Winter Tyres or 4x4: which is best? - Auto Express
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- Опубликовано: 3 ноя 2013
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Winter tyres are going to be on a lot of minds this year - Britain could face a particularly harsh winter this year, with snow falling from as early as November. If you've got a four-wheel drive car, you probably think you're properly prepared - but are you?
We went up to Tamworth Snowdome to find out if a front-wheel drive car with winter tyres has more traction in the snow than a 4x4 with summer tyres fitted. We used two Ford Kugas, both with 2.0-litre diesel engines and manual gearboxes - but one is front-wheel drive, and the other all-wheel drive. The 4x4 Ford Kuga costs £1500 more than the normal model.
In snowy conditions the rubber in summer tyres gets harder and less grippy. Winter tyres use a softer compound, and a tread pattern that's designed to pick up snow - improving grip in these harsh conditions.
In our first test we saw that the front-wheel drive car on summer tyres was hopeless in the snow - but when fitted with winter tyres, it obviously did much better. However we also tested the 4x4 on summer tyres - and the results might surprise you.
With winter tyres, the normal Kuga went 110 metres up the slope, while the 4x4 car only made it 13 metres up, before sliding back down 9 metres. in the end, it ended up no further than the standard did with summer tyres.
We also tested the four-wheel drive Ford Kuga with winter tyres - and the difference was astonishing. There was plenty of grip and the car drove all the way to the top of the steep ski slope without a problem.
Obviously, the best solution for driving on snow is to have a 4x4 on winter tyres - without the right rubber, a 4x4 is just as useless as a two wheel drive car.
Having four-wheel drive won't help with braking, though - and that's much more important.
I'd like to see a comparison of a AWD with all-season tires and a FWD with winter tires.
4X4 never ever beats a good set of winter tyres. I'm from Finland and we drive here in REAL winter conditions about 3-5 months a year. Front wheel drive, back wheel drive or 4x4, it doesn't matter. All you need is a good set of studded or nordic non-studded tyres.
most 'untrained' awd/4wd drivers forget, they might be able to drive further or faster by virtue of the extra driven wheels, but they usually seem to forget they can't stop any better than anyone else. This year I have fitted winter tyres to my Citroen C15 and it's like a different vehicle, even driven on sheet ice it still retain a good degree of control. It's so much cheaper to invest in a set of cheap wheels and winter tyres than go to the expense of a trendy soft roader too!
A lot off four wheel drive cars now have low profile tyres on and they are really bad in the snow. When I was an off road instructor we would say the number one thing that affects the ability is the tyres, If you think about it no matter what car you have, or how good it is, it all comes down to the tyres on you car, and that counts four moving off, corners and even your stopping distance. Power is nothing without control.
Note that. 2wd, 4wd, awd, awd symetrical, are all different systems and they all behave differently on snow, ice, water, or road.
Well here in Finland there's not much choice. Between december and february winter tires are required by law.
I'm shopping for a new car. Thanks for this. Thought I would be better off with AWD for the snow but for my purposes I'll be fine in FWD with winter tires. Saved me a few thousand bucks.
should have been all season 4x4 tires vs snow
It is so lovely that Matt has the ski board :)
When we had our old 55 plate Kia Sorento we had no problems in snow. Mind it had PERMANENT 4x4 and the killer option of changing into low ratio. Made all the difference when everyone else was slipping around.
4x4 and AWD are different technologies. Please do not use them interchangably in the same video about the same car.
Does not matter how many wheels have power. If they are unable to get a grip, then you will be stuck. It is a shame so many people will never experience winter tires, because they are too cheap to buy winter tires, or they think all wheel drive is the answer. Trust me after driving for 53 years in very snowy winters I have found out that true winter tires on a front wheel drive vehicle are awesome. Passed many stuck 4x4's with all season tires on them with my front wheel drive vehicles over the years. Just simply an amazing difference. And remember you not only need to go but you must also stop and go around turns. Depends on how much you feel your life is worth.
Just bought a set of Nokian tyres for winter. I drive a 2wd Tacoma pickup and with 200lbs of sand in the bed and these tires, driving in the snow has been a pleasure so far.
Thanks for doing this test properly. Autocar tried to do this test with a BMW 1 series against a 6 series, one being manual and the other auto, the 6 series using low-profile tyres, and said the cars were "practically identical".
A clear and fairly incredible demonstration especially with the FWD car. It's a very expensive upgrade though.
Very informative video. Doesn't snow much here, but it does get cold and wet.
Thank you. you have confirmed what everybody up here in the North already know. People saying "well, I've got a great 'ol pick up truck yada yada, got em off road tyres, doin just fine" - they dont really know what "doin just fine" means.
one of the few tests were they used identical spec cars and tyres.very eye opening.
would be interesting to see how all-season tires would compare here. From personal experience, I can make it through the winter season with all-season tires, but noticed it sacrifices ~30% braking distance and about 50% ice grip vs my winter set. Car is a 6spd a4 quattro (so its AWD) driven daily in Edmonton, Canada (yes it snows a lot here and gets very very cold).
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