AWD vs. FWD w/ Snow Tires

True. If there's one thing that snow tires enhance greatly in snowy weather, it's braking. I've learned how to deal with that by just being more careful with all weathers, but, I do fear everyone else driving around in massive SUVs that weigh four or five tons, distracted by screens. It's why the first storm of the year is usually a disaster around here. That's right fool, it's called physics. Your Expedition is going to take a long long time to stop, especially since you thought you could squeak by another winter with those old tires.

My last one was retired after 170k - no oil burning issues, I have two now, one has 90k - no oil burning issues.

Harvey wrote

Brownski wrote

But always remember that a car behind you is less likely to cause you problems then one in front of you

I worry about the guy behind me too. If someone stops short or if there is danger in front, and I know someone is behind me, I try to use up as much space as I can to safely stop, giving the guy behind me the best chance of not running into me.

Not sure if that is correct, but it is what I do.

This is true. I guess if I was making a serious point, it’s that, all things being equal, I feel better with other drivers in the rear view then in front of my windshield. As in, driving slow isn’t the answer, especially if it puts you in a big gaggle of other slow vehicles. Pass them as soon as you can. Not quite “go fast take chances” but.... anyway,regarding The actual question about snows, AWD etc... it seemed pretty obvious that FWD is better in snow then RWD, AWD is better then that and selectable 4x4 is better then that. Snow tires will be better in snow. Everything else being equal, light vehicles are easier to stop (and push out of a ditch) then heavy vehicles. Also, not all AWDs are created equal. I spent a day working with a guy who used to be an Audi sales manager and before that had sold BMWs. According to him Subaru’s system is considered much better then the other cheap brands (he thought BMW had the best overall).

All that being said, if you know how to drive in snow, you can get around with crappy tires on a no-ABS RWD and if you don’t you can get yourself into trouble with great tires on a Subie. I’m currently very happy with my compact 4x4 pickup with all-seasons but if I was stuck with, say, a Kia Rio, I don’t think that would hold me back.

Brownski wrote

Pass them as soon as you can. Not quite “go fast take chances” but...

I tend to take this approach too, but maybe not for a good reason.

Usually if I am driving IN a storm, it's early morning before first chair.  I tend to push it.  Passed some salt trucks and my paint job shows it.

Full-size V8 pickup, 4 studded snows, left lane, hammer down

Lead, follow, or get the hell out of my way

All seasons vs. snow.....all seasons may be better in ice as the traction doesn't matter in ice.  You want to have more surface area, which is what I think all seasons offer.

D.B. Cooper wrote

All seasons vs. snow.....all seasons may be better in ice as the traction doesn't matter in ice.  You want to have more surface area, which is what I think all seasons offer.

Obviously, you've never used Blizzaks.

mm

Harvey wrote

We have a steep driveway in the mountains.

Harvey wrote

Milo Maltbie wrote

99% of the time all season tires are fine.

And for me I need snow tires about 5% of the time.  The vast majority of my driving is on dry interstates.

Harvey wrote

Brownski wrote

Pass them as soon as you can. Not quite “go fast take chances” but...

I tend to take this approach too, but maybe not for a good reason.

Usually if I am driving IN a storm, it's early morning before first chair.  I tend to push it.  Passed some salt trucks and my paint job shows it.

It seems you  need winter tires a lot more than me.

mm

I had them a few CRVs ago. Separate rims. It was a royal pain in the ass, and they didn't last very long.  I especially hated storing the rims and changing them or putting them in the car so someone else could do it.  Granted they were not blizzaks. How many miles do you get out of them?

Now I try to buy new all seasons right before the season starts and run them for 18 months or 30 depending on how they look at the beginning of the second winter.

Maybe I made the "wrong" decision, but to me it feels like a better compromise.

I bought separate winter rims and tires and I can attest that it's a ROYAL PIA, especially living in an apartment in Brooklyn.  I just didn't trust the thin stock 18 inch all seasons the car came with.  

Which actually leads to another point.  Whether you are running all seasons or winter tires the wheel size and tire width matter a lot.  15 or 16 inch rims with 65 width will be a lot better then if you're running 18 - 19 inch rims which a lot of cars are coming with these days.  

Maybe you can trust winter tires on 18/19s, but I certainly wouldn't trust all seasons.

Harvey wrote

I had them a few CRVs ago. Separate rims. It was a royal pain in the ass, and they didn't last very long.  I especially hated storing the rims and changing them or putting them in the car so someone else could do it... How many miles do you get out of them?

I get 3 seasons on the car The Woman Of My Dreams drives to work, and sometimes 4 on my car, then they become summer tires.

It's getting harder to switch them out twice a year, but it reminds that my son and I would line up all the cars and do them all at once. My driveway looked like a NASCAR pit stop in the snow. That still makes me happy.

mm  

Milo Maltbie wrote

Harvey wrote

I had them a few CRVs ago. Separate rims. It was a royal pain in the ass, and they didn't last very long.  I especially hated storing the rims and changing them or putting them in the car so someone else could do it... How many miles do you get out of them?

I get 3 seasons on the car The Woman Of My Dreams drives to work, and sometimes 4 on my car, then they become summer tires.

It's getting harder to switch them out twice a year, but it reminds that my son and I would line up all the cars and do them all at once. My driveway looked like a NASCAR pit stop in the snow. That still makes me happy.

mm

This is a benefit too, my car came with 17" rims, my steel snow rims are 16", the sidewalls
on the snows are much higher than on the summer tires. The overall diameter is almost identical to the stock rims and tires, so no speedo error. The snows are quite a bit narrower too. The high sidewalls act as shock absorbers for normally shitty winter roads. The narrower tires cut through snow instead of plowing it. It is a pita to swap them over, but not that bad.

THIS ^^^^^

I always wondered about speedo error.  As the tires get smaller you are going slower than it says.

Wear is a minimal factor?

Cornhead wrote

This is a benefit too, my car came with 17" rims, my steel snow rims are 16", the sidewalls
on the snows are much higher than on the summer tires. The overall diameter is almost identical to the stock rims and tires, so no speedo error. The snows are quite a bit narrower too. The high sidewalls act as shock absorbers for normally shitty winter roads.

I'll bet handling around corners is not as good.  I had 19" summers and 17" winter rims on a Venza I had once.  Big difference.

Maybe a separate Snow Tires Forum?

JasonWx wrote

I own 2 subies and they do burn some oil...both have 90k + on them..maybe it's getting time for a change

You sure its not leaky headgaskets?  Burning oil could be mis-diagnosed as leaking oil if headgaskets are weeping and it's dripping on exhaust and burning off before you see it on your driveway.

And it's mostly the 2.5L non-turbo engines that blow headgaskets, not the 2.0L ones.  But most Imprezas/Legacys/Outbacks/Forester are 2.5 anyways, 2.0 is the older WRX.

ADmiKe wrote

JasonWx wrote

I own 2 subies and they do burn some oil...both have 90k + on them..maybe it's getting time for a change

You sure its not leaky headgaskets?  Burning oil could be mis-diagnosed as leaking oil if headgaskets are weeping and it's dripping on exhaust and burning off before you see it on your driveway.

And it's mostly the 2.5L non-turbo engines that blow headgaskets, not the 2.0L ones.  But most Imprezas/Legacys/Outbacks/Forester are 2.5 anyways, 2.0 is the older WRX.

It's not a lot..Usually 1/2 qt every 5k..From what i read , its' the nature of the beast...

They told me that at he dealership about my discovery.  They said seeping is normal.  I was like not where I come from.  Fix the dam thing it wrecking my driveway.  They fixed it.

How do you like that Discovery? Is it a 19? The new ones look sweet.