Well you are no longer comparing AWD to RWD. You are comparing a 4000+ SUV with probably a foot more ground clearance to a 2200lbs Miata that has very little ground clearance, and again, you are comparing hill climbing (essentially acceleration) when I have repeatedly stated that I will give the edge to AWD on A/S tires in the snow. Also, the Foot of snow that you are talking about will effect anything RWD a ton more than your SUV because most RWD cars are not trucks, and will be trying to push through the snow with their bumper, while you will have enough clearance to drive over it.

I guarantee you though, that in any amount of snow under 8" that My Miata will change direction, and stop much faster than your tank. While you might get up to whatever predetermined cruising speed we would decide on, I would be much better suited for avoiding and accident, making an emergency stop, or even just making it around the next corner.

Oh, and I gladly accept your challenge. You find the spot with snow within 300 miles of 91201 and I will gladly snow up. I am willing to travel further, but you will need to cover half of my travel expenses.

 

^^ I understand that most cars don't have a foot of clearance, and that's not what I was getting at; it was just an example that we just had a foot of snow that rendered most cars useless while most AWD SUVs still useful. The challenge is just tongue-in-cheek, for we all know it's never gonna happen. But I still maintain that an AWD with good all-season tires has more traction and stability than a RWD w/ snow tires; until someone proves me wrong with an actual comparo.

 

if you havin snow problems i feel bad for you son
got 99 problems but winter aint one

 

More drive traction? Yes. More braking and cornering traction? No.

 

Dude, give it up. He's one of the 99%....."I got AWD, I don't need no stinkin snow tires".

 

RWD or FWD with snow tires will always handle better in snow than an AWD vehicle with all-seasons.

You say you are driving an SUV. The additional heft plus AWD and a higher ground clearance are all good and make up for some of the disadvantage you have with all-seasons. If there is a foot or more of snow and the car has no clearance then obviously it is bound to have trouble regardless of snow tires.

It seems like you are adamant about sticking to your point and thats ok. Like you, a lot of people in my town that drive bigger vehicles get by on all-seasons. However if some day you get a chance try out a vehicle equipped with proper snow tires and let us know what you think.

 

Obviously, take two identical vehicles and put snow tires on one and A/S tires on another and the one with snow tires will be way better in the cold, ice and snow. My wife's car is night-and-day different with snow tires.

You do bring up a good point, though - vehicles with more clearance or more aggressive A/S tires (like some SUVs have) will definitely somewhat make up for the lack of dedicated winter tires.

 

For sure, and the more aggressive the tire, and the deeper the tread, the better it will be, especially when looking at acceleration. The extra weight help a lot too. The problem that catches most people off guard once they get up to speed is their stopping distance, and ability to turn. The extra weight that helped get you going makes it more difficult to stop.

I don't think that at any point I or any one else ever said you couldn't get around with AWD, since the limiting factor of going somewhere is normally the ability to get the car moving. The argument that some of us are trying to make is that once you get going, you have more ability to stop and steer with Snow tires and 2WD.

Both sides are right to an extent, we are just looking at it from slightly different points of view.

 

Dude, give it up. He's one of the 99%....."I got AWD, I don't need no stinkin snow tires".
[/quote]

No, he's one of the 99% of Awd SUVs that got through a snow blizzard in real life.

I understand the other point, but it would be an interesting experiment to see an STi with a good set of all-season tires vs. a RWD car with snow tires. I think (not know), at best, the RWD car would have a very marginal advantage; though I'd like to see test data.

 

^ To make it a valid test you would have to use two cars of similar weight, and use similar tire size. Comparing a new STI to say a '90 Miata wouldn't be entirely fair due to weight differences, and lack of ABS, but yes, I'd love to see a comparison of regular type driving, and then have some sort of race. Ultimately I think that the race would be decided by the type of track chosen. (tight track, or track with lots of corners and minimal acceleration zones should favor RWD with snows, and a long track with lots of power zones should favor AWD) Also driver skill would be very important. I wouldn't surprised if the AWD car did better in the hands of someone who had never driven in the snow, and had no motorsports experience, just because they might not be comfortable with the oversteer that inevitably would happen with the RWD car. But with a driver even just with say my slightly moderate, not going to set any records driving skill, I would put my money on the snow tires for everything other than acceleration.

I know that it isn't the best executed test, but it is the only one that is a video that I can find where they do AWD vs RWD and use both snow and AS tires.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjKZ5gbZVbk

I guess that you can ignore this video as it is apparently a 2wd truck...