Can you explain how you would be better off without ABS than with it on ice?

Ice is precisely the type of situation ABS is built for.

You are right, a few searches reveal that ABS is supposed to help on ice. I confused another piece of information I read that was saying that ABS is worse on snow, due to not creating that snow wall as the tire digs through the snow, that a locked wheel would allow.

I grew up in an area that 5-8 feet of snow annually and drove old cars in it. Don’t listen to internet nerds arguing about what a super skilled driver can do. A pile of snow pushed in front of a wheel isn’t stopping a car.

After front wheel drive, ABS is one of the major ways to improve winter driving. Not only in snow, but in black ice and similar conditions. The big issue is driving too fast and losing control and going into the ditch or a spin.

ABS makes it easier for you to know you have a problem and to avoid it. It may or may not bring you to a full stop in a shorter timeframe, but it will shed speed so you regain control.

After ABS, all season tires and AWD are the most important enhancements.

> After ABS, all season tires and AWD are the most important enhancements

Agreed. But I would say the proper tires for the conditions is ideal, meaning snow tires in winter.

- ABS for steering control.

- Snow tires in winter ("snow boots for your car").

- AWD (or something adaptive) for traction control.

- Last but not least - driving smart (not speeding, adjusting for conditions, etc.)

> After ABS, all season tires and AWD are the most important enhancements.

And slowing down. A 10% reduction in speed results in ~19% less energy for the brakes to dispel - aka a disproportionately shorter stopping distance.

Thanks, great points. It's true, ABS can provide helpful feedback. On several occasions I had to abort cornering and keep going straight, because I once the ABS was engaged I knew there's no way I was making the corner (this was low speed on a patch of ice covered by fresh snow).

Also, I find the electronic stability control system extremely useful for detecting black ice. A slight acceleration attempt provides instant feedback if the road is slippery, but not immediately obvious.

The primary function of ABS is to allow you to keep steering control, rather than "improved braking" (though I guess it could be said that you get 'improved braking' by being able to control it better ie. by being able to also steer away from an object).

It applies equally to snow, wet or dry conditions.

> At those Texan speeds, managing to stop a sixteen wheeler on ice would be a miracle.

So what you're saying is they should have been going slower due to inclement weather?