Aftermarket traction is illegal in Minnesota, so we're pretty much used to driving on our tires here. You'll probably get used to it fairly quickly.
Even the brakes were catching like I was pumping them, even though I wasn't.
Yes, ABS and ice don't go well together. You probably have a button to turn your antilock brakes off; this is what it's for.
Get a big bag of kitty litter and keep it in your car for traction emergencies. Kitty litter will get you out of just about anything. Keep a blanket and a big bar of chocolate in the car for other sorts of emergencies.
Illegal on ALL cars? Wow. I wonder why that is. I know my car manufacturer disallows it, but thought it was only because it throws off the computerized traction system. Kitty litter is a good idea. And yes, stuff in case one gets stuck! I also got a small shovel I can keep in the car.
I'll have to check for the button to turn off the ABS. I know I have a button with a downhill graphic on it that I think is for turning on and off the extra traction control on steep inclines. I may have to go deeper into the computer system to find where to turn off ABS. Thanks for the tips.