FWD Vs RWD with snow tyres in snow!

[Supacool1]

So the wagon has four Michelin Alpin A4's on it. Awesome in the snow! Not a hint of ABS kicking in unless harsh on the brakes and epic grip up the steepest hills in ice and snow!
The Fiat 500 on the other hand, what a different story. It has the stock 185 width Dunlop sports on 15 inch wheels. To say the car is twitchy is an understatement. When it snowed here last week I took the Wagon to work at 5.30am-I work shift. I was the first person on the road. Felt safe and there was little drama, but epic grip. Even when trying to provoke a slide using harsh inputs of throttle or steering angles it just gripped and when it did lose traction it regained it faster.
The Fiat yesterday when we had 3 inches of snow in 3 hours was another story! Understeer city! And ontop of that the ASR would kill the power once the wheels started to spin leaving me to a crawl on a hill. Was great at hand brake induced slides in our road though but struggled with grip. Wonder what it would it be like with snow tyres on the fronts only....? :bannana:

 

[Blackman]

Generally speaking, FWD cars with snow tyres should be easier to drive in snow than RWD, because the engine is on the front, so there's more weight on the tyres to grip.

Obviously, if you have summer tyres, then it won't really make much difference.

 

[snoop51]

This is the first RWD car I've ever had and after the last snow in Kent it will not be going out until my winter wheels & tyres arrive. I was hoping for them to be here by this weekend but 1 tyre is stuck somewhere.
Consequently my wife and I borrowed my daughters Ka this morning to do some present shopping. It's only on summer tyres nothing special but I had no problems at all (3" snow here). I had great fun in it, whereas the Merc wouldn't even get moving up the slight slope where I live. I did see plenty of FWD cars with wheels spinning going nowhere though in Colchester. Being originally from Yorkshire and having lived in Germany for 7 years I just put it down to them being Southern shandy drinking wusses who can't drive properly LOL . However thinking about it all the ones having problems were the ones with "sporty" alloys probably wider than the car ever needs, just put on "because they look good". As for me I have to drive down to Kent in the morning (5am) just spoke to my landlord down there 10" of snow on the fields. 2 miles of country lanes to get down from the A2. I'll be nicking the Ka in the morning as the last time the Merc saw that it was like a horse refusing a jump i.e. no go.
I'll take the FWD w/summer tyres over the RWD 265/35/18" w/summer tyres. God I can't wait for the winter set to arrive no heated seats, no comfort just a rattly Ford tin box but at least it goes!

 

[Bellow]

Modern day winter tyres transcend drive layout.

 

[312 Sprinter]

Modern day winter tyres transcend drive layout.

I don't think they do entirely. I have a Volvo 940 as well as an S80, both have winter tyres on all 4 corners. I drove both yesterday and much though I hate to admit it because I "prefer" RWD to WWD the S80 has the 940 comprehensively beaten. The 940 replaced a W210 E320 CDI and it is better on winter tyres than the E class was.

The 940 is good, and it never even got close to getting stuck, but the S80 is way more assured.

 

[snoop51]

I just need to be able to get to work. No "snow" days for the self employed amongst us. If I don't work I can't afford the MB simples, it does give you extra incentive, hence ordering the wheels w/winter tyres. I don't see the point of getting a winter hack and paying out double tax, insurance etc. when a set of wheels & tyres will cost me the same but with no on costs.

 

[Bellow]

FWD is always better on snow. RWD might best it if winter tyres fitted, but with winter tyres fitted the FWD will triumph again.

In relation to OP, the Fiat as FWD was getting criticised in relation to a car with winter tyres. Fit winter tyres to the Fiat and it will be as least as good as the RWD.

But with winter tyres the inferior RWD layout is surpassing the FWD without, transcending its layout.

 

[Supacool1]

FWD is always better on snow. RWD might best it if winter tyres fitted, but with winter tyres fitted the FWD will triumph again.

In relation to OP, the Fiat as FWD was getting criticised in relation to a car with winter tyres. Fit winter tyres to the Fiat and it will be as least as good as the RWD.

But with winter tyres the inferior RWD layout is surpassing the FWD without, transcending its layout.

Yeah what he said! I kerbed the wheel on the Fiat today!

 

[snoop51]

Fitted my winter wheel / tyres today, yippee :bannana:. Snow's nearly gone here in Colchester though, . Am I the only one hoping for more snow at the moment?

 

[Bellow]

Am I the only one hoping for more snow at the moment?

Probably!
Not much more snow where I am but what was in the fields has blown in and filled my track with drifts several feet deep. Going nowhere until a big tractor with a plough has been through it. Mucho frustration....
Rest assured though. Your new tyres will make a massive difference when you next encounter significant snow.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Am I the only one hoping for more snow at the moment?

Yes. I'm hoping for a blast of tropical air from the Caribbean to get rid of the pesky stuff, winter tyres or no winter tyres.

 

[snoop51]

Yes. I'm hoping for a blast of tropical air from the Caribbean to get rid of the pesky stuff, winter tyres or no winter tyres.

Charles. You mean you don't want a white Christmas???

 

[Charles Morgan]

Bah Humbug!

 

[rf065]

Modern day winter tyres transcend drive layout.

I know exactly what you mean. After 30cm of snow had fallen, I stopped at a red light in lane one of a dual c/way, a few moments later a BMW X3 came along and pulled out into lane 2 and sat beside me.

I think he was goin g to give me a demonstration of his 4wd superiority when the lights changed to green, but his face was a picture when I pulled away with no wheel spin & left his struggling to keep up, priceless!

Russ

 

[Bellow]

rf065: Yep, that's kind of what I've been noticing lately. That a properly shod 2WD can outgrip a summer tyred 4WD. And it does seem to come as a surprise to some that their 4WDs are far from invincible.
On the other hand, I watched a Mitsi Trojan romp around through feet deep drifts without issue. Farmers truck with appropriate tyres.

 

[Apial]

rf065:On the other hand, I watched a Mitsi Trojan romp around through feet deep drifts without issue. Farmers truck with appropriate tyres.

I can assure you that the factory Bridgestone Duellers are road biased and are pathetic on ice and snow. The first thing to do is change them. Tthen you can romp!