Traction control or 4x4 in ice and snow?

Pink.

Hi all,

We have a light layer of frozen snow here this morning and according to the forecast there is more snow to follow. My husband's car has traction control, mine is a 4x4. I won't be needing my car this week, so he can use whichever one he wants.

I've googled and I think traction control helps to stop the car skidding, while 4x4 will help get the car moving if it get's stuck? However, I still can't work out which one is the better/safer option to use in icey or snowy conditions.

Please can anyone who understands the difference help?

Many thanks,

Pink

muddyl

Traction control can help to stop skidding as it reduces power to whichever wheel has lost traction. In the snow, it's no good really as it will just keep cutting the power. May help on slipy corners, but if you get stuck on a bank it will not help you get going again, can sometimes make it really hard.
4x4 is by far the better option in the snow. Traction to all 4 wheels and less drag effect.
A good tip is to keep a cheap electric pump in the car. Lowering the type pressure can make a huge difference in getting out of a sticky situation, but its a pain if you then have to pump back up manually.

(I live in a dead end street, fairly steep bank to get out. Mine and friends car's with traction control struggle to get out but the 4x4 I used to have had no problem at all. It used to tow other stuck cars out the street without hesitation)

Strider590

muddyl wrote: »

4x4 is by far the better option in the snow. Traction to all 4 wheels and less drag effect.

I'd pit my 2wd on winter tyre's against any "fashion 4x4" with skinny sports summer tyre's, ANY DAY!!

muddyl

Strider590 wrote: »

I'd pit my 2wd on winter tyre's against any "fashion 4x4" with skinny sports summer tyre's, ANY DAY!!

Fair enough, maybe I should of asked what 4x4 they have. But for the majority, they are better.

Gloomendoom

The best option would be 4WD on winter tyres with traction control... with a couple of pairs of chains and a shovel in the boot, just in case it gets really bad.

scheming_gypsy

Gloomendoom wrote: »

The best option would be 4WD on winter tyres with traction control... with a couple of pairs of chains and a shovel in the boot, just in case it gets really bad.

and some bison..... just in case.

Strider590

muddyl wrote: »

Fair enough, maybe I should of asked what 4x4 they have. But for the majority, they are better.

I don't think they have a 4x4, I got the impression they were trying to decide on buying a new car with either of the qualities mentioned.
Trouble is, lots of folk are going out and buying these fancy looking (but sorely incapable) sports 4x4's on the basis of misguided social gossip and media advertising.

Now I don't mind what people drive, but i'd much rather be hit by an incompetent driver in a small car, than by a falsely confident one in a 4x4 the size of a Challenger MKII.

scheming_gypsy

Strider590 wrote: »

I don't think they have a 4x4, I got the impression they were trying to decide on buying a new car with either of the qualities mentioned.
.

No she says her husbands car has traction control, hers is a 4x4 but she doesn't need to use her car so which should he take.

Pink.

Strider590 wrote: »

I don't think they have a 4x4, I got the impression they were trying to decide on buying a new car with either of the qualities mentioned.
Trouble is, lots of folk are going out and buying these fancy looking (but sorely incapable) sports 4x4's on the basis of misguided social gossip and media advertising.

Now I don't mind what people drive, but i'd much rather be hit by an incompetent driver in a small car, than by a falsely confident one in a 4x4 the size of a Challenger MKII.

I am definitely not trying to decide on a new car. We have two cars available on the driveway...three actually, but the third is a Ford Ka with summer tyres so it doesn't come into the equasion.

All I was asking for was advice on which one is best to drive in ice and snow. If it helps the 4x4 is a Nissan X-Trail, the one with traction control is a Toyota Avensis.

Pink

Strider590

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

No she says her husbands car has traction control, hers is a 4x4 but she doesn't need to use her car so which should he take.

Ah, I see...........

Well, i'd go for the one with the best/newest tyre's.

The thing with 4x4 is that it has 4 wheel braking, just like any other car and if any other car would struggle to stop, then so will the 4x4.

spadoosh

Pink-winged wrote: »

I am definitely not trying to decide on a new car. We have two cars available on the driveway...three actually, but the third is a Ford Ka with summer tyres so it doesn't come into the equasion.

All I was asking for was advice on which one is best to drive in ice and snow. If it helps the 4x4 is a Nissan X-Trail.

Pink

Id use the ford ka, damn sight cheaper to replace body panels on that, fewer revs delivered, fwd and light. Sounds like a perfect snow car.

Traction control does absolutely nothing in the snow, actually think it causes more accidents as you have no control over them like a poster said earlier its only really good in wet conditions when you lose control of one tyre.