Torque Shop: Should traction control be turned off on wet roads?
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Traction control is meant to help prevent the car from skidding in the wet.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
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Whenever I accelerate a little too quickly at traffic lights in wet conditions, the car judders rather violently. The mechanic says this is not unusual and is caused by the traction control system. However, there is no juddering when I drive off in the wet with the car’s traction control deactivated. Should I just leave it off when the roads are wet?
The juddering is a result of intermittent interruption of power to the driven wheels. This happens when the traction control system detects wheelspin. By doing so, the system is working to maintain grip, enabling the driver to be in control of the car.
Cars sold in Europe and the United States are required to be equipped with a traction control system, although there are no such rules in Singapore.
While you may get smoother acceleration by switching off traction control, it is actually less safe. Without this safety net in place, there is a higher risk of the tyres slipping and the car skidding in corners.
In most modern cars, traction control is incorporated into the stability management system. Using its network of sensors that monitor various dynamic aspects like speed, acceleration and lateral G-force during cornering, the stability management system will make the necessary corrections when it detects trouble.
This can be done by reducing the amount of power or applying the brake on one wheel to maintain – or regain – stability and traction.
In addition, it is advisable to check on the condition of the tyres. If they are worn, the traction control system is more likely to kick in because the tyres cannot put the power down on the road effectively and safely.
This article was adapted from a previous Torque Shop column.
