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Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
91–100 of 135 posts
Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's a fair question, though I would guess that, unless the wheel is locked, it is no more likely to slip out under braking traction than driving traction. That figure may well be higher than for fitted chains or studded tires. AWD has the characteristic of improving driving traction while doing very little for braking or steering, as demonstrated by the guy who passed us and then rear-ended the mail delivery van.
In a true full-time AWD system when applying any power, there's half the torque which means there's more capacity for the tire to handle side loads from cornering/turning. However, AWD in vehicles without traction control recovery from a slide is more difficult due to there being two different thrust vectors.
I take your point. I was thinking only of steering without drive traction.
Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#93Was trying to find some reading material on these that addressed the question: what happens when large debris makes contact with the control arms for this? I've seen large chunks of ice that are dense enough and heavy enough to cause undercarriage damage.
Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#94Earlier quoted context omitted.
It doesn't mean any difference when you're trying to slow down downhill. As you're saying, "your tyres are going to make ALL the difference." Which is exactly what I said - 4x4 or AWD doesn't help anything with that.
Well actually... 4x4 is worse for going downhill on ice. If one axle loses traction (which would be much more likely on summer tyres), the other can initiate a slide. This is the exact reason people dont like 4x4 on ice. AWD (usually) lessens the problem - which is why i said they absolutely help with the correct tyres. And again - DONT SLOW DOWN when going down hill. Your brakes WILL lock a wheel and you WILL slide.…
Yeah 4xAWD (let’s piss everyone off) helps maintain action when you’re driving IN the snow (you have a slightly better chance of not getting stuck if you can power all your wheels and have appropriately calibrated antislip).
But losing control because of ice can happen no matter how many driven or traction control wheels you have. And all wheels are basically skis when you’re skidding at 90° to the direction of travel. In fact, in some skids front wheel drive will be the best as at least you have a chance of powersteering out.
The real trick is to not start the skid at all. Sloooooooow down before you’re driving sideways.
Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#95Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…
Living in the upper Midwest here as well (Michigan) it's amazing how common the "you don't really need snow tires, you just need to know how to drive" is.
I drive pretty well, and getting snow tires made a huge difference in predictability. Braking is more consistent, acceleration is more consistent, and most importantly the point at which I lose traction when cornering is fairly consistent and predictable.
Yes, there's the overhead cost of a second set of wheels and TPMS sensors (because after a few years it's break-even with having the tires themselves swapped, and this way I can swap them myself when winter hits), but overall the cost isn't that significant because it offsets wear on my all-seasons. And it's so, so, so much better when it does snow. Or is icy. Or even is quite cold and just wet, because the tires are still flexible at temps when all seasons get quite hard and plasticky.
Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#96Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you mean the 3 mountain snowflake rating? I recently switched from some AT tires without it to those with it and while they definitely don't rise to the level of snow tires, the 3 mountain snowflake rating does seem to be legit. I don't do anything extreme in the snow but I don't want to turn around, either, and they go further than similar AT tires without.
Do you get both sets of tyres balanced?
Yes, mounting tires on rims (even re-mounting) always requires balancing. Since practically nobody can mount their own tires, balancing is one of those things that "just happens" behind the scenes.
Most people I know who have snow tires opt for a second set of (typically cheap) rims, and the wheel set comes mounted and balanced. In my case, I change them out when needed, otherwise if I'm scheduled for something like an oil change, I just toss them in the car and have the shop do it.
They are always marked with chalk for which one is which (i.e., right, left, front, back).
Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#97Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…
> I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice All wheel drive helps zero with winter conditions, except for going uphill or some other acceleration-equivalent action. Quite the opposite really - many people have experienced how with 4x4 you don't get a warning before you just lose your grip and off the road you go. For the record I'm driving a 4x4,…
FWIW, in Michigan studded tires are illegal for on-road use in the Lower Peninsula. But they are legal in the Upper Peninsula.
That said, I strongly disagree with you about AWD. It makes a tremendous difference for control in general in all winter conditions. Adding snow tires to AWD and things are just excellent and way more predictable.
Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice All wheel drive helps zero with winter conditions, except for going uphill or some other acceleration-equivalent action. Quite the opposite really - many people have experienced how with 4x4 you don't get a warning before you just lose your grip and off the road you go. For the record I'm driving a 4x4,…
FWIW, in Michigan studded tires are illegal for on-road use in the Lower Peninsula. But they are legal in the Upper Peninsula. That said, I strongly disagree with you about AWD. It makes a tremendous difference for control in general in all winter conditions. Adding snow tires to AWD and things are just excellent and way more predictable.
AWD really does nothing, it helps with acceleration but that is the easy part. The hard part is slowing down and all cars brake using all 4 wheels.
You don't brake better with an AWD car.
Well, except if you have learned to drive using 4 wheel slides like a rally driver. Then I sincerely hope you lose your license before your endangerment of others lead to an accident.
Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#99Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…
> I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. That seems obvious. AWD means you can use the traction of all tyres to move. But without snow tyres you have no traction, so AWD does nothing. > So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. Not quite true, there are 3PMSF all-season tyres, an…
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Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
> AWD != 4x4. AWD + traction control absolutely helps driving on snow and ice with appropriate tyres. Too late buddy. The way manufacturers abused AWD, 4WD and 4x4 terms they can mean anything now
Which manufacturer is using AWD incorrectly?
Dodge. They call their Charger implementation AWD, but it’s RWD only until a slip, then it engages the front axel.
They fooled me, and it drove like crap on snow. Always wanted to slide.