3 ms·

Torque is highly relevant, the entire 'benefit' of AWD is being able to distribute torque to all four wheels instead of two. Thing is, with winter tires even a

Torque is highly relevant, the entire 'benefit' of AWD is being able to distribute torque to all four wheels instead of two. Thing is, with winter tires even a Prius has enough mechanical grip to put the extra torque from the MG's down and many AWD vehicles won't be able to max theirs out with all season tires. When it comes to winter driving the entire perceived benefit of AWD vehicles for commuter use goes out the window as soon as you need seasonal tires, basically. Yes, it will still better help put the power down given equal tires - but at that point the extra cost of the AWD system isn't giving you too much benefit if you are only buying it for winter driving.

sliken 6y ago
Yes, the distribution of torque is very important and is the reason for AWD. But the amount of torque is not. When it's treacherous out even 5% of a normal cars HP/Torque is plenty. I've heard the FWD + snow tires beats AWD + all seasons before and personally I don't believe it, but it's a pretty subjective thing. The big win for AWD is predictability and control, not that I want to go around corners sideways at 100 mph rally style. Having control over the car, even when sliding, without any rear or front bias just makes for a MUCH more controllable car. My Subaru forester with AWD and all seasons handled numerous treacherous conditions, sometimes so bad that every highway around me was closed. I used to do 6 7200 foot passes every weekend, often in the middle of storms dropping 2-3 feet. My main problem on the roads was others that don't know how to drive and block the roads. I've driven roads so slick that going too slow would cause you to slide off the road. I'd have to apply torque, while sliding, to keep the 10-15 mph required to avoid sliding to the inside of every banked turn. Which would be MUCH harder with FWD or RWD. Amusingly at chain control points, often the workers would look back in the line, see my Subaru and pull me out of line and let me go through with a smile and a wave. Presumably because there are (or weren't anyways) any non-AWD Subarus (this was before the BRX) and Subarus aren't the typical cars getting stuck and causing problems. Sure AWD and snow tires is even better, just seems overkill for the highways in the high sierras.

sliken 6y ago

Yes, the distribution of torque is very important and is the reason for AWD. But the amount of torque is not. When it's treacherous out even 5% of a normal cars HP/Torque is plenty. I've heard the FWD + snow tires beats AWD + all seasons before and personally I don't believe it, but it's a pretty subjective thing. The big win for AWD is predictability and control, not that I want to go around corners sideways at 100 mph rally style. Having control over the car, even when sliding, without any rear or front bias just makes for a MUCH more controllable car. My Subaru forester with AWD and all seasons handled numerous treacherous conditions, sometimes so bad that every highway around me was closed. I used to do 6 7200 foot passes every weekend, often in the middle of storms dropping 2-3 feet. My main problem on the roads was others that don't know how to drive and block the roads. I've driven roads so slick that going too slow would cause you to slide off the road. I'd have to apply torque, while sliding, to keep the 10-15 mph required to avoid sliding to the inside of every banked turn. Which would be MUCH harder with FWD or RWD. Amusingly at chain control points, often the workers would look back in the line, see my Subaru and pull me out of line and let me go through with a smile and a wave. Presumably because there are (or weren't anyways) any non-AWD Subarus (this was before the BRX) and Subarus aren't the typical cars getting stuck and causing problems. Sure AWD and snow tires is even better, just seems overkill for the highways in the high sierras.