If a wheel spins on an axle with an open differential, mechanically speaking, it receives all the power, being that it is the path of least resistance. That's

If a wheel spins on an axle with an open differential, mechanically speaking, it receives all the power, being that it is the path of least resistance. That's a problem because the remaining wheels are the only useful ones for propelling the vehicle, but they stop receiving power. The reason power may be cut is a traction control system response to this slipping, not the mechanical drivetrain configuration itself. Depending on the vehicle, this may be done by cutting power at the engine, or by braking the individual wheel that is spinning, or both. A locking differential distributes the power evenly between both sides, all of the time. Limited-slip differentials do something in between the above two, depending on the type.