What is traction in a car and can it be turned off?

What is traction in a car?

Traction in a car is nothing else than the adhesion of the wheels to the road surface, which is crucial when starting, accelerating and driving the vehicle on turns. It is thanks to proper traction that the car can effectively transfer power from the engine to the road and maintain stability, regardless of weather conditions.

When the wheels lose traction – for example on wet, slippery surfaces –  traction decreases, which can lead to skidding and loss of vehicle control. Traction is an essential element of safe, controlled driving. However, in certain situations it may bother the driver, and more on this later in the article.

What is traction control?

When the system detects that one wheel is starting to slip, it immediately intervenes by limiting engine power or braking the wheel in question, helping to regain control of the vehicle. ASR uses ABS sensors that constantly monitor wheel speed, detecting differences between them. Thanks to this, the driver can rest assured that the car will not lose grip even on slippery surfaces.

Traction control (ASR – Acceleration Slip Regulation) is an electronic system that prevents wheels from slipping during acceleration. It works by automatically adjusting engine torque and braking individual wheels to ensure the best possible grip on the road surface.

When does it help and when is it a nuisance?

Traction control is extremely useful in many everyday situations, especially on slippery surfaces such as wet roads, snow or ice. When the wheels lose traction, the system automatically responds, providing better handling and reducing the risk of skidding. It also makes it easier to start uphill or accelerate in conditions with limited traction, where without ASR, uncontrolled slipping of the drive wheels could occur.

However, there are situations where traction control can get in the way. This applies mainly to off-road driving or on loose surfaces such as sand, deep snow or mud. Under these conditions, the engine torque limiting system may cause a loss of driving smoothness or even cause the engine to stall. Therefore, in off-road situations, turning off traction control may be necessary to be able to intentionally skid the wheels to get out of difficult off-road situations.

Traction control – how to turn it off

In some situations, turning off traction control may be necessary or simply helpful. It is worth knowing all the functions and possibilities that our car gives us.  How is ASR turned off?

• Check the ASR button.

Many modern cars have a dedicated button to turn off the traction control system, marked with the symbol ASR or TCS (Traction Control System). This button is usually located on the dashboard or near the center console.

• Change the driving mode.

Sports and off-road vehicles have various driving modes (e.g. sport, off-road) that can automatically influence the operation of the traction control system. Switching to the appropriate mode can partially or completely limit the intervention of the ASR system, enabling more dynamic driving.

• Partially disabling the system in the settings.

In many passenger cars, traction control can only be partially disabled. The system remains active in the background, which means it will not turn off completely, but its operation will be less noticeable.

Messages on the dashboard

When traction control is turned off, a warning light will usually turn on the dashboard to let the driver know that the system is inactive. It is worth remembering that after turning off the ignition or restarting the car, the ASR system should automatically turn on again.

Turning off traction control gives the driver more control over the car in specific situations. However, let’s not forget that turning off this system will usually increase the risk of losing traction.

What does turning off traction control do?

Disabling traction control can have significant advantages in certain conditions, especially during off-road or sport driving. However, each of us may find ourselves buried in mud or driving on a heavily snow-covered surface. It is worth being aware of the advantages of turning the ASR system on or off.

Benefits of turning off traction control

• Better control in difficult terrain conditions

On unstable surfaces, such as sand, snow or mud, the ASR system may limit the torque, which sometimes makes it difficult to get out of a “trap”.

Disabling the system allows the wheels to spin intentionally, which in such situations is necessary to start moving.

• Improved driving dynamics

In sports cars, turning off traction control allows for a more aggressive driving style, where the driver can deliberately cause the vehicle to skid slightly when cornering. This gives greater freedom of control over the vehicle, which is desirable for more experienced drivers. Although we recommend sport driving only on race tracks, not public roads.

Risks of disabling traction control

• Greater risk of slippage

On slippery surfaces, such as wet or icy roads, traction control works to promote safe driving by preventing wheel slippage. Disabling the system increases the risk of losing control of the vehicle, especially in unfavourable weather conditions or during sudden braking.

• Limited vehicle stability

If you suddenly lose grip during a dynamic manoeuvre, the lack of traction control can make the car less predictable, increasing the risk of a collision.

We recommend turning off traction control only when you are sure that road conditions require it.

Summary: can you turn off traction?

Traction in a car is a key element responsible for the adhesion of the wheels to the road surface. Traction control (ASR) is a system that automatically prevents wheel slippage during acceleration, improving vehicle stability. While traction itself cannot be turned off, the traction control system can. After reading this article, you know how and under what circumstances you can do it!