In snow? FWD vs AWD vs dedicated snow tires
- Thread starter philsey
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KidVermicious
New member
I haven't read the article yet, but I'd say tires are more important by a country mile. AWD doesn't help you stop.
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downpour11
New member
Spool in the front, ARB in the rear, and some FC-II's. 
TheArkMaster
New member
Your all wrong. :vader:
Its the driver. Bald tires, foot of snow, 2 am canyon drive. yepp
just fine.
driver then tires then drivetrain.
Its the driver. Bald tires, foot of snow, 2 am canyon drive. yepp
just fine.driver then tires then drivetrain.
nevada
Senior Member
Your all wrong. :vader:
Its the driver. Bald tires, foot of snow, 2 am canyon drive. yepp
driver then tires then drivetrain.
im not sure how serious you're being,
but I do have to agree to a point.
a great driver can do a lot, with inferior equipment.
whereas a mediocre driver can do ok with great equipment.
mistersnowman97
New member
Your all wrong. :vader:
Its the driver. Bald tires, foot of snow, 2 am canyon drive. yepp
driver then tires then drivetrain.
Truth. I've seen dozens of guys with sweet rigs but they simply have no idea how to navigate and control a car in the snow. It's all in experience
TheArkMaster
New member
I was half sarcastic. Obviously an idiot is an idiot, with or without good gear, but you give a good driver bad equipment and he'll make do. Give him good gear, he'll be even better.
wallytoo
Member
bald tires in the icy crap we often get here and you aren't going anywhere, no matter how good you think you are. and you are 19, which means you haven't experienced it all yet, no matter what you think.
i'll take really good snow tires, and front wheel drive any day over bald tires and 4wd/locked. hands down.
yes, the driver plays a role. so does the rest of the vehicle. but for the same driver, snow tires play a more crucial role than 4wd does.
i'll take really good snow tires, and front wheel drive any day over bald tires and 4wd/locked. hands down.
yes, the driver plays a role. so does the rest of the vehicle. but for the same driver, snow tires play a more crucial role than 4wd does.
BlackWorksInc
New member
Out of curiousity, how well do dedicated ATs fair? Not the generic stuff you get from the factory, but like Nitto TerraGrapplers and BFGs? I know there's a composition difference in the rubber also and some slightly different tread patterns; I'm just curious how these tires with their more agressively geared tread profiles match up to non-studded snow tires?
nevada
Senior Member
the difference is like the difference between 2wd, and 4wd.
I REALLY like BFG at's, but compared to actual snow tires, they are crap.
eddiebx
New member
I think this would depend a lot on exactly which AT tires you are talking about...some do better than others in the snow I think? For example, GY Duratrac has the "severe snow" seal of approval, while BFG All-Terrain T/A KO do not.
I don't have the most experience driving in the super deep snow since we don't get as much here as people way up north, but I have had my fair share of snow tires on all sorts of vehicles to weigh in on this.
I can best describe the snow handling and performance of my Duratrac tires as something along the lines of a "high performance" snow tire. The high performance style snow tire is geared towards sportier vehicles, and provides you with a blend of pretty decent traction in the snow (light years ahead of any all season) and sufficient on-road handling when you're not in snow.
If you've ever driven dedicated Q rated non-studded snow tires, you will know how "disconnected" you feel from the road (I think due to the really soft rubber compound and deep treads?). The high performance style snow tire substantially eliminates this feeling, but also sacrifices some snow traction.
I must say that Duratrac tires plus 4WD is pretty much unstoppable and very "da bomb" like in loosely packed snow. However, they are just so so on hard packed snow, and of course not great on ice; but all non-studded tires pretty much suck on ice, lol.
BlackWorksInc
New member
The Nitto Terra Grapplers I have my on 4Runner seem to do pretty well in the snow and mud. Granted they load up quick, but even in January they were pretty decent grip in the snow and I did some recoveries without much drama in terms of excessive wheel spin.
I haven't used dedicated snow tires or chains in a long long time.
I haven't used dedicated snow tires or chains in a long long time.
wallytoo
Member
hakka Qs are pretty good on the ice. but on ice, it's all about stopping, so speed awareness is key.
obviously, there's a difference in the "normal" snow types, too. fluffy powder is much easier to drive in than slushy, heavy snow.
fwiw, my cj did pretty well in the snow in 2wd with both swamper radials and ltb tires, even with the lock-right in the back. still, my wife's corolla, with hakkas, was better.
TheArkMaster
New member
Calm down there ace. I'm not saying i'm an amazing driver. and I'm not saying I wouldn't take front wheel drive with good tires. All i'm saying is Driver-> Tires -> Drivetrain. Don't get your panties in twist.
philsey
New member
Your all wrong. :vader:
Its the driver. Bald tires, foot of snow, 2 am canyon drive. yepp
driver then tires then drivetrain.
Please read more carefully: the thread topic is snow. You really shouldn't post ignorant stuff like this, some 19 YO may take it seriously.
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eddiebx
New member
Grandpa is right, us older folks have gone through enough to know not to take your comment as fact, but younger kids might take you seriously (like how you're taking yourself seriously, lol).
There's going to be unexpected road situations where it does not matter how talented of a driver you are, you WILL either have to pull over on the side of the road and wait, or crash into a ditch trying to drive if you don't have the proper tires.
For example an unexpected blizzard rolled through several years ago when I was heading back down home from Canada in the middle of the night. I was on a major interstate highway where the exits are spaced ~20-30 miles apart, and also absolutely nada once you get off the highway besides open fields of nothing.
It was near whiteout conditions and I couldn't see more than 5-10 feet due to how heavy the snow was coming down. My snow tires were barely grabbing on during the steeper sections, but I had no choice but to keep on moving. It was either keep moving at a slow pace, or pull off to the side of the road and risk being hit by other approaching cars because it is pitch black and close to zero visibility.
Had I not had the proper tires, I would've never made it those 20-30 miles to the next exit even. Of course since I was properly equipped, I stayed on the highway and rode out the blizzard, which cleared up after about an hour of white knuckle driving.
Obviously you need some experience to endure blizzard conditions like that even with snow tires, but my point is I'm almost positive NO driver would be able to make it through such conditions on all season tires, let alone summer tires or bald tires.
TheArkMaster
New member
Hell, I would have pulled off the road. I'm smart enough to know My all weather tires couldn't make it. anyways. bottom line. drivers, tires, car. The driver makes the decisions. Boom. End discussion.
Youngerarlaw
New member
You're all close to right. Last word.
