Ever hit the gas only to hear the whirring of your tire…and not move anywhere? Your car might just be stuck in the mud.
The Power of At-traction
Cars are designed to drive on the road, where there’s natural traction. Mud is soft and slippery, which reduces that traction and makes it tough to move.
Spinning your wheels won’t actually help you. In fact, you may lose more traction that way, because rapidly moving wheels tend to slide deeper into mud. And the last thing you want to deal with is a mud-splattered car that’s not going anywhere.
Before you fret too much, remember there are plenty of options to get unstuck from mud. You can call a friend to pull you out using a tow strap or a chain. Of course, that means waiting around and hoping they have a strap and a powerful enough car to pull you out. Or, if no friends are available, a tow service will always come to get you unstuck from your messy situation, although towing your car might cost you a pretty penny.
Use Your Car Mat to Get Unstuck
There’s one other option that requires no money spent and no waiting around for someone to arrive.
Use your car mat.
It may sound odd, but a car mat will increase the traction under your tire, allowing your car to pull forward over the muddy puddle. Other items that work just as well are old blankets, pieces of carpet, or a trunk liner. To execute, just follow these simple steps:
- Step 1: Put your car into park.
- Step 2: Take your car mat out and place the tip of the mat under the stuck tire, with the rest of the mat in front of the tire.
- Step 3: Get back into the car and drive slowly forward until you reach solid ground. (And don't forget your floor mat!)
To see how it’s done, watch the video below:
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