Visiting Pittsburgh in Dec. Do I need to rent a 4wheel drive car? (weather, good)

[ferraris]

It's definitely not worth paying extra for. There are like five days every five years for which it would actually be necessary, and those days are not very likely to be in December. It gets cold here, but there's usually not much snow in December.

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by ferraris

It's definitely not worth paying extra for. There are like five days every five years for which it would actually be necessary, and those days are not very likely to be in December. It gets cold here, but there's usually not much snow in December.

I looked online because I am watching concrete dry and It is incredibly boring. A missile is 195 a week and a 4x4 sub is 398

[norcider]

any FWD car with good tires should suffice. If your rental has baldies you could be in a world of hurt if we get even 2 inches.

[SteelCityRising]

I've been a delivery driver during snow storms here and have navigated city streets with a Mazda3, Honda Civic Hybrid, and now a Honda Fit with very limited difficulty. Of course I also made sure my tires all had good tread on them (something any rental car agency should be checking often on their fleet anyways). I live in a very hilly neighborhood, too, by the way, and we never feel isolated when it snows.

[crae09]

I do not own a 4wd car and its ok. like another post said, 4-5 days tops with heavy snow making it hard to drive. those days usually happen mid January and February. sometimes we don't even see snow in dec lol

[norcider]

Originally Posted by crae09

I do not own a 4wd car and its ok. like another post said, 4-5 days tops with heavy snow making it hard to drive. those days usually happen mid January and February. sometimes we don't even see snow in dec lol

Yup, my lawn was lush green on 12/23 last year.

[BMan_152]

Don't waste your money on a 4wd rental.. We rarely get snow in december (it is typically concentrated in jan/feb) & if we do, it will likely be rather light snow that any fwd car could navigate..

Granted, snow navigation is all relative.. someone from buffalo would say that our worst snow storms are mere flurries, while someone from atlanta would consider even the slightest flurry to be the end of the world.. Either way, 4wd doesn't really help in snow to begin with.. Yes, it gives you slightly more traction going up a hill, but does absolutely nothing when it really matters (aka stopping)..

Also, one more point..
The municipalities here tend to really overcompensate when it comes to snow removal early in the winter (aka December) & gradually become more laid back as people get used to driving in winter conditions.. In december, you're more likely to have issues with navigating around giant salt mounds left on the road than snow/ice..

[8YearsinPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by danjor92

I am visiting the city for 4 days in December. I am trying to decide on a rental car. Would I need to get All wheel or 4 wheel drive to be safe driving around the city? I did not know if there will be snow/ice on the ground by then. We plan on making it as far north as Cranberry TWP also...
Thanks!

Good God, you don't even need a front wheel drive car

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by 8YearsinPittsburgh

Good God, you don't even need a front wheel drive car

I hear people in the Great White North Hills get around by rickshaw as a matter of fact. Hopes pulls Copanut and Mrs. Copanut around McCandless Crossing.

[villageidiot1]

Originally Posted by danjor92

I am visiting the city for 4 days in December. I am trying to decide on a rental car. Would I need to get All wheel or 4 wheel drive to be safe driving around the city? I did not know if there will be snow/ice on the ground by then. We plan on making it as far north as Cranberry TWP also...
Thanks!

You will be fine without an all wheel or 4 wheel drive as long as you stick to paved roads.