Rubber car mats - would they help if stuck on ice patch?

socks_uk

My daughter rang me to help her get out of the staff car park at work as the wheels on her Smart car were just spinning as she was reversing. So before getting in the car I raided the cardboard in the brown recycling wheelie bin and took some with me to try to aid traction.

The cardboard did work and it also helped some of her colleagues (as did some of my 'ice melting stuff' I keep in the car) but the cardboard did slip under the wheels a bit. So, I was wondering if it would be worth buying a couple of those £1 rubber car mats to put under wheels if it happens again?

It's only a couple of £££'s so I might nip to Wilkos tonight in case she rings me again... any thoughts anyone?

dudenstumpy

Although I haven't tried that, it seems like a good idea to me.

marlot

Yes, they work. Tie a piece of string to them and trap it in the doors, so that when you get going you don't have to go back to collect them!

custardy

yup i have had to chuck the mats under car tyres before
worst was when i got stuck in a small dipped road area and couldnt get out either side
made an 'runway' with 2 mats per wheel and went for it

mikey72

I have also just fired them under the car before now, as the wheels gripped the mats but the mats then slid on the ice.
Get some rope and tie them to the car, otherwise you'll get stuck again if you stop and go back for them.

pault123

Uh oh,,,

First we had the snowonroofgate scandal

now prepare yourself for the flappycarmatonropegate scandal :rotfl::eek:

Reggie_Rebel

Surely you could have picked the Smart car up and carried to the main road?

neilmcl

Some offcuts of a hessian backed carpet should do the trick.

housesitter

I've used an old curtain.
Pretty much anything which isn't as slippy as ice should do the trick.

socks_uk

Thanks everyone. I'm not going to get the phone call tonight because I told her to get out of bed earlier and come with me! She complained that I have to be at work at 7.30am but she doesn't need to be there until 8am but I took her... got there at 7.35am and lights were on... made sure she was safe in the building... then went on to school where I sat for an hour answering the phone to parents asking if the school was open!
Where there's a will, there's a way!

gaz_jones

That's a really good idea actually. I got stuck yesterday and had to rip up a cardboard box in my boot to make a makeshift road. I should have just used my mat's. I need new one's anyway so wouldn't have minded them getting dirty.