Driving in snow - 2wd or 4wd - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Cd · 12-01-2015, 08:05 PM

This question is for all of you folks up North that get that cold white stuff that falls from the sky :

How would you compare the drawbacks of driving in the snow with a 2wd, versus 4wd vehicle ?

We all know that your FE takes a hit, but is it worth it for the few times that you have a heavy blizzard ?

Thanks

Thalass · 12-01-2015, 08:24 PM

This is my first winter in Canada. We have a Civic and a Rav4. I'll let you know how they compare when we get a decent snowfall.

The_Jed · 12-01-2015, 09:39 PM

With my Impreza or the wife's Outback having snow on the ground is one of the rare opportunities for wheelspin and maybe some power on oversteer.

My Crown Vic and Lincoln require a healthy dose of ballast in the trunk in order to get anywhere. Both are in desperate need of a traction lock or other diff.

They are all on all-season tires year 'round.

ConnClark · 12-01-2015, 09:56 PM

2WD when you don't need 4WD an 4WD when you do. The only real time you need 4WD is when you are stuck with 2WD.

It couldn't be simpler

oil pan 4 · 12-01-2015, 10:08 PM

Living in Maine all I ever had was RWD vehicles.
I have found the RWD only suburban with open diff is almost always enough.
To make it enough with out going 4x4 I got an ARB air locker.

ksa8907 · 12-01-2015, 10:24 PM

On road, you would never need 4wd. Someone with awd will probably have it engage but honestly, if you're driving so hard that you need 4 wheels to move forward you're probably driving too hard.

I have never been stuck with fwd or rwd. My mother in law got her 4wd nitro stuck last year, tire choice is hugely important and not necessarily snow tires.

From what i have noticed, typically tires that perform well in the wet will do well (relatively) in the snow.

Cooper discoverer htp, khumo solus kr21, general gmax as-03. After a few snow falls i will know if the michelin latitude are any good, should be.

spdfrk · 12-01-2015, 10:26 PM

There are many reasons fuel economy takes a dive in winter. First is the lower BTU output of the fuel. Second is idling and longer, richer cold starts. You can counteract tires by getting Nokians. They get better mileage than most summer tires for their all weather and winter tires. The advantage of winter is that you can really get aggressive on your grille block in colder temps as long as you're still moving - or you can always throw the heater full blast and crack open the windows.

The only time I could see needing a 4wd is for ground clearance. I've taken my fwd car and rwd truck on the Coquihalla in winter with Nokians and no issues. They're the best insurance policy.

:-)

NeilBlanchard · 12-01-2015, 10:40 PM

Good winter tires beats 4 wheel drive. In snow, turning and braking are more important than acceleration, so winter tires are the only thing that helps with all 3.

I have driven in New England for 38 years, and I have had rear wheel drive and front wheel drive. Starting with my second car (1970 Volvo 144) I have always had 4 winter tires.

puddleglum · 12-01-2015, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Good winter tires beats 4 wheel drive. In snow, turning and braking are more important than acceleration, so winter tires are the only thing that helps with all 3.

I'll second that. I've driven through at least 38 snowy/icy winters as well and never had 4wd. I wouldn't want it either. They waste gas all year round for starters and for the most part, are not any safer on the road. The exception to that might be the AWD systems from Subaru and Audi but I've never had a chance to try one. I've driven 4wd pickups for work and I found them horrible. If I lived up some mountain road that never got plowed in the winter I might feel differently, but I don't. 4wd does have its place, I just don't think that it is as important as many people think. I don't know how many times I been out on the highway in a snow storm and the majority of vehicles in the ditch are SUV's. I'll take a FWD car with a good set of snow tires over 4wd any day.

Ryland · 12-02-2015, 12:41 AM

What is your goal?
4 wheel drive will let you feel confident to get going on roads that you can't stop on.
4 wheel drive should be saved for getting unstuck.

Most winter accidents are from not being able to stop, two and four well drive vehicles have the same brakes.

I have no issues driving my Honda civic with snow tires to work where the last mile takes an extra day to be plowed and I'll push snow with the bumper.