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Sorry if this is a dumb question, but are winter tires recommended for vehicles that are already 4WD? My Google search came across winter tires being recommended for SUVs, but I found nothing about whether the tires are recommended for 4WDs.
The vehicle I have also has vehicle stability assist, if that makes any difference.
You're going to get a lot of "shot's in the dark" advice that won't amount to hill of beans unless you tell us exactly what your vehicle is and where (generally) you live and or drive.
So far the "shooters" here are missing the mark by a long ways......
if its cold and below 40 degress it dont matter what the vehicle or what your driving on.
regular tires harden as the temperature drops colder and colder giving you less grip even on dry pavement. winter tires stay soft and pliable hense the name winter tires and not just snow tires
Possibly not always so noticeable in an auto depending what gear you are in, I drive older cars, so I'm not familiar with new models
However, in snow and ice, one should attempt to rely on engine braking to a greater extent, it's application isn't so sudden, and the wheels are much less likely to lock.
It's a much more gradual and gentle way to alter speed in bad conditions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilson513
I doubt that. Where do you get that? AWD usually only transfers power to non drive wheels after sensing slippage. Do you have a basis for saying all wheels are engaged when power is coming from the road to the engine? Cite?
Last edited by bobman; 11-22-2011 at 04:26 PM..
Reason: more detail
Agreed, not always so noticeable in an auto depending what gear you are in.
Power comes from gravity but is transmitted from the tires to the engine. I agree that 4wd has two wheel engine braking, but does AWD have 4 wheel engine braking. I'm open to accept it, but I can't see how it could happen since in most AWD you have one wheel drive unless the sensors detect rotation disparity and then engage the other wheels by fluid transfer. What would the rotation disparity be?
As I say in my post, I'm not sure how if works, maybe someone else can clear it up.
The diffs transfer power, but I don't believe they sense if it's being braked. It's done through torque sensors. If torque isn't being applied, then it can't sense.
Have you ever seen the videos of the LandRovers going down a near vertical hill iwithout usin the footbrake ?
They rely on engine braking mostly for that.
Different manufacturers may have different systems, but I've always been under the impression that all drive wheels are engine braked.
I'll stand before everyone and eat my words if I'm proved wrong, however !!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilson513
Power comes from gravity but is transmitted from the tires to the engine. I agree that 4wd has two wheel engine braking, but does AWD have 4 wheel engine braking. I'm open to accept it, but I can't see how it could happen since in most AWD you have one wheel drive unless the sensors detect rotation disparity and then engage the other wheels by fluid transfer. What would the rotation disparity be?
** EDITED**
Taken from a Wikipedia article
Quote:
Advantages
In terms of handling, traction and performance, 4WD systems generally have most of the advantages of both front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. Some unique benefits are:
Traction is nearly doubled compared to a two-wheel drive layout. Given sufficient power, this results in unparalleled acceleration and driveability on surfaces with less than ideal grip, and superior engine braking on loose surfaces. The development of 4WD systems for high performance cars was stimulated primarily by rallying.
Handling characteristics in normal conditions can be configured to emulate FWD or RWD, or some mixture, even to switch between these behaviours according to circumstance. However, at the limit of grip, a well balanced 4WD configuration will not degenerate into either understeer or oversteer, but instead break traction of all 4 wheels at the same time into a four-wheel drift. Combined with modern electronic driving aids, this flexibility allows production car engineers a wide range of freedom in selecting handling characteristics that will allow a 4WD car to be driven more safely at higher speeds by inexpert motorists than 2WD designs.
You're going to get a lot of "shot's in the dark" advice that won't amount to hill of beans unless you tell us exactly what your vehicle is and where (generally) you live and or drive.
So far the "shooters" here are missing the mark by a long ways......
First of all, with reference to a post elsewhere in this thread, I thought AWD and 4WD were different things? My understanding is that all 4 wheels engage or whatever they do with 4WD. I have a 4WD 2011 Honda Pilot EX-L.
I live in Manitoba, where it gets cold, cold, cold. Generally not much snow - we're too dry for that. At certain times there is of course more snow, and ice on the road.
We've always used all-seasons but it suddenly occurred to me that I've never heard of someone putting winter tires on a 4WD and I was wondering if that was because they aren't necessary because the 4WD solves the problem along with the stability assist, or whether it was because I just haven't heard of it
If you get a bad winter, and have regular temperatures at or below 5ºC, then you should fit them. Especially if you expect snow. Modern studless tyres are just as good as studded tyres of old.
I live in Norway, and they make a HUGE difference
If it's 5-10º+, and largely snow free, then all seasons will be acceptable as a compromise, but they often suck in the wet, or if it's just a bit damp..
What we do here is to visit a breakers and buy another set of wheels so we can have winter or all season/ summer and change between.
I can't advise on tyre make, different makes might be available where you are, but stick to the well known makes. Michelin, Goodyear etc.
I see Blizzaks getting good props on here.
Remember, winter tyres may be expensive, but can you put a price on your life ?
You should also be sure to replace them if tread depth starts to drop below 4mm
Quote:
Originally Posted by netwit
First of all, with reference to a post elsewhere in this thread, I thought AWD and 4WD were different things? My understanding is that all 4 wheels engage or whatever they do with 4WD. I have a 4WD 2011 Honda Pilot EX-L.
I live in Manitoba, where it gets cold, cold, cold. Generally not much snow - we're too dry for that. At certain times there is of course more snow, and ice on the road.
We've always used all-seasons but it suddenly occurred to me that I've never heard of someone putting winter tires on a 4WD and I was wondering if that was because they aren't necessary because the 4WD solves the problem along with the stability assist, or whether it was because I just haven't heard of it
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