FWD or AWD?

[MATR6]

Just because you get snow tires & your FWD car have better traction than an AWD with all seasons. Well of course, but it does not make FWD better than AWD.
Some people don't want to switch to winter tires or have room to store another set of wheels/tires.
Buying an AWD with all season is the best all around choice if you live in snowy climate.
Also in the wet, the AWD will take off from a red light at WOT while FWD slips at times. Also if there's gravel or any debris on the road, WOT from a stop will break the front wheels loose.
After owning 2 AWD cars now & previously 5-6 FWD cars, I'll never buy a FWD car again.
I'll pay more for the added maintenance, -1 to 2 mpg & higher cost of the vehicle to get better traction.

 

[Dr_Watson]

um, you do realize the Mazda is FWD not AWD and it has summer tires, don't you? That video is stupid comparing a 2WD to two 4wd vehicles, and the bmw has snow tires as well. If the cars were evenly equipped it would be better but even then, they do some things in the video that make the comparison null.

The Mazda is AWD! Did you watch the video at 3:35s?

The point is how the CX5 system works, not comparing the cars performance.

 

[Surfsup]

Well there must be something wrong with the Mazda then. At 2:05, you clearly see the fronts spinning and no engagement from the rears. At 3:35 I see the rears do engage for a second or two only. I don't get it. The AWD seems to be malfunctioning? Also as the Mazda goes back down you can see the fronts lock up when the driver brakes and the rears keep turning. Personally, I have to say based on the video, the Mazda has a problem that needs to be serviced! I hope this is not normal behavior for the vehicle-because I bought an AWD CX5 a couple days ago!

 

[dougal]

Well there must be something wrong with the Mazda then. At 2:05, you clearly see the fronts spinning and no engagement from the rears. At 3:35 I see the rears do engage for a second or two only. I don't get it. The AWD seems to be malfunctioning? Also as the Mazda goes back down you can see the fronts lock up when the driver brakes and the rears keep turning. Personally, I have to say based on the video, the Mazda has a problem that needs to be serviced! I hope this is not normal behavior for the vehicle-because I bought an AWD CX5 a couple days ago!

I always that that for some cars, the AWD system really only helps in certain low speed situations and only for a short period of time. I may be wrong, but I thought the CR-V had a AWD system that started as AWD until about 15 MPH (or something like that) and then switch to FWD. The AWD system would only turn back on again if there was a slippage at low speed.

 

[jjw6455]

Could be the rear tires on the other side of the vehicle were the ones that were driven.

 

[vroom]

Buying an AWD with all season is the best all around choice if you live in snowy climate.

Get this in you head people: all seasons in real winter conditions are just plain dangerous. All seasons in freezing temps are like having plastic wheels, because that is about as hard as the rubber of these tires gets. Just make space for the other set, or get them stored. It's your life, your passengers and the others on the road that is at stake for crying out loud. AWD makes no difference whatsoever. In fact, it probably just makes you overconfident and reckless. AWD just makes it more fun off the line and prevents wheel slip in a straight line or on hills. Once you get going, everyone has four whells keeping them on the road, its what's on these wheels that makes a difference.

I got AWD cause it's more fun, and prevents me from getting stuck when I'm plowed in. I also got winter tires cause I care for the life of my little girl when she's riding with me. Oh yeah, and they are mandatory in the winter here too, best law ever passed: winter death toll has plumeted on the roads since it was implemented.

 

[costermonger]

Some people don't want to switch to winter tires or have room to store another set of wheels/tires.
Buying an AWD with all season is the best all around choice if you live in snowy climate.

Those people should park their cars in the winter then. There's no situation in which 'best', 'all season' and 'snow' belong together.

It should be (and increasingly, is) illegal to use all season tires on snow and ice.

If it only affected your own experience with the car (that's where AWD/FWD matters) then I wouldn't care. But using all seasons in the winter endangers other people. Not ok.

 

[garyd9]

The problem with snow tires is that, while there's nothing better below freezing and in the snow/ice, they absolutely suck in warmer wet weather. The whole idea of "all season" tires is that they are a compromise tire. They aren't as bad as summer tires in the freezing/snow, and not as bad as winter tires in the warmer rain.

In just the current month, the weather where I live has varied from a high of 57 F to a low of -3 F. In fact, just this past weekend we had highs in the 50's (F) with very wet roads, but this morning it was 14 F with snow. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm certainly not going to change my tires every three days...

 

[vroom]

The problem with snow tires is that, while there's nothing better below freezing and in the snow/ice, they absolutely suck in warmer wet weather. The whole idea of "all season" tires is that they are a compromise tire. They aren't as bad as summer tires in the freezing/snow, and not as bad as winter tires in the warmer rain.

In just the current month, the weather where I live has varied from a high of 57 F to a low of -3 F. In fact, just this past weekend we had highs in the 50's (F) with very wet roads, but this morning it was 14 F with snow. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm certainly not going to change my tires every three days...

You might want to look at this then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI

All seasons are only good in summer and in the transitionnal periods in spring and fall when temperatures are on average above 7oC (45F), but light snow dustings are still possible. As you said, in these case you are at least partly covered. When the average temps get below 45F, winter tires are always best, wet or not.

 

[MATR6]

Those people should park their cars in the winter then. There's no situation in which 'best', 'all season' and 'snow' belong together.

It should be (and increasingly, is) illegal to use all season tires on snow and ice.

If it only affected your own experience with the car (that's where AWD/FWD matters) then I wouldn't care. But using all seasons in the winter endangers other people. Not ok.

When is there snow & ice on the roads ALL the time? Maybe in Canada but not here.
They wouldn't pass a law to require snow tires since they plow pretty good here after a storm.
So why should I spend another ~$1000 on another set of tires?
I'm driving on pavement within a few hours after the snow stops & snow tires are not going to give me much more grip than all seasons.
Plus even if everyone had snow tires, heavy, unplowed snow causes congestion & no one is going more than 20mph.
Snow tires is not going to help much.
You can prove your point all day long but if it's not illegal to drive with all seasons, no one is going to buy snow tires.
I've had snow tires on my FWD Toyota Matrix before. After the it stopped snowing & roads were plowed I felt no difference & felt just as safe as my AWD CX-5 with all seasons.

And the topic of discussion here is AWD vs FWD not all season vs snow tires.

 

[CX-SV]

All good points about AWD/FWD/snow and winter tires/all seasons, but generalizations don't always apply for every region in North America.

In the state of California for example, we have our own differences specific to the region and climate. Frequent snow skiers/snow boarders visiting major ski resorts in Sierras are well aware of "chain controls" during storms and the need for AWD/4WD to avoid "chaining-up". That "chain control" requirement alone justifies AWD/4WD and resale value in the region reflects the value of AWD/4WD too.

 

[V8toilet]

The problem with snow tires is that, while there's nothing better below freezing and in the snow/ice, they absolutely suck in warmer wet weather. The whole idea of "all season" tires is that they are a compromise tire. They aren't as bad as summer tires in the freezing/snow, and not as bad as winter tires in the warmer rain.

In just the current month, the weather where I live has varied from a high of 57 F to a low of -3 F. In fact, just this past weekend we had highs in the 50's (F) with very wet roads, but this morning it was 14 F with snow. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm certainly not going to change my tires every three days...

Well said.

It's the speed that kills not the slippery conditions because people just won't slow down in a snow storm. I have vehicles pass me going over 60 mph on snow covered highways and I swear the worst offenders are the ones who drive vehicles with AWD. I have witnessed at least 3 different occasions where these drivers have wiped out including one that was passing me. I don't want the government telling me I have to do one more thing but if it has to come to that I would rather see them enforce mandatory lower speed limits rather than make me spend another $1200 on snow tires and have to change those out a few times a year. I shouldn't get penalized by the government because of a minority of stupid drivers want to drive way too fast on snow covered roads and endanger everyone else.

 

[CX-SV]

^ Yes, given the topic is AWD vs. FWD (CX-5), we also observe similar incidents in CA of very poor driving in snow frequently involving 4WD SUVs and they often end up stuck in a ditch or rolled over further down the road.

 

[vroom]

Yes, pretty much the point I was trying to make. AWD should never take the place of reason (slowing down in bad conditions, putting on winter tires in winter, etc.).

 

[ALafya]

In the state of California for example, we have our own differences specific to the region and climate. Frequent snow skiers/snow boarders visiting major ski resorts in Sierras are well aware of "chain controls" during storms and the need for AWD/4WD to avoid "chaining-up". That "chain control" requirement alone justifies AWD/4WD and resale value in the region reflects the value of AWD/4WD too.

That's why I got an AWD, pretty much to satisfy Caltrans but also so I can get out of the parking lot. I am riding all-season tires because it is still pretty warm / completely clear 99% of the time and I just drive carefully in the rare case conditions are bad AND I happened to travel up/down the mountain when it happens. I do know some people use winter tires here, but it does not make sense to me.

 

[CX-SV]

That's why I got an AWD, pretty much to satisfy Caltrans but also so I can get out of the parking lot. I am riding all-season tires because it is still pretty warm / completely clear 99% of the time and I just drive carefully in the rare case conditions are bad AND I happened to travel up/down the mountain when it happens. I do know some people use winter tires here, but it does not make sense to me.

Yep, that's the drill in California, and it's very consistent and predictable. Keeping in mind these are high altitude all weather mountain pass highways.

I can't speak to other states with high mountain ranges and similar highways though....

 

[danieljw]

Exactly. To have snows on front and All Seasons on the rear is inviting a spin out at every use of the brakes. The weight of the car shifts to the front under braking, thus making the rear more likely to slide. Combine that with less traction in the rear and you have a recipe for disaster.

Indeed. Here's what happens with all-seasons only on the rear!

Story here.

 

[V8toilet]

Indeed. Here's what happens with all-seasons only on the rear!

Story here.

Funny, I've seen that happen in summer with cars that had high performance tires too.

 

[CX-SV]

Indeed. Here's what happens with all-seasons only on the rear!

Story here.

Funny, I've seen that happen with truck-based SUVs running Mud/Snow tires too.

 

[MikeM.]

The problem with snow tires is that, while there's nothing better below freezing and in the snow/ice, they absolutely suck in warmer wet weather. The whole idea of "all season" tires is that they are a compromise tire. They aren't as bad as summer tires in the freezing/snow, and not as bad as winter tires in the warmer rain.

In just the current month, the weather where I live has varied from a high of 57 F to a low of -3 F. In fact, just this past weekend we had highs in the 50's (F) with very wet roads, but this morning it was 14 F with snow. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm certainly not going to change my tires every three days...

Actually, that's not true. My Goodyear Ultra grip winter radials have very impressive performance in warm, wet weather. Better than the OEM all-season radials in terms of corner grip and braking. I've tested them up to 65 degrees. They also have better steering response (more direct feel during turn initiation). The main issue with running winter radials in warmer weather is accelerated wear of the softer rubber compounds but that is the price for far better performance in the nasty While there are better tires for arctic type conditions, these are very good on ice and snow and just as impressive in the dry and wet pavement in moderate temperatures.