4WD on summer tyres vs 2WD on winter tyres.

Legacy_user

All those people who think that just buying a 4WD vehicle for winter will be the solution to all their woes when all they need to do is just buy winter tyres for their current car.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atayHQYqA3g

Johno100

Or buy a front wheel drive vehicle not a crappy tail swapping BMW.

I remember a few years back when we had a little snow and there was a slight slope into our works car park. Nobody had a problem except the boss in her swanky new BMW. Ended up having to put one of the 'larger' girls from the office into the boot for her to get the necessary traction.

wgl2014

Does anyone buy a 4wd vehicle just for a few days of snow each year?

How about 2wd Vs 4wd both on appropriate tyres for the conditions.

Herzlos

wgl2014 wrote: »

Does anyone buy a 4wd vehicle just for a few days of snow each year?

Yup, plenty.


We had a bad winter a few years ago (snow on the ground for about 4 weeks) and all of the local dealers had sold out of anything that was 4wd - not even just SUVs, but everything.


Audi ran an advertising campaign last year (?) about their 4wd being weatherproof, and certainly implied they were better in the snow.

How about 2wd Vs 4wd both on appropriate tyres for the conditions.

In terms of performance/traction: 4wd on winter tyres > 2wd on winter tyres > 4wd on normal tyres > 2wd on normal tyres > 4wd on summer tyres > 2wd on summer tyes > anything on crap/worn tyres.

Scrapit

Johno100 wrote: »

Or buy a front wheel drive vehicle not a crappy tail swapping BMW.

I remember a few years back when we had a little snow and there was a slight slope into our works car park. Nobody had a problem except the boss in her swanky new BMW. Ended up having to put one of the 'larger' girls from the office into the boot for her to get the necessary traction.

Do you watch the video? It was a fwd bimmer.

daveyjp

I have seen a Range Rover stuck in a slightly muddy rugby field because the owner thought well worn summer tyres would be adequate.

I also happily overtook a 4wd 3 series during the snow earlier this year which couldn't get up a slight incline alao due to the summer tyres.

agrinnall

Herzlos wrote: »

In terms of performance/traction: 4wd on winter tyres > 2wd on winter tyres > 2wd.

You missed a bit:


In terms of performance/traction: 4wd on winter tyres > 2wd on winter tyres > 4wd > 2wd.

hollie.weimeraner

Tarambor wrote: »

All those people who think that just buying a 4WD vehicle for winter will be the solution to all their woes when all they need to do is just buy winter tyres for their current car.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atayHQYqA3g

Or alternatively buy all weather tyres.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTdE6onkipA

Loads of other reviews as well.

I fitted these to a Ford Focus a few years ago and sailed past cars stuck in snow near Sheffield. Totally blown away by them and they are great for the UK climate where we only get limited snow. They're not badly priced either.

Just had 4 fitted to my Toyota Auris for £230 at Costco.

daveyjp

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Or alternatively buy all weather tyres.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTdE6onkipA

Loads of other reviews as well.

I fitted these to a Ford Focus a few years ago and sailed past cars stuck in snow near Sheffield. Totally blown away by them and they are great for the UK climate where we only get limited snow. They're not badly priced either.

Just had 4 fitted to my Toyota Auris for £230 at Costco.

Agreed. No need for full winter tyres in UK. Modern all season tyres are now very advanced and more than adequate for UK conditions.

JP1978

Quite surprised that the resident driving gods haven't been posting to tell us that they have used summer tyres for 30 years and never got stuck.....

force_ten

you can buy a very nice 4x4 and fit the best winter tyres that money can buy but chances are you will still get stuck

99% of the motoring public will ignore all weather warnings and head out on the roads in their cars shod with summer tyres and all the HGV,s running around on summer tyres and when the snow falls they will grind to a halt and Mr 4X4 with his winter tyres will have all the traction in the world but he will be stuck due to the actions of others