The Importance of Removing Snow & Ice from Wheel Wells

Michigan drivers have a lot to deal with while driving in the winter. Not only are there the general challenges of driving safely when roads are snowy/icy and having to navigate the potholes that come with freeze/thaw cycles, there’s the hassle of having to keep snow and ice cleared off of cars. 

We get it – having to stand outside in the cold to clear all the snow off of the roof of your car, off all of the windows, and off of your car’s lights is nobody’s idea of a good time. It’s not fun, especially when you’re in a hurry to get on the road and reach your destination. However, those steps are extremely important for safe winter driving and are required by Michigan law. (Section 257.709 of the Michigan Vehicle Code covers removing snow from windshields and other vehicle windows, Section 257.677a applies to snow falling off a vehicle into the road and/or blocking the vision of other drivers, and Sections 257.699, 257.686, and 257.697 cover removing snow from headlights, tail lights, and brake lights.)

After you’ve spent all that time clearing off the roof of your car, all the windows, and the lights, the last thing you might want to do is spend even more time clearing out the ice, snow, and slush that’s accumulated in your wheel wells. This type of buildup easily happens when driving on snowy days, but while you might not want to clear those tire wells out, it’s still a good idea to do so. Here’s why. 

When roads are covered in ice, snow, and slush, it can already be difficult enough to maintain control and maneuver your vehicle and having a lot of snow accumulated in your wheel wells can make things even more difficult. Having a lot of snow accumulation in your wheel wells can make it more difficult to do things like make turns and maintain control over the tires since there is less room for wheels to move. Since wheels have less room to move, this can impact your car’s suspension. The build-up can also result in premature wear-and-tear on tires caused by excess rubbing against ice. 

If you see snow, ice, and slush accumulating in your wheel wells, using the same ice scraper/brush you use on the rest of your car should do the trick. It might be tempting to try and kick the excess accumulation out, but it’s important to make sure you don’t unintentionally cause damage to any part of your car. In an article on cars.com, it’s noted that automakers and mechanics use very small weights to balance wheels clipped to the outside of the rim or stuck to the inside with adhesive and being too aggressive with snow removal can knock these weights off. 

Contact a Michigan Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a car accident for any reason, don’t hesitate to contact a car accident lawyer for help. They will be able to help answer any questions you have about your case, help you understand your legal options, and work with you to move forward with your case. At Goodwin & Scieszka, we’re highly experienced in helping car accident victims in the state of Michigan. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.