AWD vs. FWD for Traction in Snow

Yes AWD will help you with traction, but often this makes people foolishly fearless in bad weather. An old off road warning about four wheel drive should be kept in mind. Four wheel drive means that one can drive deeper into the woods before requiring a tow.

I assume that FWD is 4 wheel drive. All wheel drive is just like 4 wheel drive that works all the time. The more driven wheels you have the better. The newer vehicles are designed for all wheel drive and get reasonable gas mileage, so, by all means go for AWD.

Yes, AWD will help with traction.

I assumed and I believe the automotive industry standard FWD means Front Wheel Drive. 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) maintains the slip required between right and left tires that is required when one makes a turn (longer travel length) but does not allow for slip between front and rear axles and often the front axle spins slightly faster than the rear axle. This is a preferred for off road use but will wear out tires faster with road use. All Wheel Drive (AWD) provides slippage between all four wheels and does not add any additional wear to the tires but not as much added traction as 4WD.

That is what I was thinking but couldn't articulate it. I knew 4WD has better traction but couldn't think of how to say why.

Drew

What is it "they" say? It is better to not respond and appear dumb than to respond incorrectly and remove all doubt.

Well, I've removed all doubt.

Thanks for the clarification.

Okay, I have driven both 4wd and Awd, in icy and snow conditions. On the basis of that experience I would not recommend all wheel drive. Four wheel drive is better - the best in fact for the winter conditions IMO. In my experience, an allwd will spin out in slippery conditions where a 4wd would have no problem at all.

Incidentally, I have the same feeling about sudden stops at high speed with allwd - the car handles like it wants to do a 360 instead of a stop under those conditions - although I haven't actually done it, I beware.

Please disregard my earlier comments. The advice of both artsmith and redfred comes from people who obviously drive in the snow regularily.

I live in the desert, what do I know about snow? Not much.

Listen to the guys who know.

Good luck and safe motoring.

GA from me.

I too have driven the lake effect snow covered roads of that part of New York State. Highway 104 between Rochester and Ontario every workday for three years. Many times; while driving cautiously on fresh snow, I was passed by some aggressive, over confident driver in a four wheel drive vehicle. As mjb said, you would often pass them a mile or so down the road off in the ditch. Added a little humor to an otherwise tense situation.

Given that experience I have to agree with everything mjb said.

Given the sweltering condition at the moment, it's a little odd to be talking about snow and ice!

It's been awhile since I drove a FWD (front wheel drive) but if I had to rate all types for traction on a crap icy road, it would be in this order: 4 wheel drive best, front wheel drive second best, all wheel drive third, and rear wheel drive last.

A front wheel drive with decent snow tires is perfectly okay, but there's no doubt 4wd is better - and I do assume snow tires in all cases - I wouldn't drive in winter without them.

I don't think they even sell RWD's up here any more (do they still make em?). My last one was a Caprice Classic with ABS, and honestly was pretty good on the road with snows on the front and studs on the back. Try getting her out of an icy parking spot, though... forget it!! Spin and wait for spring.

"It's been awhile since I drove a FWD (front wheel drive) but if I had to rate all types for traction on a crap icy road, it would be in this order: 4 wheel drive best, front wheel drive second best, all wheel drive third, and rear wheel drive last." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting theory - that FWD bests AWD in snow/ice. If you drive in an area with frequent ice/snow on the roads - you're best off with AWD. AWD is always engaged (at the ready) - so you don't have to consider whether or not the road conditions require 4WD (and you can't run in 4WD all the time because of engine/drive-train wear and MPG considerations). Any road in these areas may be 'mostly great' until you round a corner and hit just enough 'black-ice' to send you to the ER. So - you rely on AWD to make that instant call for you. I'm sure some will find something to argue about - hell, we still have a 'flat-earth society' too - but this question is a no-brainer for anyone who's had to drive in lots of inclement weather. I'd also argue that -->most<-- 4WD systems are not not advanced enough to be as effective as a good AWD system. Some are. If I needed to drive in ice/snow conditions frequently (and I do) - and I had 'bang for buck' considerations - I'd buy a Subaru Outback. In fact it would require $15-25k additional disposable income before I thought of anything else. My 2 (snow and ice covered) cents.

Oh... and you did say Upstate NY snow... most of my snow miles are on those roads. Some may not realize it but these roads are among the snowiest-iciest roads in the country (east of the Great Lakes / constant lake effect snow - but don't take my word for it - check the stats) ---------------------------------------- Great Winter Tires (not all season tires!) and careful driving are more important than any drive train though. Safe driving.

I live in Newfoundland, in a rural area. I have had to drive in lots of inclement weather and neglected road conditions in winter. They are not "mostly great", unfortunately. If you think my opinion is on some inexperienced basis, well, you are wrong, Mr. Guest. I don't understand why people like you choose to be insulting instead of just stating your opinion.

"... you rely on AWD to make that instant call for you". Well this may be a point of preference. The front wheel drive requires skill to handle icy conditions - a skill the OP will have developed from past experience; the all wheel drive does not permit you to engage any such skill and if the car decides to spin, too bad. You have no control.

I'm talking about a Subaru Impreza AWD, I've been driving the last 5 years. That's a small car, the Outback is heavier and no doubt has better handling in winter conditions, as does any SUV or crossover vehicle, irrespective of the FWD/AWD or 4WD. It's a common strategy to load a few sacks of sand in the back of a small car, here, to add traction in the worst conditions. Weight. Like winter tires, an important point. Another reason why so many people just choose SUV's, most are 4WD though.

You say you would buy an Outback, and you say you drive in ice/snow conditions frequently, but you didn't say what you are actually driving. Is AWD "the thing you want" in your fantasy, or is it the thing you drive every day in the ice and snow?

BTW, I have been in an accident on black ice. It was "NO WHEEL DRIVE", no brakes, no nothing to do but wait for impact. I don't know that any system is proof against black ice.

AWD is the best especially if it is a modern street car system that is electronically controlled. Various sensor read wheel speeds and the axis of travel then make inputs to keep you straight and safe! Your old FWD cannot compare to a modern AWD both in safety and capability!