Mustangs are an American classic known for the fun on that road. However, you might find yourself wondering how that driving experience translates to wintry conditions, and if Mustangs are good in snow.
Mustangs do not have the best performance in snow and ice due to their rear-wheel-drive (RWD) powertrain and low clearance. The addition of snow tires or chains are two options for improving their performance in wintry conditions.
You should still be able to drive them if it’s snowy, as long as you’re careful, though. Most of the time, you don’t want to drive something that’s RWD in the snow.
Taking one of them on a snowy road could make you fishtail. Most of the Mustang’s weight doesn’t sit on the rear axel.
That means your rear tires don’t have much forcing them to touch the ground.
Another reason snow can be tough for Mustangs is that they’re so low to the ground. Just a few inches might be too much for them to clear.
You shouldn’t take one out if there’s been a huge snowfall!
You can still drive a Mustang in the snow if you’re experienced. Using the right techniques should prevent you from having issues.
You can also ask the dealer to install some safety features when you’re ordering the car. They’ve made a ton of things to improve handling in the snow.
What Features Does the Mustang Have for Snowy Roads?
Make sure you’ve asked the dealer to add all the safety features possible when you order a Mustang. They’ll make it way safer to drive when it’s snowy on the roads.
Most Mustangs come with traction control as part of their standard package. Their TCS technology pays attention to all 4 wheels when they’re moving.
If one of them loses traction, your car automatically adjusts.
A slipping wheel triggers the TCS’s sensors, putting it into action. It’ll apply the brakes on any tire that’s slipping to stop it from spinning.
Your TCS system can also apply engine braking to slow down the car.
Another piece of tech that’s helpful is electronic stability control.
This works a lot like TCS, and it’s in most Mustangs as well. It monitors how you’re driving to determine whether your car is stable.
It looks at how fast you’re traveling and compares that to your steering angle. They’ve even designed them to take acceleration into account, too.
If the system thinks you’re unstable, it applies the brakes. It’ll also reduce power to the engine, slowing down your car.
Antilock brakes also help improve the Mustang’s snow performance. Trying to apply too much brake pressure can cause wheels to lock up.
You’d start skidding if it weren’t for the antilock system.
The Mustang’s antilock brakes also work with a redistributive system.
This system decides which tires receive the most pressure if you touch the brakes. That’s going to prevent them from skidding if you’re pushing on the brakes hard.
You’ll also have an electronic brake assistant, too. Stopping a car on ice takes longer than usual. If you don’t apply enough pressure, this system applies more for you.
That way, your car actually slows to a stop.
How to Prepare Your Mustang for the Snow
The Mustang has a ton of features that help it drive in the snow. But, you can also prepare for snowy conditions yourself.
Doing that should make it easier to handle it if you’re stuck in the snow.
We’d recommend grabbing some tire chains and putting them in the trunk. You can wrap them around the tires if you’re surprised by a blizzard.
They’ll improve your car’s traction if it’s snowy outside.
You can also pack a battery charger in the trunk to be extra prepared. A lot of drivers report dead batteries when it gets cold.
That’s because batteries drain faster if the temperature is below a certain point.
A battery charger would let you jumpstart the car if its battery dies. That way, you won’t be stuck waiting for someone to help.
You’ve just got to hook the charger up to the battery yourself. Then, you can get back on the road in no time.
Driving a Mustang on Ice
How well does the Mustang drive if there’s ice on the road? Icy roads are similar to snowy ones, but driving on them is a little different.
The biggest thing you’ve got to remember is how long it takes to stop.
If you’re on the ice, you’ll have to start braking way sooner. Otherwise, you’re not going to stop in time.
Your Mustang will have a tough time accelerating after it’s stopped if you’re on the ice. That’s because most of its weight isn’t on top of the rear axle.
So, it’s difficult for the tires to grip the road after you’ve stopped.
Putting more weight in the back can help improve your car’s traction. You should also make sure you’re using the car’s safety features, too.
They’ll prevent you from losing control as easily.
Is the Mustang an AWD Vehicle?
Everyone knows it’s safer to drive an AWD vehicle if the road is covered with snow. They’ve got more traction when road conditions aren’t great.
Unfortunately, the Mustang isn’t available in AWD. All their models use rear-wheel-drive transmission systems. So, it’s difficult to drive them if the road gets slippery.
You’ll have to drive carefully to make sure you don’t lose control. Accelerating too fast would increase the odds you’ll lose traction.
So, try being gentle if the weather isn’t the best.
Should You Put Snow Tires on Your Mustang?
One of the best things you can do in the winter is to install snow tires. They’ve made them grip the road better if there’s snow covering it.
If you’d like to take your Mustang in the snow, then you should get snow tires. They’ll significantly improve handling when the weather is snowy.
Snow tires use wider treads than what you’d find on all-season ones. That helps them compact the snow as you’re driving, improving their traction. Putting snow tires on your Mustang doesn’t take long, either.
Your car won’t take as long to stop if you’ve installed snow tires on it. Plus, it’ll accelerate smoothly after you’ve stopped moving.
That’s because the snow tires are able to grip the snow much better than other ones.
How Does the Mustang Handle Freezing Temperatures?
Years ago, Ford used carburetor on all their Mustangs. These didn’t work well once the temperature dropped below freezing.
Carburetors only work if they’re at the right temperature, so cold weather can stop them.
New models don’t have this same issue, though.
Ford began using electronic fuel injection systems on all its cars. If you’ve got one like this, it’ll run well in the cold.
Older models might not start in the cold if they’re made with a carburetor. If yours has an electronic fuel injection system, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Ford first introduced electronic fuel injection in 1986 on the Mustang GT. Since then, it’s become standard on all their new models.
