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Winter drives can be momorable for a dead battery that leaves you stranded or a slide into a snowbank that requires a tow truck. But it doesn't have to be that way. Winter driving can be an enjoyable experience with a little preparation and some basic understanding of how a vehicle reacts in a slippery conditions.

Getting ready for winter should include a check of your vehicle's cooling, charging, braking and suspension systems and especially your tires. The time to do it is nowl, before the first major winter storm.

If your car wears sport tires and you plan to drive it in snowy conditions, you need to switch to snow tires or, at least, all-season rubber. But remember, all-season tires are a compromise. The best traction you can get in snow and ice is from snow tires. This might be the most important preparation you can make.

Once your car's ready, it's time to think about getting yourself ready as a winter driver.

We asked Mark Cox for some tips. He's director at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and he knows a thing or two about controlling a vehicle in wintry conditions. Here are five things he says we should remember when the road gets slippery.

1. KNOW YOUR CAR.
   Antilock brakes are great to have in paniic-stop situations because you still can steer the vehicle as you stop. If your vehicle doesn't have ABS, in addition to pumping the brakes in order to stop, you need to lift you foot off the brake in order to steer. But ABS can't perform miracles. If you feel the ABS engaging as soon as you touch the pedal in normal driving, slow down, you are going too fast.
   
   
2. TEST CONDITIONS FREQUENTLY.
   If the road looks slippery, check to see how much traction is available. Make sure no one is behind you, and hit the brakes firmly until the wheels lock up or the ABS engages. This will tell you how much grip is available.
   
   
3. USE TRACTION EFFICIENTLY.
   When roads are slippery, use all of the grip available for one action at a time. Brake in a straight line before the curve when the car is traveling straight. Taking your foot off the brake before you steer into the curve lets you use all of the grip available for steering. Accelerate only when you can straighten the steering wheel at the exit of the turn.
   
   
4. DON"T OVERESTIMATE THE CAPABILITIES OF AN SUV.
   Many drivers think four-wheel drive is a cure-all. SUV's clearly have benefits, but they have limitations, too. No matter the vehicle, there are only four small contact patches where the tire meets the road. Four-wheel drive does not improve braking or cornering effectiveness.
   
   
5. BE ALERT ON HILLS AND AT INTERSECTIONS.
   Hills and intersections are typically the slipperiest portions of the roadway, because ice is polished by many cars braking and accelerating in the same area. In the case of hills, many drivers may be spinning tires in the same place with an identical result. When stopping on ice, brake hard early and then lighten up on the pedal as the car slows.

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