck. best to carry a bag of generic kitty litter in the trunk of your car during winter. if you get stuck, you sprinkle it in front and behind your drive tires for traction. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/12 "2007-02-17T07:54:44Z")
[QUOTE=Kevbo] Because of the way normal differentials work, if one wheel has traction, and the other not, only the one wheel will spin, but it spins at TWICE the driven speed. So if your speedometer indicates 60, then that tire is spinning at a 120 mph rotation rate. That is where the problem **hekk** mentioned comes from. Even if the tire doesn’t explode, warm tires on ice have about zero traction once you get unstuck, so it is wise to minimise spinning to keep the tread cooler. [/QUOTE] 😕 What? No. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/13 "2007-02-17T07:58:50Z")
[QUOTE=Telemark] Controlled wheel spinning is one of many winter driving tools that you need in your quiver. If it seriously damaged your transmission, ever car in the northern reaches would die in the spring. [/QUOTE] Most people in the ‘northern reaches’ know that spinning one’s wheels compacts the snow underneath to ice, making it even harder to get out. It’s pretty much the most useless thing you can do. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/14 "2007-02-17T09:21:05Z")
I saw that “forward-reverse-forward” thing for rocking the car out of a stuck position…that sounds very cumbersome. One of the nice things about a manual transmission. Clutch, release clutch, clutch… It certainly sounds like shifting that fast in an automatic might cause some damage. It’s wear and tear at any rate. By coincidence, I have taught a couple of kids how to drive. Shortly after each one learned it all, I had to replace either the whole transmission or the clutch. Coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/15 "2007-02-17T10:11:39Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Most people in the ‘northern reaches’ know that spinning one’s wheels compacts the snow underneath to ice, making it even harder to get out. It’s pretty much the most useless thing you can do. [/QUOTE] There are plenty of situations besides being stuck in deep snow though where it’s pretty much impossible to get going (or keep going) without the wheels spinning. And as Telemark said you then need to have the skill of controlling the spin. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spinning-your-wheels-dangerous/392449/16 "2007-02-17T16:56:41Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Most people in the ‘northern reaches’ know that spinning one’s wheels compacts the snow underneath to ice, making it even harder to get out. It’s pretty much the most useless thing you can do. [/QUOTE] And yet it has worked for me hundreds of times over the years. Are you saying that you should go out of your way to avoid spinning your wheels on a slick surface? 😕