Do you really need all-wheel drive? | Consumer Reports
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- čas přidán 28. 09. 2015
- Automakers market AWD as a safety shield against winter weather, but our evaluations of an AWD Honda CR-V and a front drive Toyota Camry shows that snow tires are more effective in stopping & cornering.
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Why didn't they compare the AWD CR-V with a FWD CR-V rather than a FWD Toyota Camry? Wouldn't that be a more valid comparison?
+Michael Miller Yes it would! That makes you, me, and at least a few others smarter than them! Go to the head of the class.
+classiccarz Well they could have used 2 Rav4s, then.
+Michael Miller no.
+Michael Miller I think it was to show people that a puny FWD car could handle snow and ice much, much better than an AWD vehicle that only had all-seasons on them. Some people may otherwise assume that any FWD car is automatically inferior to AWD when driving in typical snow conditions on the road.
Yes, SUVs and trucks have a height advantage due to having higher clearance, and therefore less likely to get stuck in deeper snow compared to say, the Camry used in the video.
But next time you're driving in snow and ice, look at how many vehicles are in the ditches or in accidents, and see if it's a sedan, or a truck/SUV.
+Ashelm56 The title of the video is "Do you really need all-wheel drive?" and not "Do you really need a CUV or Sedan?" While this test is interesting it is not a valid argument to say the toyota is better in the snow than the honda. A more valid test would indeed have been, FWD Honda CR-V with and without snowtires vs AWD Honda CR-V with and without snow tires.
I agree snow tires are a must if you live in any of those areas that receive any amount of snow especially on non-city roads. But this particular comparison seems to be designed to be biased against AWD. Consumer Reports, I'd much rather see an actual fair comparison.
Here in Finland you're required by law to use winter tyres from the first of December to the end of February. 🇫🇮
+wynos0 The Nordic countryies, +wynos0 have a lot going on that is right, politically, socially, and economically ! Hope to visit one day.
+wynos0 even here 1000km south of Finland in Slovenia you are required to have winter tyres from 15.11 -> 15.3. And if snow falls outside these dates you also have to have winter tyres.
well its not only there, most (almost all) countries in Europe have the same regulations concerning winter tyres. Beside that all season tyres arent very popular here, we use winter tyres in winter and summer tyres for the rest of the year.
+wynos0 Same in Bulgaria, but starting from 1.11. You get fined if your tires and windshield liquid are not winter. And it is a good thing!
***** It's about the safety of the other people as well. Other drivers and pedestrians should not suffer from somoene''s dimbness and incompetence. It's like not driving drunk.
The problem is also that a lot of people don't know how to drive (in the winter especially)...
How so? Recklessly?
@@feiwong70 A lot of people I see driving with all seasons continue to drive like the roads aren't covered in snow and ice. Its not reckless if the roads are clear but you have to be familiar with the way your vehicle brakes and handles. And you also really need to keep a distance between other vehicles. You could be a really safe driver but theres always the chance of driving by black ice and you'd lose control of your vehicle, despite having winter tires (speaking from personal experience)
AWD or not, if you get alot of snow, get WINTER TIRES.
Of course winter tires important.
same car with same winter tires FWD vs AWD. Now that would be a relevant test.
And would be relevant to the title they picked.
True, but only for tracking. That's the ability to move forward. Having power to the wheels cannot help with braking. Having power to the wheels will also not help with turning unless you are utilising tracking to turn (which would be uncommon for most people at most times).
All things identical a FWD should stop faster because it is not carrying the additional weight of the more complex 4wd drive train.
i agree 100%. comparing fwd winter tires to awd all seasons is retarded. same car, awd vs fwd same tires is a fair comparison. you are dreaming in technicolor if awd/4wd is not a benefit in the snow. I work snow for a living, and driving with 4wd is so much easier on the vehicle, relaxing, safe, it starts off better and corners better, no spinning , wheel slip, or other crap that wears you out driving 16 hour shifts in snow. don’t be god damn fooled in to thinking fwd is as good as awd... because that is a horse shit blatant lie. more consumers reports bullshit
Yes but the result is the same. ;) AWD is a heavier car too so you're worse off on braking anyway, and in most user's hands, even on turns.
The point is to show that tires are MUCH more important in the snow as opposed to having all 4 tires turning ... which only helps you start going faster or climbing steep hills.
I have lived in a wintery part of Canada my whole life and my family always changed to winter tires in winter. There are people here who haven't ever equipped their vehicles with winter tires for winter road conditions, but I have heard people say they were surprised how big of a difference it made when they finally gave it a try.
When I was younger and poorer I just drove year-round on winter tires, I didn't drive my car enough for it to really wear my tires out prematurely.
When a large amount of snow hits, the first cars I usually see in the ditch or off the road first are AWD SUVs/Crossovers. Guessing it's because the drivers are overconfident and think just because it's AWD that it can go through snow easily.
I see a lot of pick up trucks in the ditch every winter
Drivetrains are only as good as their tyres. All vehicles are all-wheel brakes, which most people always mistakenly assume on AWD or 4WD.
Fact is a Fiat Panda 4x4 just isn't a Subaru AWD with winter tires.
there are more of them on the road these days- i see the FWD sedan stuck far more often
@@DavidVoxDem nothing beat the late 90s to 04 subaru awd system-
I live in Calgary and have a 4motion passat with studded winter tires. The traction of AWD is great on steep icey hills, and deep snow. I've been in several situations where most cars would get high centred or bogged down in deep snow. The tires help with off the line traction, braking and cornering. The only issue that has come to my attention that your tires are only as good as the person behind you.
This was just a series of "no shit"s.
Thank you for this video! Best breakdown in the AWD/FWD/Snow tire debate I've ever seen.
I wonder what percentage of that 41% wrecks in snow, sleet, ice and slush can be attributed to morons looking down at their phone instead of paying attention to the road?
Probably less from looking at their phone and more of driving too fast. Whenever I drive in slippery conditions there's always people passing me. Some even are cocky that they can drive fast since they have AWD / 4WD even though they can't brake any faster.
@@Excalibur2 So true. I drove in a winter storm on 27 Feb from Kingston to Toronto almost 250km. People were speeding in the first and middle lane like 120-130. The accident I saw done by a Chinese driver driving lexus IS250 AWD going like crazy. Visibility was low and snow was crazy.
Or driving too fast.
38%? 😆
Thank you!!!
I've gone through many northeastern snow storms and only ever had all-terrain tires on. Never spun out once in my 2012 Outback Limited. It's all about how fast you go and if you take corners at speed. It also matters if it's icy out or if it's just fresh snow too. I also go to Upstate NY and ski and they get incredible amounts of snow, but my car keeps me steady on the road. I know I don't use AWD every day, but when it matters, I'm happy I have it. Unfortunately, it also means I have no excuse to miss work since I won't be stuck and unable to make it!
People, keep in mind that this video is meant to help show you that just because you have AWD capabilities on your vehicle, it doesn't automatically make it safer to drive in snowy conditions. Driving slower, and using winter tires makes a HUGE difference, even if you're just driving a FWD car.
Tirerack also has lots of side by side comparison videos where they show you a car using all-seasons, summer tires, and winter tires on a hockey rink to show you how all those tires work when the weather is cold and you have icy roads to deal with.
Snow tires can be pricey, but it'll be cheaper than having to file an insurance claim if you hit the median or another vehicle due to not being able to stop in time. Not to mention the time you wasted, and the embarrassment of having to get a tow truck to pull your vehicle out of the ditch/snow bank.
I have to agree with most of the posts, that the driver's knowledge & skills determines how they fair in snow/ice conditions. Regardless of 4x4, AWD or 2WD, knowing your limits, knowing what your vehicle is limited to, makes all the difference in bad weather. Speed is the Achilles Heel in bad weather. Not giving enough space to stop the other. Weight over both axles is overlooked. Engine weight over FWD gives it traction. RWD needs weight in the boot/trunk to press down on those tires/tyres giving needed grip. I am old enough to be a grandparent and drove on glass belt tires/tyres before steel belt tires/tyres, which are rigid in cold weather...had a flat spot until it warmed. Easy start off and easy approach. I like to say drive as if you had a horse/stock trailer with scrambling load. Be smooth with all movements steering and braking. Do practice on a vacant lot. Each storm is different, e.g. ice under snow, ice over snow, etc. AWD, IMHO can snatch a bit as one grips as the other slips. I highly recommend drivers wear yellow lenses for glasses. Slip on or clip, it reduces glare at night and in snow. Nowadays with better weather radar, which I didn't have early in my life, its a heads up and stock up if bad weather. Best place to be in a storm is home or shelter in place. Its the other drivers who make it dangerous. Being arrogant about weather is a mistake. Again, its it's my opinions based on life's experience and driving multiple types of vehicle and drive trains...and, yes tires/tyres.
Um yes but mostly no, it doesnt matter how much shit you know. Ice is ice and if there is no traction, you arent gona magically find it. What actually matters most is tires > drivetrain > knowledge. End of story lol
And stop putting yourself and others on the road at risk. Buy some goddamn winter tires. and stop being an idiot with your no season tires. I am a great grand parent five times so I remember when in late fall everyone bought winter tires.
Until I got some Blizzaks I was ignorant to the difference winter vs All Seasons. I was lucky to find a set of (discontinued) DMZ2's for $30 a pop. That was 8 years ago, now days I throw on my Nokian Hakkas (I swear by them) at the first forecast of snow. As a NE Skier I seek out snow and will drive through a storm to get first tracks in the morning. The right set of tires could be the best bang for your buck upgrade you can for your car. NEVER go cheap on tires, they are the only part of the car that touches the ground, well if you are driving it right...
Raphael Kogan big Nokia’s fan here too. The best you can get.
A mechanic told me that any car with winter tires is better than every car without them.
Thanks for the reminder about the importance of snow tires. I think this report may have understated the case for all wheel drive since most incarnations of this system have traction and/or stability control built in which sends power to the wheel that slips thereby giving a significant advantage under average winter slip conditions. This is only enhanced on real roads with non-professional drivers.
Winter tires. Not snow tires.
Thanks for the realistic scenarios presented in this video! People with AWD and 4WD think they are invincible and thus don't need winter tires. During a recent snowstorm here in northern Utah, many of those people learned their lesson the hard way. The roads were so slick with black ice that the max speed at times was 45mph. And nearly every one of the dozens of wrecks I saw on my 35 mile commute involved an SUV or a pickup truck, no doubt many of them were equipped with either 4WD or AWD. I was pleasantly surprised that my RWD Hyundai Genesis equipped with Pirrelli Sottozeros gave me better traction and braking ability. That's proof enough for me that tires matter the most.
When it gets bad, a good set of chains beats winter tires every time. That's why there are chain laws in several western states when conditions warrant. There are no winter tire laws.
318,247 miles on my 79 Jeep Wagoneer it is equipped with quadra-trac has gotten me through snow storms since 1979 I really love it. Knowing your limitations is very essential.
Living in Massachusetts and West Virginia; throughout every bad snow storm, blizzard and so on. The vehicles I see most in ditches, on the side of highways, turned over, in accidents are SUVs and cars with AWD. So many people believe that if a vehicle has AWD/4WD that it prevents them from slipping and sliding in icy/snowy conditions and often I see them drive fast in such conditions. I've always had FWD drive cars since I started driving. The cars that I've owned that handled the best in snow with good all season tires were cars you wouldn't expect to do well in New England and West Virginia blizzard conditions.
Best:
2013 Prius V (wagon) I'm thinking because of the higher ground clearance than the standard Prius, plus the added extra weight of the body, plus weight of the battery pack in the rear. I've driven through two bad snow storms, cut through 7 inches of snow and cleared small snow banks without losing traction.
1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais. This little car was a beast in the snow. I driven this little car through countless blizzards , snow storms, northeasters, cut through a foot of snow and never once did I get stuck. The car was small and light, and the ground clearance was nearly 6 inches.
2008 Scion XB. Like the Oldsmobile, I've driven through countless blizzards, snow storms, northeasters both in Massachusetts and West Virginia. Even though it had low ground clearance, it cut through the snow like butter, even on all season tires. Only got stuck once trying to make it up a mountain road that was layered in ice.
Worst:
1989 Chrysler New Yorker. Car was big, heavy and was crap in the snow. Great car when there isn't snow and I actually enjoyed owning it, but it wasn't a good winter car.
1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass I had didn't last long enough to make it winter. Bought has a cheap clunker to get to work. Lasted a few months.
Ask towing companies what type of vehicle that they most often tow out of the ditch in winter it is awd and 4x4`s.The extra traction doesn`t compensate for stupid.
AWD drive helps you accelerate, it does not help you corner or stop. It's utterly baffling that so many people don't understand that.
Probably 4X4 pickup trucks with empty truck beds.
@@chunhaylee I say it's cause they get too bold on the road and think they are unstoppable
RB01138 - AWD helps you corner if you know how to drive and brake before you start to turn then gas up to exit a curve. Winter tires help.
The marketing and culture of AWD / 4x4 is deeply ingrained. Very difficult to convince people that want a AWD that they are better off in most cases getting a less hassle FWD w/ winter tire package. The few people I tried to provide information too about pros / cons of AWD vs buying an extra set of tires still ended up with AWD and all seasons. Now they get to pay for more on gas, maintenance and tires(less chance of replacing one tire if they are worn in AWD vehicles). The worst part is they barely ever actually have times to use the AWD in icy conditions so all those fair weather miles are completely unbenefited from their purchase. The rare times it does snow they still have worse stopping and swerving ability on their worn All Seasons. No one wants to deal with an extra stack of rims/tires which I understand.
In Minnesota this February we had the most snow fall for the month of February. My Subaru Forester gets around great!
maxwell smart May I ask which year? I’m in MN and looking for a forester for winter
I have a awd car for one reason, my driveway. I live in boston where the roads are all plowed well the day after a storm, but to get up my steep driveway after a recent snow storm, awd is a necessity, fwd even with snow tires wont cut it.I was disappointed that they didn't go into the differences between awd systems. Some like the Honda CR-v and RAv-4 use all open differentials, while Audi uses Torsen diff's on most of their cars, that makes a big difference when traveling at speed in snow.
Amazing report thank you !
Without proper tires, all wheel drive just gets you stuck further away from help.
Arven Tahtyan haha so true
Arven Tahtyan, what do you mean? you don't how to drive then. My 99 outback got me thru the blizzard in the NE of 2009 / 2010. Remember that it dropped several feet of snow overnight the week before christmas. I drove home that night and I saw dozens and dozens of cars abandoned on the side of highway. I just get regular cheap tires. A 3 lane highway turned to 1 lane, and I passed all the ice spreaders.
With proper tires, you will be stuck even further away from help. ;)
Arven Tahtyan bleh, back in the days, Audi a1 can zip through snow in alps with summer tires, not sure about now
Nah, not if you use common sense.
In 17 years of winter driving in my 4WD Suburban I have never been stuck in snow. Not even once. I would park it where no car dared. I had General Grabbers AT or Michelin AT. And I never had problems stopping either. Drive slower than normal and slow down earlier. No problems.
I drive an all wheel drive tahoe. I live in Idaho and have never had a problem with all season tires in the snow or ice. It comes down to driving at a reasonable speed. Very simple people. Awd has saved my life so I will always drive an awd vehicle. Such great machines.
As a Canadian with a lot of experience on ice and snow, I can say two things. No fucking shit you need winter tires. If you try to come up to Canada without winter tires, you've got a 90% chance of crashing your car. Consumer Reports basically took the essay topic, then wrote a narrative story. Secondly, AWD does help in winter significantly. As Consumer Reports said, it helps tremendously with acceleration on icy and loose surfaces, but it also helps with cornering a lot more than they report. When you're coming around on a highway on ramp and lose traction and start oversteering, a FWD car has a much lower chance of regaining traction than an AWD car does simply due to the fact that there's no power being sent to the rear tires to 'push' you out of the spin. This applies to pretty much any scenario where losing traction applies. An AWD car will always find traction earlier than a FWD or RWD car will. Feel free to debate on these subjects if you feel I'm wrong, as I'm always keen to learn new things that will keep me from crashing my car into a tree :)
+Canadian Attack Moose In the US, you are not required to own and use winter tires like you are in Canada. I never even considered buying a set of winter tires until I saw this video. I don't know a single friend or coworker who has winter tires; as far as I know, most people I know just have one set of tires per car (then again, I never ask people about this either). That why we need videos like these to educate ignorant people like me about what snow tires are/do and who should buy them.
+Canadian Attack Moose "Feel free to debate on these subjects if you feel I'm wrong, as I'm always keen to learn new things that will keep me from crashing my car into a tree :)" lol this is such a Canadian thing to say. most Americans on the internetz would instead say fight me grr
+Canadian Attack Moose ... Spot on about FWD. I lost FWD grip on an off-ramp, and did two complete 360's on the way down. Fortunately the spinning vehicle followed the banked turn and never left the road. But it did scare the crap outta me.
+John Noonan "In the US, you are not required to own and use winter tires like you are in Canada". Not all provinces in Canada requires you to have winter tires. But all of them are at least highly recommend them. (As far as I know, only Quebec has mandatory winter tires).
+Canadian Attack Moose
Winter tires + all-wheel drive + electronic stability control + not driving an idiot = pretty low chance of a crash
25 years of driving in snow and ice in the winters up here in Alaska i can say i dont need awd, its nice to have but when it comes down t it stopping is more important then going, a dedicated set of winter wheels are by far the 1 one choice in winter.
it already started snowing last week here :(
+siamiam for those of us who can't store an extra set of tires- is there any disadvantages in using winter tires all year round??
+siamiam What do you drive?
+thwipp89 winter tread will wear out a lot faster on dry roads
+thwipp89 Heat will ruin winter tires.
I assume there aren t a lot of Hills/mountains... here in Switzerland you will not go anywhere without awd. With fwd you need tyrechains to go uphill! And it s a pain to put in and it ruins speed and ride Quality.
Said in a way even stupid people can understand: If it snows, you need winter tires. If it snows a lot you need AWD AND winter tires.
Winter tires allow for better grip not only in snow, but in cold weather in general. The compound is softer, designed to offer maximum traction at lower temperatures.
AWD is a type of drivetrain. Power goes to all the wheels. But that's not enough! I've had people say to me: "I'll buy an suv and I'm good for any winter..."
No! Having power to all four wheels is good and all, but the tires are the ones giving you traction. For example: An AWD vehicle on summer tires would perform worse than my RWD Mercedes on winter tires! Now, if both cars have winter tires, the AWD vehicle would have an advantage. 2 more drive wheels.
Said simple: Winter tires + winter = good...
Winter tires + AWD + winter = better!
so this video is actually about tires but along with this info i landed on this video to know the pros and cons of 4x4 and rear wheel drive system..can you help
rear wheel drive sucks in the winter if you dont have a truck with weight in the back (sand bags, etc...). 4x4 in a car is fucking awesome with some good snow tires. but in deep snow, it can get to be a little overwhelming for a car. 4x4 on a truck with or without weight in the back can make a big difference, but either way it beats a car. plus sandbags are cheap and make a big difference.
What about all season tires?
Jovan Monroe
Not as good as summer tires in summer, not as good as winter tires in winter.
I advise having two sets of tires.
all season = no season
Winter tires it is! I’ve been finessing with all weather tires for a long minute now. I’ll have to adjust my long term budget and get it done! Thanx for the video👏🏾🙋🏾♀️👋🏾💞😊😎!
I had a 79 Lincoln, I put a set of studded snow tires on the rear. not to mention the thing had more ground clearance than most SUVs today. It gave me all the traction I needed.
for me personally, I never had much issue with steering in snow with all-season tires. Stopping normally wouldn't have been so bad but my old FWD car had a terrible balance of stopping power. What I had the most trouble with was getting stuck and driving up hills. I have some decent techniques for that but sometimes 2WD just can't get you out.
+Peter Schmidt I had similar issues in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. You can be a great driver all day long, but if there's too much of a hill with too much ice/snow, you're not going to navigate it successfully. My solution: a Subaru with AWD and four snow tires. No noticeable problems after that.
I never had trouble getting up any hill with front wheel drive and winter tires. Makes your car a true snowmobile. And I live in West Virgina.
Great video, very informative. Some AWD system result in a slight difference in handling but the biggest improvement is using snow tires. Also, no one buys snow tires because they're cheapskates that don't want to pay the extra $ for safety.
an AWD option is the same price as winter tires
wow that was a very helpful information. busted my myth! Thanks a lot :)
This is very great info thank you. I want to visit family during the winter in Idaho but most of the cars I've owned or driven were fwd and rwd. I figured i would need a awd suv or sedan if I want to visit family during the winter. right now I have my eyes on a sporty 4cyl sedan that's fwd. If I end up leasing it I will consider having snow tires available should I go traveling to Idaho for the winter. Thanks.
Your best piece of safety equipment is your brain. Use it.
If it's that bad out. If Front WD might not make it. You should think long and hard whether you should even go out.
Agreed, a brain is the most effective accessory when dealing with any adverse weather situation. It is absolutely FREE, is NOT Directional and doesn't take any extra space in the garage to store it for the summer. I also use one driving rule that makes it possible for me to avoid the expense of AWD all together. If the road conditions are SO bad that my FWD PT Cruiser with traction control, anti-lock brakes and siped tires may not make the trip.... I just don't make the trip! Problem solved and the body shop made less money today.
Exactly! 2 word solution: STAY HOME :-)
winter tires aren't just for snow. When it's cold their rubber is far superior, even on dry tarmac. That's why they are mandatory in Austria.
Thomas Janesch actually winter tires are really bad on dry pavement
And they don't last long on dry pavement.
Tests show that winter tyres are worse than summer tyres on tarmac in any scenarios. They are better only on snow/ice.
Even if it's below freezing, and roads are wet (without snow or ice).
I agree. I had a ridgeline in a good storm. I noticed I was on ice and snow. It WA the scariest drive I have done. I thought awd was superior but was convinced I didn't need it. Only benefit is uphill battle. I think proper tires and equipment (chains or snow shoes). I would of been fine in 2wd.
In Florida we have torrential down pour‘s and some very poor road conditions resulting in hydroplaning, This test did an excellent job dealing with the snow & ice conditions. It did not speak to all other conditions and all four-wheel-drive’s are not created equal. Personal experience my Subaru outback has a far superior all-wheel-drive than my BMW X5.
Consumer report needs to consider these two points and do a second CZcams.
Even with all wheel drive or 4wd you still need to drive like grandma in the snow.
+God Lee Not if you have good quality winter tires - that with a quality AWD system will make you look forward to the winter driving (provided those in 2WD and/or All-Season tires stay off the road - nuisance) Then my grandma will blow by boyracer on her way to market.
+stop asking me to change my name! very true
+stop asking me to change my name!
You obviously need proper winter tires to stop, not AWD/4WD.
+stop asking me to change my name! Believe it or not, it does help when braking - at least, proper symmetrical systems - like those found on Subaru's do.
The equal length shafts all around help balance out the weight of the drivetrain, improving braking performance. The center diff, since it is always locked to some degree, acts as a form of 'limited slip' between the front and rear brakes, preventing the rear brakes from locking up as the front grips and vice versa.
When you push an AWD Subaru and a FWD car hard in a snow rally, you notice a huge difference in braking. The Subaru drivetrain keeps the brakes in check, while a FWD does not. Usually on a FWD, you notice the rear locking up.
+stop asking me to change my name! change your name
The verdict? Buying Winter Snow tires is 3 times more important than getting AWD. A FWD car with winter tires is far superior to any AWD with all season tires
need to add on to the end of your sentance "... in most winter driving situations."
@@45eno You need to learn how to write words like "sentence".
LOL I would LOVE to see a “far superior” FWD car with winter tires handle California winter mountain driving versus a forester, Q5, Tuareg, crv, hrv, crosstrek, wrx, explorer, etc with even stock tires lmao
But both together are superior - and the AWD system matters.
I often scoff at CR's automotive tests & reports, I spent over 40 profitable years in the industry.
This report is right on target.
Tires are the only way of controlling a vehicle. Traction is essential.
I will state that all wheel or 4 wheel drive is better in bad conditions, but even then, with proper tires driving in winter can be challenging.
I was asked "What is the safest car someone can buy"
I answered, " A parked one".
I would agree. I stayed with friends in Pittsburgh one winter long ago, and that is one hilly city to get around in. The couple agreed that four winter tires were the only way to go. Much cheaper than auto body repair, and accident medical costs, too.
I cover 9 states in the Midwest for my sales job. I drive a FWD Toyota Corolla. Some people in my company (who don't live in areas where snow and ice are common in winter) can't believe I don't drive an AWD or 4WD car or SUV. I tell them that I would much rather have a lightweight, maneuverable car with winter tires that will out accelerate, out stop, and out steer a bigger, heavier AWD or 4WD car with all season tires in the ice and snow.
Most people underestimate the abilities of a FWD car with snow tires. They can be amazing if driven properly. Good winter tires provide the stopping and steering traction that AWD or 4WD can't. And once you learn how to use your left foot for braking, you can induce some oversteer in tight corners or just to drift a bit for fun.
Before the Corolla, I bought into the notion of AWD and had a Subaru Forrester for a while. While it was a good car, it couldn't match the stopping or steering of the Corolla in slick conditions (with all season tires). What would the Forrester have been like with winter tires? Probably amazing, but I'll never know. What I do know is that a FWD car with winter tires is WAY better than an AWD car with all season tires.
I agree that for most drivers, AWD and 4WD is just an expensive gimmick that adds cost and reduces fuel efficiency. You need to be in snow deeper than your floorboards before AWD or 4WD has any significant advantage. And then you still run the risk of getting hung up in the snow with none of your wheels getting any traction. If that happens, FWD, AWD, and 4WD are all equally worthless.
jared Christensen yes yes yes. I couldn't agree more.
Agreed 100%
Good winter tires + driving skills = no problem in 99.999999% of situations drivers can encounter.
Midwest......you drive any serious hills there? Anyone/car can drive on flatland in snow, a curvy hill, that is quite a bit more difficult. When I mean hill, I don't mean one straight hill then you are on top. I don't mean an occasional curve. I mean curves while going uphill, and not just a little 100 foot hill. 500'-1000'+. I doubt you'd have the same opinion if you had to navigate that.
DigitalHaze65536 I live near the mountains, often drive across them, curves, straights, ups, downs, never had a problem with FWD and good winter tyres.
Snow, nice, slush or whatever condition.
It's no myth bro.
DigitalHaze65536 I cover Colorado, Utah, and Montana as part of my territory. Yes, I know what I'm talking about. FWD with REAL winter tires is more than sufficient unless the snow gets deeper than the floorboards.
Next week on consumer reports: do you really need a car?
I put on snow tires on my 2014 Pathfinder with AWD. World of difference in acceleration and braking. It's a luxury as we only do a few trips to Colorado, Utah, and Tahoe each winter but definitely worth it.
We are on our third Forester. I also drove an Impreza for awhile. All these vehicles work great. I drove in snow for 30 years and wish I had a Subaru plenty of times. Unfortunately it was a rear wheel work van or a four wheel drive truck. I know that now that I am back in Florida the Subaru AWD is great. Big rain, good tires, hit the large puddle of water on the road, and these cars pull straight through.
Car Zastava Skala 65 1986. Front wheel drive. 870 Kg, Year 2016 so it is 30 year old car. Tyres Tigar Winter1 Snow condition approximate ~20 Cm snow on road.
I was able to pull wolksvagen Jeta diesel. Car with driver at least 1000 Kg. I was able to pull out and to gain enough pull to start frozen diesel on push. In six years never was stuck. And a lot of time I was in Mud/snow/ice/sand. So think again when you think front wheel are not capable.
When did they do this testing? Last year???
My 2016 Subaru Impreza does just fine with AWD. I get much better grip on the road in icy conditions during a winter storm than in any FWD car I've owned. The key is to be careful especially when taking corners and to not drive like an asshole. So far, I have never been stuck in the snow with this car. I am very happy I bought it.
I have a 2004 highlander awd.Ive been in severe conditions of north Dakota for a while now.I had to park in a foot of frozen hard snow over night at -30 degrees. When I got up the next morning it backed out of that spot effortlessly almost frozen to the ground,I could never imagine a fwd car doing the same.
Here in Quebec, Canada, it is mandatory to have winter tires from December 15 to March 15... And please, the next time you do a test like this use true AWD vehicules! The CRV is a FWD only vehicule at speed over 80 km/h... Use a Subaru or Quattro, even a Jeep and now let's talk about the real benefits of having AWD!
Same result.
Awd is not for stopping distance. CASE CLOSED.
ABS is though.
ABS actually increases stopping difference. However, you actually have control of the vehicle while it slows down, which is likely far more beneficial.
almost all cars have abs now, no?
ABS decreases stopping distance, but usually only becomes a factor in braking with bad traction, as in snow or heavy rain.
And, yes, most cars have ABS now.
Yup, required by law in the US.
lived in sudden valley washington in 2018/19 winter and we got over 50 inches in 2 weeks. almost everyone even their precious subarus and trucks...all which were 4 wheel drive wrecked or got stuck at the bottom of the hills. my 2 wd kia soul had no problem going up them hills with my winter tires on all 4 wheels.
Great, useful information, CR.
I live in Quebec where we get lots of snow. I'm with you that AWD doesn't make a difference when braking, but it makes ALL the difference when accelerating. I never buy a 2wd in Quebec. It's a matter of safety, because when you need to accelerate to avoid being hit by a truck or other moving object, with AWD, you can do so even in the harshest conditions! So yes, yes and yes, it is a safety feature in the countries where there is a lot of snow!
Oh yeah accelerate to avoid getting hit. Happens all the time. Especially when I have all my kids in the back.
Just kidding. The real problem is in the front seat. As evidenced by literally every Quebec driver you see in Burlington.
Like major character flaw in how often they cut people off and almost cause accidents. Is that what you need more acceleration for? I have a better idea: don't drive like dbs.
If you are sitting at a stop sign or light. Someone else is going to fast and tries to stop . Continues to slide towards your vehicle, best thing to do is to be able to accelerate out of the way to not get hit. Not sit there like a dumb ass and get hit by them. As an example.
As well as accelerating to get unstuck after the plow passes, accelerating to get a grip in a corner, accelerate to get uphill... Also Subaru's torque vectoring a MUST
i live in nyc pretty much if i need awd and winter tire is when the city is paralyzed school and work are closed. then no reason to even get up in the morning.
+melvin arias That's when you'll find me cruising around. I love driving in the snow.
Maybe if you are filipino, they dont go out if it rains and close the schools if theres a gust of wind. Whats the threshold? Theres no reason for anything to stop or close during winter, life muyst go on in any weather except strong winds when dangerous objects fly by at high speed. Snow and ice is no excuse unless youre a complete pussy. In scandinavia even old ladies go out but you are too weak, chew on that for a minute and tell us the flavor.
Only problem I have with this test, is if you have to climb a steep mountain (in CT), just having snow tires is not enough. Cars get stuck all the time every winter on my "small" 650 foot mountain with FWD and snow tires. They traction control tries as best as it can, but it usually conks out on the steepest part of the climb and the car slides backward. In this rare case, you need at least AWD and "All Weather" or snow tires - or you are walking home. Trust me, I have done it - and I don't live all that far from CRs testing facility (about 90 minutes away).
When we lived in the greater Los Angeles area there were many vehicles with four wheel drive that would never leave the pavement. Now that we live in a mountainous small city with many dirt roads that can be muddy after rains or snow a four wheel drive is quite wise. I'm sure that is true for other cities and rural areas too. Just to go hiking on trails in the mountains here often require a 4-wheel drive just to get to the trail head.
I lived in a state with significant winter snow (Kansas) for the first 37 years of my life. Used to pass people with AWD who had run in the ditch because they thought AWD meant they could drive as if it were July instead of January.
Unless you're going offroad, you don't need AWD. You need winter tires and you need to learn how to drive (carefully, attentively) in snowy/icy conditions.
I really don't get the point of this video. Without a doubt, AWD/4WD (especially with snow tires) makes a huge difference over 2WD in snow. What you are basically trying to say in the video (without actually saying it) is that AWD/4WD is all about grip under acceleration but to the morons out there that think they can drive around like they are at a race track in bad weather, don't expect much. No AWD/4WD will stop on a dime in snow, on ice or corner like a boss in snow either. It's a combination of good driver skills/manners coupled with a good AWD/4WD system and appropriate tires ( ideally, snow tires in snow) that will reap the many benefits of driving an AWD/4WD vehicle. Know your vehicle limits along with what I previously mentioned and you'll be the one towing morons out of ditches. It's too bad auto manufactures don't teach people how to drive in bad weather but rather give the impression that once behind the wheel of our AWD, you're unstoppable no matter how dumb of a driver you are. Anyone that has had the benefit of AWD during a particularly snowy winter season knows it's a Godsend and not just the "meh" you make it seem.
+xXG.L.HXx Exceptionally well said!
+xXG.L.HXx No AWD, 4X4, or 10X10 system could ever replace the laws of physics. I live in snowy NY, and I have a rule that atleast one car in my driveway needs to be equipped with AWD. Personally, the best thing to do in a blizzard is stay at home. But if staying at home isn't an option, the AWD will help get me home safe slowly, carefully, but surely. Plenty of times I see hot-headed morons wearing their Grand Cherokees and Wranglers as hats with their wheels up in the air off the side of the highway because they think they are invincible with their 4WD Jeeps. But I agree. From personal experience of owning both FWD and AWD cars there is a clear difference when driving both in the snow even carefully.
😊
+xXG.L.HXx if you don't get the point, there is something wrong with your head. It is simple: Using winter tires in the winter is the decisive factor. AWD/4WD is a gimmick for most people. Failry obvious.
+Scherbenkacks Reading comprehension is not your strong point is it? LOL
All terrain tires run great in snow and can be ran year round. Very blocky with nice deep sipes. It's real hard to find them in smaller sizes though.
Great video, specially when I drive in the snow about 1 week out of the year and almost always in well plowed roads, I was really impressed and happy with my Honda civic handling in a snow storm this winter. I may save me some money next time
I wish I had gotten a vehicle with 4x4 or AWD in the northeast. I've gotten stuck in my own driveway numerous times because neither of the two tires could get traction in the ice yet I know that the two rear could if there was power to them.
A 4 wheel drive like a WRX will help you control the car better through turns, but a CRV uses 4 wheel drive only when it detects slippage from the front wheels which only helps from a stop. So it is important to determine what type of four wheel drive system your vehicle has
This is terrible advice as the avg driver driving at speed limits of the road are not powering through turns like you would in rally driving. People slow before a turn, and then lightly accelerate through it. AWD does nothing for your turning at a light, your tires do. Yes Subaru has a better AWD system then Honda/Toyota small SUV's but all three of them benefit the most from a proper winter rate not the tech used for the AWD system. Think about it, avg people are not driving aggressive or racing in wet, slick or snowy conditions. It's very basic driving they are doing, slowing, turning and accelerating. No soccer mom or daily commuter is banking a vehicle into a turn or drifting it where a proper AWD system would actually help. AWD is great but winter tires is first priority for snow driving with either AWD or FWD. If my FWD van only had my Blizzak WS90 installed I would take that in the snow before I would my AWD RAV4 with All Seasons. Now once the Blizzak DMV2 winters are bolted onto the RAV4 then sure the added acceleration of AWD is nice to have. But if I needed the space of the family van for a winter trip I would have zero issue taking a FWD out as I gain little to nothing with AWD for how a standard driver that drives on the public roads in snow. Yes I know your post is 6 yrs old.
@@45eno"Average people aren't driving aggressively..."
Where do you live?
Subaru has the best all wheel drive system design
Yes Sure Are you sure
I have had my Subaru "Impreza" for almost 10 years1998 and in MontreL I would NEVER be without it. our last dumping was in Feb and it had to be 3 feet in drifts and my car NEVER faltered for those years in ANY drifts. a little heavier on gas but for someone retired and despises driving it's perfect. I only drive about 50 km a Month
one more thing ANYONE who DOESN'T use Winter tires on AWD shouldn't be on the roads.!!!
An Awesome tire that does very well on dry, wet, snowy roads is Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires.
My wife’s Outback did a good job on the factory tires, even with our very snowy roads and highways.
I had Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires on a Subaru Forester Touring and we liked the tires so much that when the factory tires wore out, we had the Cross Climate 2 tires installed on her Outback.
My brother who he and his wife and family live in LibTard Portland, OR and they love the Cross Climate 2 tires on their Outback as well.
We told my brothers and sisters in law about the Cross Climate 2 tires and both of them put them on their Outback’s as well. They live in Montana, get Lots of snow and they too love the tires.
AWD and the BRAKES have nothing to do with each other..
Mike Morrison actually it does. these days awd uses stability control to help provide a little torque vectoring.
thats traction control. trac or whatever you have uses brakes. so does stability (often included in traction control).
awd does use brakes, but independently - the brakes trick the open differential to send power to the other wheel on the same axel on cheap awd. dynamic tourque is replacing that. so while they are independent systems, the do work together or do not 'have nothing to do with each other'. just watch a few videos on this here thing called the youtube.
Brakes dont have anything in common with awd when it comes to breaking. Acceleration, cornering yes, brakes help out awd to deliver the force to the proper wheels by stopping the slipping ones, but awd has nothing to do when you're breaking, so your argument is invalid.
Not directly, problem with awd is that you might not sense that it is slippery as the car accelerate the same. Once you are breaking you have probably a higher speed.
The best part about being able to stop quickly on snowing roads is getting rear ended by the guy behind you with bad tires. These test are so no realistic.
Snow tires are great. I throw them on my car for the winter months and never worry about what the weather is going to do. If I for some reason don't have them on and a big storm hits, im stressing. My choice and favorite is Michelin X-Ice Xi3's
watch out that tyre is prone to aquaplaning!!! be carefull when it rains!!!
+Turbo4Life1217 I always recommend X-Ices and Blizzaks. They're ALWAYS the two top rated snow tires year after year.
Have you ever tried nokians? I have no personal experience with them but I hear often that they are the best snow tires on the market, bar none.
+Vega Rapidus witch cind of tire
+nsanegamr1 It really depends on the specific conditions. Nokians are extremely popular in Nordic countries, but as an all around performance score, usually X-Ice or Blizzaks will outperform them except under a few specific conditions. Those tend to be the kind of conditions that you encounter in Nordic countries though, so it makes sense that they're so popular over there.
Tire Rack does great performance comparisons of snow and ice tires where they test competing brands on equal vehicles under identical conditions. Their reviews and comparisons will inform you as to which brand or model tire will likely serve you best under your particular driving conditions.
In my country Costa Rica of course because is very rainy , very montainous with so much roads in this mountains and bad condition
The bloke at the start "spare change for a cuppa tea governor?" :D
Get winter tires and a rally car.
Shouldn't this fall into the category of "tell me something I don't know"? Sure, AWD or 4x4 isn't going to keep you from sliding into the ditch if you're going too fast around a corner, but I believe MOST people want AWD or 4x4 to be able to GO somewhere. I have hills along my drive to work and in some places (hill with stop sign at top), if I have to stop at a stop sign with snow on the ground, I'm not going to be able to get going again with just FWD or RWD. Also, another benefit is if you need to make an emergency move to avoid hitting someone and you need to move into the unplowed part of the road or shoulder, in many cases you'd be stuck with just FWD once you get into the deeper snow or off the road a little. Inertia and centrifugal force are your enemy when driving on snow and ice. If you remember that, you'll be ok (and not drive yourself into the ditch). Also, STAY OFF of the slush between the lanes. I've seen so many spun out cars as a result of them drifting into the thick slush between lanes or on the edge of the road. Anyway...it's very easy to drive with a few inches of snow on the ground in any car, but if you have hills and the snow plows don't clear your road quickly...you pretty much need AWD or 4x4 unless you plan on staying in your house every time it snows.
this video was retarded thanks
Rented a Nissan Altima with winter tires in Banff Canada in January. Lots of snow. The little front wheel drive car handled just fine.
Very helpful, thank you much Sir
I live in CT, where the hell is this test center at.
David Hoffman Located in East Haddam Connecticut
Karol Ponikwicki interesting, I use to work in that area and never knew
David Hoffman My sister lives down the street from the facility. Back in the day it used to be a drag strip. Also State Police and other local municipalities uses the facility for their driver training.
Guess you don't get out much do you? Has been there forever.
ever heard of Google?
I only put the best of winter ❄️ & best of all season tires on my 4matic. ..Nokian 👍
I GOT A 2016 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY AND ITS THE BEST VEHICLE I'VE EVER HAD! THE AWD IS UNREAL!! DRIVING IN RAIN IS LIKE NO OTHER!
1/2 '' or 6'' my all season tires work great. Straight line and cornering.
In conclusion: a good set of winter tires is more important than AWD
Conclusion: pros have both AWD and snow-tires (and good versions of both).
owning fwd, rwd and awd. I'll never go back to fwd or rwd in the winter again
Which was better between fwd and rwd?
@@bradh6185 of course fwd would be better then a a rwd.
It depends where you live....I've lived in New York, Colorado, and now 45 miles North of Boston in New Hampshire. As was said in this video, tires make the most difference in handling and stopping. But depending on where you live....Snow Tires AND AWD/4WD can be the difference between getting to your destination and getting stuck in the middle of no where. So yes snow tires make the biggest difference when it comes to winter driving, and yes AWD/4WD by itself..does not improve your stopping distance. But for those who need it...AWD/4WD is also very beneficial to have...
Living in N.Indiana I've had 4x4s since 1990 and I'm on my 3rd Subaru and I wouldn't B without one =)
Groundbreaking stuff this... AWD will help you pull away in low traction and winter tires are good for stopping in snow... How exactly did anyone expect an AWD vehicle to stop better jut because it has AWD?
+Žiga Hudournik Because the car makers strongly imply that, and people that don't understand machinery believe it. I've talked to a LOT of people that believe that.
That opinion is rampant in Vermont.
1:57, I didn't know we can compare a 3260 Camry to 3529 CR-V.
big cities not much of an issues for WA, but when go to the mountain for skiing, those road sometimes say snow tire or put on some chain when the digital sign say so. I carry chain for my awd.
AWD on My Honda Elements does help me get over the mound of snow the the plows leave in front of my driveway. It's not a perfect system. The AWD only activates when the front wheels slip so it is Front wheel drive most of the time.
Thank you for the video about the really obvious question of whether one needs snow tires in places where it snows a lot -- I and EVERYONE I know uses snow tires in the winter. Can we now please have a video about all-wheel versus front-wheel drive in the snow, both with snow tires? If you want to do a video about snow tires, TITLE IT SNOW TIRES!
Some people can't afford winter tires, but need to work to end's meet.
All wheel drive helps to provide extra traction. That’s why it’s called all wheel drive and not all wheel stop. The stopping power of any type of Drive train is determined by the friction the tires have against the type of surface they are on. A studded tire will provide the most friction on ice. A tire with deep wide spread cleats will bite into loose snow. I live in a cold winter climate. I use the engine and transmission as a brake on my 4 wheel drive Jeep equipped with studded snow tires all round. Hill decent in low range with this set up provides optimum power.
Thanks for the info
When you get off work after midnight and have to drive 30 miles home in a blizzard and the snow is already 5 inches deep you'll be glad you bought that awd/4wd.
I drove between fort mac and edmonton for years in an '04 civic with Michelin x ice 3's without any issues and that's a 430 km drive in northern canada.
If you’re that concerned then focus on where rubber meets the road. Invest in winter tires. AWD will only benefit in traction take off but limited by the tire type. It’s not going to help with steering and stopping power.
Wow, Terry Coats, it's like you didn't even take the 3.5 minutes to watch the video!
So not sure if these people went to school or what not but the test is obviously unfair and therefore invalid. The cars tested were different in shape and weight and therefore had different driving dynamics such as body roll and stopping distances. I'd suggest taking a class on scientific testing principles, even an intro would do which covers the basic proper set ups and ethic of balancing measurement techniques.
I have a set of Toyo Celsius on my 2022 Highlander awd. For all seasons, they have very good performance in winter conditions.
I missed changing to my winter tyres in Nov. then a storm hit. My 2 wheel drive car couldn't get up my driveway. With winter tyres I have to get a good run at it my wife won't even try. On our Awd car with winter ice tyre I can stop on the slope and start going again locking the differentials first.
This report fails to inform the MOST important factor. Your driving skills!
All these tyres and AWD won't save you from a crash if you drive like a maniac.
+James B
I agree but still AWD and winter tires will reduce the risk of being in a accident.
If you know how to drive? No.
If you don't? It doesn't matter.
I have passed so many trucks and SUVs on the side of the road during snowy weather with my FWD cars. Most people are simply bad at driving no matter the circumstances.
Yup. They are going 'To Fast For Conditions'. Period!
And when you change lanes on a Highway/Freeway while going over the 'Hump' of Slush/Snow/Ice then that is what throws you off the road.
I to used to see many SUVs and Pick Up Trucks in the ditch on my 70 mile (one way) commute to work every morning.
While I putted along in the right lane at lower speeds. Most of those years I only had FWD as well.
up here in Wisconsin in the winter, most all of the vehicles in the ditch are awd or 4wd vehicle. get a set of winter tires for the winter months
Yes you do. While people with their front wheel as well as their back wheels are spinning and going nowhere up a hill my 4 wheel goes up effortlessly. I drove all 3 and as long as I live in a state that snows all wheel drive only! I am done getting stuck and struggling with 2 wheel drive cars.