Gearheads: 4/AWD or snow tires?

[Discuss Thrower]

What's the more cost effective solution to driving in the winter?

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by srvy

That's about what it looks like trying to get onto the highway after the snowplow buries the end of our road.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Bumping once for visibility.


To anyone who re-visits the thread and isn't located above the 49th Parallel: what's the justification for combining snow tires with an AWD car?

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with snow tires if you have AWD.

Just spring for some good all weather tires like the two I've mentioned (and again - do your research because these are NOT all-season tires. The truly good ones can get the 3PMSF rating from the US Tire Manufacturers Association and it means they're rated for severe snow service and have hit a handful of snow traction benchmarks.)

You'll have this little symbol on your sidewall:



It used to be exclusively the domain of snow tires but because of advances in rubber compounds there are a few non snow tires that have earned that rating and don't have to be babied. You slap a set of those on an AWD vehicle and you'll be able to do just about anything that your ground clearance will allow.

Now weirdly, those aren't quite as good in rain as regular all-season (and especially summer) tires. I don't recall why exactly but it has something to do with chemical additives in rubber that allow the tires to stay more pliable when they're cold but also makes them less grippy when wet. So if you have to do a lot of spring/rain driving, just remember that you're trading some wet weather traction/performance for improved snowy weather performance.

So in THAT case, you could find a good justification for using a less robust snow performance tire year-round for improved wet weather traction and then flip to the pure snow tires in the winter. I wouldn't bother, but it's a consideration.

And I guess the final point - remember that AWD gets you moving but it doesn't help you stop and it doesn't help you corner. So yeah, there will still be some advantages in a pure snow tire on an AWD vehicle if for no other reason than the fact that they'll simply help you stop/turn better. It's that old Michelin (I think) commercial - "Brakes stop your wheels but the tires stop your car..." If you have an AWD vehicle in the snow and mediocre tires for weather, you're still not gonna stop or turn worth a shit. You'll still have under-steer that immediately turns to over-steer and puts you into a guardrail. So again, while I personally don't think the hassle of swapping to winter tires is worth the nominal performance upgrades over the new all-weather tires, there ARE some advantages to them still.

[DJ's left nut]

Ah - here's your article. Ignore me; read this:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...-winter-tires/

If you can find Nokians that'll fit your vehicle, I love the Nokians I have on my truck. I suspect they make excellent all-weather tires for cars as well. In either event, that article appears to give you a shopping list.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I had a '99 XJ that had a pretty cool transfer case. It had standard 4wd with Hi/Lo but you could also put it into fullt ime AWD mode. You aren't supposed to use 4wd on non-slick roads and we get a lot of spotty conditions where it gets annoying constantly shifting in and out of 4wd, so I just left it in full time AWD mode all winter and didn't have to worry about it. My 2005 Silverado had a similar setup.

That's Selec-trac, my 2002 Grand Cherokee has it as well.

[Naptown Chief]

Originally Posted by Naptown Chief

Lowrider.
Air dam.
Profit.

Alternatively, duct taping a fat chick to the front of your car may be as effective.

This comment got a thumbs down ( ) but here's a free tip- Wheel Gap is like vagina.. The more fingers you can get in there the worse off it is.

Spoiler!

you're welcome