Steep entrance drive

[ashtondav]

Hi, our entrance drive to the house is very steep. VERY. So steep that if you stop at the top to look each way at the wrong point the wheels on a two wheel car simply spin. You have reverse down and try again. Does anyone know of any studs or other raised surface which would give a LOT OF EXTRA Grip? A past owner did make a few ruts in the concrete but it makes no difference.

[country boy]

4x4, the only answer! Physics not on your side I'm afraid.

[TorreDelAguila]

4x4 is the safe answer for your own regular use, but that still leaves the problem for visitors.
Not sure whether you driveway is straight/long/short etc.
It might be possible to coat concrete with the same abrasive grit that you'd find on very coarse emery cloth, but this would need a first-rate adhesive (eg epoxy) to prevent it polishing off.
Another alternative, maybe for problematic spots, might be to lay down some expanded metal mesh, with its grip-edges facing the appropriate direction; might need to be stainless.

Some neighbours of ours have a winding zig-zag driveway up a steep hillside, gradient up to 1-in-2. 2WD cars really struggle or can't do it; 4WD a doddle.

[ashtondav]

It's flat at the bottom for 3 metres. Then increasing steepness for, say, 6 metres. I'll look into your kind ideas, 4*4 not an option. I hasten to add that the locals see no problem, merrily reversing back in their 20 year old Seat Marbellas!

[TorreDelAguila]

Reversing back up steep hills is usually more demanding than going up them forwards, because modern cars now have rather high reverse gears. Backing up (with a front wheel drive car) does have one advantage, as it throws additional weight on the driven wheels.

One other tack would be to angle-grind some grooves/ridges across your concrete drive, to provide a bit more grip. And better tyres, maybe?