What does it mean when your vehicle's wheels are spinning?

When a vehicle's wheels are spinning, it indicates a loss of traction. This situation commonly occurs in slippery conditions, such as on wet, icy, or loose road surfaces, where the tires cannot grip the roadway effectively. As a result, the wheels may rotate without propelling the vehicle forward, which can lead to reduced control and increases the risk of accidents. This is an important concept for drivers to understand because recognizing loss of traction enables them to take appropriate actions, such as easing off the accelerator or steering into the skid, to regain control of the vehicle. In contrast, excellent traction would allow the vehicle to accelerate smoothly without wheel spin, while the vehicle being idle is not relevant since it refers to a stationary vehicle, and a need for service does not specifically relate to the behavior of the wheels.