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I'm not particularly happy with my Jeep Wrangler right now as far as it's performance on snow and ice. Our Subaru and pickup are much better. I was coming home from Spokane tonight in light snow and the Jeep slid three times at low speeds. It's going in tomorrow to have studs put on and we'll see how it does then. I don't remember my last Jeep being so unstable.
My opinion is if you've never driven in snow before, FWD is a better learning tool because you will be alerted to slippery condition via vehicle feedback much earlier than you would with AWD. When the road is just patchy, AWD can often feel as if the road is fine whereas FWD would have slipped a little. This is very important because if you don't know what to look for and didn't feel it, stopping will can be "fun" and once moving AWD does nothing for you that FWD doesn't.
Another thing to note.. AWD does not exempt you from purchasing snow/ice/winter tires. While it will still help you get moving, as stated earlier, it will not help you stop or turn and dedicated winter tires tires will. Although they are an added expense, they can be justified by the added safety and the fact that while you are using your snow tires, your all season or summer tires are being prolonged.
My opinion is if you've never driven in snow before, FWD is a better learning tool because you will be alerted to slippery condition via vehicle feedback much earlier than you would with AWD. When the road is just patchy, AWD can often feel as if the road is fine whereas FWD would have slipped a little. This is very important because if you don't know what to look for and didn't feel it, stopping will can be "fun" and once moving AWD does nothing for you that FWD doesn't.
Another thing to note.. AWD does not exempt you from purchasing snow/ice/winter tires. While it will still help you get moving, as stated earlier, it will not help you stop or turn and dedicated winter tires tires will. Although they are an added expense, they can be justified by the added safety and the fact that while you are using your snow tires, your all season or summer tires are being prolonged.
Good point, ILI, AWD will still require snow tires at a minimum. But I'm not as sure I agree that they help you stop any better. But----
My father retired from the AF and spent 15 years works as a service manager in a number of different tire stores. His favorite line was, "Most people think that brakes are their number one safety feature. They are not. The steering wheel is, and the steering wheel is only as good as the tires you have on your vehicle."
Good point, ILI, AWD will still require snow tires at a minimum. But I'm not as sure I agree that they help you stop any better. But----
My father retired from the AF and spent 15 years works as a service manager in a number of different tire stores. His favorite line was, "Most people think that brakes are their number one safety feature. They are not. The steering wheel is, and the steering wheel is only as good as the tires you have on your vehicle."
And all of that is only as good as the nut behind the wheel.
I'm not particularly happy with my Jeep Wrangler right now as far as it's performance on snow and ice. Our Subaru and pickup are much better. I was coming home from Spokane tonight in light snow and the Jeep slid three times at low speeds. It's going in tomorrow to have studs put on and we'll see how it does then. I don't remember my last Jeep being so unstable.
Les Schwab put brand new studs on so my Jeep is back in business. Tracks along like a cat now. I'm glad...I hate being unhappy with my jeep.
I checked in with my cousin in Powell Wy. on this topic and he said he would sell everything he owns before he will give up his GMC Denali AWD. He says it's a year around issue with him. He told me that if you happen to hit an elk in anything smaller, your probably going to die. he told me that a lot of small cars get "totaled" every year by deer jumping out in front of them on the highway.
Les Schwab put brand new studs on so my Jeep is back in business. Tracks along like a cat now. I'm glad...I hate being unhappy with my jeep.
You scared me Misty, I love my Wrangler and figured with the right rubber, they should do fine. I've never known anyone who had a Subaru though that wasn't happy with it.
I checked in with my cousin in Powell Wy. on this topic and he said he would sell everything he owns before he will give up his GMC Denali AWD. He says it's a year around issue with him. He told me that if you happen to hit an elk in anything smaller, your probably going to die. he told me that a lot of small cars get "totaled" every year by deer jumping out in front of them on the highway.
I worry more about moose than elk. And if you hit a moose in anything less than a tank, it's going to really ruin your day.
If drivers would slow down at dusk and night and realize that the likelihood is high that deer, etc will be stepping out in front of them, it would go a long way to keeping them and their vehicle in one piece.
An entire flipping herd of deer stepped out in front of me last night near Diamond Lake. I was only going 35 mph but my jeep was heading sideways toward them. Luckily, we missed.
You scared me Misty, I love my Wrangler and figured with the right rubber, they should do fine. I've never known anyone who had a Subaru though that wasn't happy with it.
My tires were a bit higher and wider than they needed to be for winter and the guys at Les Schwab ( I love Schwabbies!) said they would make the jeep "float" over the snow. Oh...they certainly did.
Snow tires actually DO help you stop better, it's been proven by many independent testers; however given the right conditions they still don't stop well but you will save a few feet from a standard all season tire and that could mean a lot if there is a person in a crosswalk, etc. Best yet is still knowing how to actually use the brake pedal and not just stomp on it and hold it.
Sipes, studs (or not) and tread compound all make a difference and if you can have all 3 meet your driving conditions, winter driving can be much more pleasant. While on the topic of studs: studs do not help with acceleration or braking in snow; only ice.
Last edited by ILI.EB; 12-19-2012 at 03:42 PM..
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Good point
but you will save a few feet from a standard all season tire and that could mean a lot if there is a person in a crosswalk, etc. Best yet is still knowing how to actually use the brake pedal and not just stomp on it and hold it. 
