Is Front Wheel Drive Good In The Snow?

May, 2023

 

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

Snow tires are designed to stay pliable and grip in cold weather and can find purchase much easier. FWD cars equipped with the specialized tires often outperform AWD or 4WD cars with all season tires.

There are all-season tires that are snow certified, carrying the "Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake" symbol. While these tires do meet the minimum requirements of the U.S. Tire Manufacturer Association for severe snow conditions, understand these are minimums. These snow-rated all seasons are going to be a solid step above non-rated tires in winter weather, but they are still not as capable as proper snow tires.

However If you are concerned about your FWD car stranding you in snow and don't want to buy snow tires, you'll likely be fine. Unless you live somewhere that sees snow come up to your door sills on a regular basis or drive on roads that rarely see snow plows, a FWD car should navigate slippery streets no problem.

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.


What To Do If You Start Sliding

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.

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