Would a rear wheel drive with snow tires perform just as well in the snow as an AWD or FWD with all-season tires?

Question

Would a rear wheel drive with snow tires perform just as well in the snow as an AWD or FWD with all-season tires?

Answer 1

I have not driven AWD with snow tires, but it might be as good as a FWD with all seasons based on how much snow tires help. I doubt it would be as good as AWD. I'd rather have FWD or ideally AWD with snow tires any day. Another tip to add to the earlier answers is to keep the fuel tank full. It adds weight to the rear axle. Also gives you a lot of engine idle time if you get stranded.

Answer 2

Yes. Like Jimmy said, add weight to the back. Carry a shovel and some sand or kitty litter in the trunk to put under the tires for traction if you get stuck. The biggest problem people have in the snow is they drive too fast. Take it slow, and drive really smooth on gas, brakes, and turns. If you do this and get snow tires, you'll be fine

Answer 3

RWD is not bad in snow although adding weight to the back will help greatly to keep traction. I have a Buick FWD with ALL season tires. Last year we had lots of snow. Buick preformed like a Tank in the snow. I didn't get stuck once! Although I did keep a shovel in the back just incase.

Answer 4

That depends on the vehicle. I used to own an 06 F150, 2 wheel drive 5 speed with limited slip. Drove fantastic in the snow.

Answer 5

A

Answer 6

No but there are few differences anyway on snow, and here is what happens -

FWD - car loses grip at the front and so steering and just ploughs straight on into the hedge

RWD - car loses grip at the rear, rear overtakes front, car ploughs into hedge rear first

AWD - heavier vehicle if not driven very slowly on snow loses grip at one or both ends and ploughs into hedge with an unpredictable point of impact.



True a FWD will be better for a less experienced driver than a RWD and winter tyres will make little difference

An AWD driven carefully and skilfully will not get stuck as easily as an FWD or RWD

Answer 7

Not in my experience. I much prefer the AWD Subarus I've been driving lately, with All-season tires, to my old RWD car, even when I had snows on it.

Answer 8

Most places where snow is a common occurrence it is law to have snow tires with proper markings or you will be fined. I live in Northern BC, Canada snow for 6-7 months per winter season. It is also against the law to only run snow tires on drive tires they must be on all 4. RWD vehicles actually perform quite well in the snow adding some weight like sand bags can help significantly also good if you get stuck.

Answer 9

RWD with snow tires is 10x better than an AWD or FWD with all seasons IMO.



It isn't about traction to move forward/not get stuck. It is about being able to stop and control your vehicle. That is where snow tires shine. I have both an AWD with all seasons and a RWD with snow tires. I'd rather be looking down a long icy/snowy hill in the RWD with Blizzaks any day of the week (in winter).

Answer 10

It isn't a matter of better or worse, it is just a different style of driving. If you try to drive it like a AWD or FWD then it won't go well but if you drive it like a RWD then it'll be fine.

Answer 11

It isn't the tires that make the most difference, it is the way you drive. Slow, smooth starts and stops make driving with either option doable. AWD can help, snow tires help, but it is the driver who makes the biggest impact on whether you go or not.

Answer 12

It depends on the vehicle. If it's a truck, than no. 2x4 trucks are notoriously bad in the snow. Putting weight in the back will help some. If it's a car, then FWD is way better in the snow, in my opinion. RWD cars tend to slide out on you a lot. However, tires do make all the difference. If you're driving around with little to no tread, you are going to have problems with traction. Even in a 4x4 vehicle...

Answer 13

I had two RWD cars with snow tires when I first moved to Flagstaff. They were miserable in snow and weight in the back was a very, very small help. Maybe in flat land it would not be so bad, but either car needed chains to get up the hill to our house. Now we have two FWD Prius and with snow tires they have no trouble getting up the hill.

Answer 14

This is my own opinion just because I've done all three. I drove our old RWD van in the snow with all seasons and it was many too bad but when I drive my dads RWD charger with snow tires it made a difference I can't lie. It helped.

I also drive out FWD Camry many years before owning my car that I'll get to soon but the FWD I drive for many years with just All season tires on the snow. It was fine for me really didn't have too much of and issue but my last year my dad bought winters in the FWD Camry and it helped more but not too much.

I personally own a Subaru WRX and that's AWD. I've never driven on all season tired cause I have summer tires and a winter set of tires so two sets. But my AWD with Winters is definitely the best I've ever had. It Handles so well that even in the worst conditions of weather I have no issue. Like when you see no one on the streets because of the blizzard that's going on I'm still having no issue.

Answer 15

front wheel drive with weight of motor over tires will be much better than rear wheel drive in snow. All wheel drive should be even better.

Answer 16

Card

Answer 17

all wheel drive you are riding, front you are pulling , rear wheel you are pushing, its all really a matter your driving skills, your tires, your brakes, and you ability to use your N neutral gear on a slid...if your wheel are all turning at the same speed then you are less like to spin out , or ditch off the road...

I would travel 1/2 speed during the day, or travel at night when the roads are frozen an not as slippery 1/3..just remember snow /ice /slit are all more dangerous with the sun starts to melt and you driving on glossy roads

Answer 18

EVEN BETTER!!!



Snow tires are the key factor in snow ! ! !



Although RWD cars are not the best in snow, a RWD car with snow tires is much better and SAFER that AWD with all season tires! Link below proves my point.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STaximkaQxo

Answer 19

Drove a front wheel drive LPG converted Rover 75 V6 with summer tyres was rubbish in the snow as the weight of a heavy steel lpg tank full of fuel over the rear wheels just meant front wheels wouldn't grip -however fitting winter tyres transformed it, kept changing back in spring in UK to michelin pilot premmacy summer tyres.



I scrapped the LPG Rover at 240 l miles and now drive a diesel 2.2 Toyota Avensis, just changed tyres to michelin cross climate all weather the reports are good yet to see if this winters snow they match winter tyres for traction and grip ?

Answer 20

no - next time it snows hard go to the nearest hill and watch who gets stuck with rear wheels spinning

Answer 21

Tires are just one part of the many factors in the formula as to driving in winter weather. The car is a higher value that just the tires. As to the question, in general, no they would not "perform." Of a higher value is the training and capabilities of the driver. If you have money to spend, spend it on driving lessons, not tires.

Answer 22

having driven just about every type of motor ...and more than a million miles ...with no probs ..and trust me ..im not slow ..from experience ..a fwd will always handle better than rwd in snow ... most weight over the wheels ..a 4x4 with winter tyres is pretty safe ...but a 4x4 with front and rear diff lock works wonders ....my outlander is superb un all conditions

Answer 23

NO

Not even close



Source

Long time Michigan resident

Answer 24

It depends on the vehicle, just like Shasta said.

Answer 25

No

Answer 26

It really depends on the driver. I was raised with RWD, but have owned FWD and driven many 4x4s. I have pulled many 4x4s out of the ditches with my RWD pickup. In the snow, it is more vehicle balance and smooth control and the slightly better traction afforded by even a studded snow tires isn't enough to make any significant difference. In the "old "days of all bias ply tires, snows were a necessity, but radial tires are more flexible and can spread more (especially if you run them a little soft) to give better traction than the best bias ply tires. It's estimated that in bias ply, a snow tread gave about 30% more traction than a straight tread, but in radials, it drops to only about a 10% advantage.



A FWD gives better start off and turning traction only because of the extra weight of the engine and transmission (transaxle) over the front axle. Back in "the day" the best winter traction was actually in RWD, air cooled VW Bugs!. Their rear engines put the weight over the drive axle and gave great traction. They had high ground clearance and fairly skinny tires that could cut through snow easily. Steering was a problem on the snow, but because of their light weight and minimal power, they were easy to control compared to the big American "Iron".



An AWD/4x4 gives pulling power at all 4 corners of the vehicle, which means the vehicle is more apt to have a tire maintaining traction than any 2 wheel drive vehicle. This extra traction is only marginally better than a two wheel drive and does not affect turning and stopping as much as starting and driving in a straight line. The disadvantage is that many buy them who with no concept of how to drive them. They think that having AWD means they can drive in bad weather the same as a 2WD drives on clean roads. Thus they don't drive safely for the conditions and end up in a ditch.

Answer 27

this is a lab style test





https://youtu.be/mfuE00qdhLA

Answer 28

They get stuck or they slip

Answer 29

Yes ,better.

Answer 30

No.

Answer 31

It requires that you add weight to the rear drive vehicle.

Then be prepared to add traction devices.

The tread lugs on some snow tires would prohibit using cable chains

as they became needed and unneeded. Tire damage can result.



Then the large contributing factors are the driver,

Then the road condition,

Then the traffic of other vehicles.



For the vehicle to already have helpful factors in place

by its arrangement? the way its built?

That means those vehicles would be the successful ones, that day,

because they were set up prior to, if you were to compare them.



The driver must plan ahead, prepare and maintain,

expect the conditions, have the knowledge for the RWD.



The FWD and AWD drivers must run the correct tires,

Then be prepared to add traction devices.

Their part failure of vehicle systems, because of their design

can add up fast without constant attention.



You can talk it over when you purchase tires and or cable chains

In the long run, the RWD vehicle might spend less in every category,

since his vehicle requires fewer repairs beyond normal maintenance.



Years of watching a necessary crew show up early or on-time

during snow and ice ?

The drivers attitudes and experience about the whole array of factors

had them there, on-time, ready to begin, because they were prepared regardless of the vehicle, tires, or devices.



The rest of the people who did not show-up, had to be called in?

But were considered "AWOL" ?

They chose to stay off the road.

Both were correct, but fewer customers needs were met as a result.



If you are not necessary personnel, follow news and weather for your area. Stay off the roads unnecessarily and be prepared.

Your forethought can have you better prepared for emergencies.

Your local conditions can make the difference for how critical

your "needs" could be.

Taking a snowday means your car sat till the snow melted, and was

not subjected to the dangers.

Venturing out to find trouble? That means you must think ahead,

have the vehicle's needs met. Stay out of the way of those "necessary"

people, and their function.

As you get experience, mostly bad, you will see why.

Then the choice for vehicle to take is known to you.

It is the one you can afford, maintain, and prepare, then operate wisely.

Answer 32

no

Answer 33

f