I have an AWD wagon and I’m wondering if I can drive in the snow without tire chains.
CVilly,
Chains are going to be the most helpful if you are in deep snow or very VERY challenging conditions and your tires just aren’t cutting it. AWD is great and helpful, but doesn’t mean it isn’t susceptible to bad conditions.
I would carry chains with you if you have an area that carries nasty weather in the winter, that way you have them as a backup. Otherwise, a good set of winter tires will suit you just fine. Just keep in mind chains cannot be used at certain speeds, they work best at lowspeed, bad conditions that otherwise would be a severe challenge. Sometimes on mountain passes uphill for downhill they can also be helpful.
All-wheel drive will help you with starting, and be nice with the brakes on stopping as even with ABS you can slide around in the snow.
I currently have Dunlop Winter-Sport tires on my car and thus far like them. I’ve also had wonderful luck with Hankook studded/siped tires. Studs will help you on starting from a dead stop as well. Just make sure whatever you do in the snow that you at least have good snow tires, they are worth their weight in gold and make night and day difference.
Some people will tell you "Oh i don’t even need snow tires, i’m an expert driver!" but in essence, any educated driver who has driven in it and enjoys their safety will tell you "Your traction is only as good as your tread" and this is very very true.
Cliffnotes version:
- Keep chains in your equipment just in case you get a horrible hairy storm that hits, just in case you DO need them
- Quality of your snow tires is far more important
if you got good tires shouldnt but then sometimes wouldnt hurt a thing either
i never needed either rear wheel drive back roads 8 inches of snow a many of nite
its more how one drives in snow than what one drives
References :
YOU PROBABLY SHOULD NOT NEED CHAINS–MOST ALL WHEEL DRIVE
VEHICLES ARE GOOD TO TAKE THE ROAD IN ICE AND SNOW, THE WHOLE
THING IS TO KEEP SPEED DOWN TO GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME
TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE CONDITIONS, YOU COULD ADD CHAINS
IF YOU WOULD LIKE BUT THEY ARE A PAIN TO KEEP ON SOMETIMES CAUSING
MORE TROUBLE THAN THEY ARE WORTH.
References :
EXPERIENCE
CVilly,
Chains are going to be the most helpful if you are in deep snow or very VERY challenging conditions and your tires just aren’t cutting it. AWD is great and helpful, but doesn’t mean it isn’t susceptible to bad conditions.
I would carry chains with you if you have an area that carries nasty weather in the winter, that way you have them as a backup. Otherwise, a good set of winter tires will suit you just fine. Just keep in mind chains cannot be used at certain speeds, they work best at lowspeed, bad conditions that otherwise would be a severe challenge. Sometimes on mountain passes uphill for downhill they can also be helpful.
All-wheel drive will help you with starting, and be nice with the brakes on stopping as even with ABS you can slide around in the snow.
I currently have Dunlop Winter-Sport tires on my car and thus far like them. I’ve also had wonderful luck with Hankook studded/siped tires. Studs will help you on starting from a dead stop as well. Just make sure whatever you do in the snow that you at least have good snow tires, they are worth their weight in gold and make night and day difference.
Some people will tell you "Oh i don’t even need snow tires, i’m an expert driver!" but in essence, any educated driver who has driven in it and enjoys their safety will tell you "Your traction is only as good as your tread" and this is very very true.
Cliffnotes version:
- Keep chains in your equipment just in case you get a horrible hairy storm that hits, just in case you DO need them
- Quality of your snow tires is far more important
References :
Live in central Oregon, we get tons of snow in the winter. Been driving in it my whole life.
Depends on where you are driving, but generally all-wheel drive with good all-weather tires should get you anywhere you need to go. Just be aware that all-wheel drive is not the ultimate answer to driving in bad weather. You still need to be careful about where you are driving. Lots of times, all-wheel (or 4-wheel) drive just gets you in deeper before you get stuck.
References :
Many people assume that AWD solves all challenges that come with bad weather driving. Keep in mind, while AWD will get you going faster than FWD or RWD on ice or snow, the STOPPING abilities are the same as in 2WD car. No wonder most vehicles that end up in a ditch are SUVs and pick-ups. With that said, if you feel the need to use chains, use chains.
References :
If you must drive on the snow then you need chains, fwd, rwd or 4wd, no ifs or buts about it.
References :