Wheels/Snow Tires

Most would be better off slowing down a bit too. I don't have any
statistics, but it seems as though many of the AWD and 4WD drivers think
they can steer and stop in snow the same as they drive all the time. I've
seen many of them by the side of the road. They don't comprehend the
difference between traction to move through deep snow versus traction on
slippery road. Slowing from 75 to 70 just doesn't do it., no matter what
tires you have.

 

Absolutely! They don't understand that the extra traction that allows
them to accelerate to extra-legal speeds in snow means NOTHING when you
have to corner or stop. Many of the truck-based 4WD systems are actually
worse for cornering and stopping than FWD. Ignorant lemmings.

 

Luck has little to do with it. While 1/8" of tread is still legal in
most states, it certainly isn't adequate in snow. And that has nothing
to do with the type of tire. No tire will give decent snow traction
with that little tread remaining.

I run my tires down to 2/32" generally, but only if that occurs during
the summer. I just replaced the tires on my minivan and they had a
little more than 2/32" left, but it was getting too close to winter to
risk running them longer.


Matt

 

It may for some folks, but I've driven in snow for 30+ years and it
hasn't been a problem. The only accident I've had occurred just last
December on a nice dry day ... I was hit by a drunk.


Matt

 

Baloney. My truck will easily outrun either of my FWD minivan/cars in
the yucky stuff and is much more stable at speed. Why do you think
truck based 4WD systems are worse than FWD? Have you ever owned a 4WD
truck?

Matt


Matt

 

What speed would that be? Surely, you don't think that any car is as stable
at 70 mph with an inch of snow/slush on the road as it is when dry. That
was my point. What was perfectly safe at 70+ is not very safe when the road
is covered, but some people just don't slow down until they are out of
control. Relatively speaking, you may be right, but not in absolute terms.

 

I believe the claim was that in messy conditions a FWD car is better
than a 4WD truck. I don't believe that at all. I have two FWD vehicles
and a 4WD pickup. I'll drive the pickup over the FWD cars any day on a
snow covered or slushy road. The truck is heavier and less affected by
slush. It also handles better in deep snow and is less prone to
understeer and easier to recover from a skid should one occur. FWD cars
are very tricky to handle in a skid as the response required is nearly
opposite that for a RWD vehicle.


Matt

 

There are so many combinations of pickups and FWD vehicles that is just not
possible to make a general statement that one is better than the other. .

 

Not really taking a side here, just an anecdote. My old pickup with
part-time 4wd used to take technique to drive in the snow. Since there
was no differential in the transfer case, the front and rear wheels
were driven the same distance all the time. Any give between the two
came from wheel slippage. Thus, it was bad to use on dry pavement.
Also, on snow covered pavement, it was usually the front wheels that
would slide in a turn. Not a terrible out of control thing, it was
just that it really wanted to go straight instead of turning. It could
shift on the fly, so I got fairly adept at using 4wd to get up to
speed, and going back into rwd to make a corner, then getting back into
4wd. With a stickshift truck it looked like a lot of work, but it
worked well.

I preferred the part time 4wd though, because I used to off-road a
little, and at the time many full time systems with a differential in
the middle didn't have a lock. You could have your front wheels on dry
ground and your back wheels in mud, and your back wheels would spin
with the front not doing much.

Enjoy.
Ben

 

These are the types of systems I was referring to, though perhaps
they're not what Matt and Edwin have. In addition to what Ben said,
these systems also tend to increase stopping distance in slippery
conditions.

Let's also keep in mind that there are significant differences between
"real" 4WD pickup trucks and truck-based SUVs. I would expect that the
former would be good in snow, assuming they had enough weight in the
back and the more aggressive tires that are typical. OTOH, when you try
to "civilize" the platform for SUV use, you give up performance for comfort.

 

Yes, that is true to a large degree, however, some generalizations can
be made, particularly in slushy conditions. I've driven everything from
VW Beetles (the original ones!) to tractor-trailers. A heavier vehicle
is almost always better in slush than a lighter one. A tractor trailer
can drive through 4" of slush and not even know it is on the road from a
stability perspective. My pickup handles 2" with ease. My Beetles got
skittish in 1/2" of slush.


Matt

 

I have a part-time shift-on-the-fly system in my K1500. It steers fine
in snow. The only time I notice the slippage front to rear is making a
full lock turn at slow speed. Anything above 20 MPH it simply isn't
even noticeable if the traction is poor enough to need to be in 4WD.

Why do you think they increase stopping distance? Mine stops the same
or even slightly shorter in 4WD. The reason is that the solid center
differential and locking rear axle act like a poor man's ABS. It makes
it hard to lock the wheels as you have to lock at least three of them.

True, but even with the lesser performance, you are still ahead of FWD cars.


Matt

 

comfort.

A little more explanation would be helpful Brian. A Blazer for example,
uses the exact same type of power train as its "real" 4WD pickup relative
does. Now, some of the import "SUV's" may be a different story - never
really looked to see what they had for a power train.

 

I've read studies that indicated that they increase stopping distance
and adversely affect handling compared to 2WD versions of the same vehicle.

 

vehicle.

I would bet that is due to the added weight of the 4WD.

 

Yup used to do alot of snowmobileing in Happy Valley. Im originally from
Central Square, lived there for 23 years then moved down Rt 49 where 49
comes into Rt 3, now I have given up on all the poopy weather and now live
in Las Vegas, its nice not having to shovel all that white stuff but here we
have to deal with above 100* summer days Oh Well such is life in the big
city.

']['unez

 

That and also some effects from locked differentials.

 

Isn't the Blazer based on the S-10 pickup? That isn't a real pickup!
That is a mini-pickup.


Matt

 

Can you point me to one? I've never seen such a study or suggestion
that this would be the case. It certainly doesn't correlate to my
exerience and I can't think of a technical reason why it would be the case.

Matt

 

That is possible, however, extra weight generally also increases
traction and largely offsets the inertial factor.


Matt