May, 2023
Is Front Wheel Drive Good In The Snow?

Is Front-Wheel Drive Any Good in the Snow?
Front-wheel drive (FWD) cars handle well in the snow as most of their weight sits over their driving wheels, giving the front tires more traction. When braking or turning they are just as capable as all-wheel drive (AWD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD) cars, but will struggle to accelerate as quickly.
That being said, a pair of snow tires will even the playing field as they help cars brake and turn - not just accelerate. All-season tires will be found on most cars that regularly see bad weather and while they can deal with some snow, they will grow hard in the cold weather, struggling to grip and adapt to the new surface.
Snow Tires vs All Seasons
How To Drive In The Snow
When driving in snowy or icy conditions, it's important to slow down and leave plenty of space between your car and the vehicle in front of you. This will give you more time to react to changing road conditions and help you avoid skids or collisions.
Brake gently, sudden or hard braking can cause your wheels to lock up and your car to skid, making it harder to control.
When accelerating do so smoothly and gradually. Sudden acceleration can cause your wheels to spin and your car to lose traction, making it harder to move forward.
Just drive carefully with gentle inputs and stay home if it gets too bad. If you do start sliding, as we mentioned here, let off your brakes. Hitting your brakes in a panic will use up your tires' grip to slow down and it doesn't leave any for you to regain control - which should be your priority.
Your car can handle driving in some snow, just not enough to where it turns into a snowplow.
If you're looking for a car to tackle the snow, check out our selection here.