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Winter tyres are going to be on a lot of minds this year – Britain could face a particularly harsh winter this year, with snow falling from as early as November. If you’ve got a four-wheel drive car, you probably think you’re properly prepared – but are you?
We went up to Tamworth Snowdome to find out if a front-wheel drive car with winter tyres has more traction in the snow than a 4×4 with summer tyres fitted. We used two Ford Kugas, both with 2.0-litre diesel engines and manual gearboxes – but one is front-wheel drive, and the other all-wheel drive. The 4×4 Ford Kuga costs £1500 more than the normal model.
In snowy conditions the rubber in summer tyres gets harder and less grippy. Winter tyres use a softer compound, and a tread pattern that’s designed to pick up snow – improving grip in these harsh conditions.
In our first test we saw that the front-wheel drive car on summer tyres was hopeless in the snow – but when fitted with winter tyres, it obviously did much better. However we also tested the 4×4 on summer tyres – and the results might surprise you.
With winter tyres, the normal Kuga went 110 metres up the slope, while the 4×4 car only made it 13 metres up, before sliding back down 9 metres. in the end, it ended up no further than the standard did with summer tyres.
We also tested the four-wheel drive Ford Kuga with winter tyres – and the difference was astonishing. There was plenty of grip and the car drove all the way to the top of the steep ski slope without a problem.
Obviously, the best solution for driving on snow is to have a 4×4 on winter tyres – without the right rubber, a 4×4 is just as useless as a two wheel drive car.
Having four-wheel drive won’t help with braking, though – and that’s much more important.
Click here to see our winter tyres 4×4 grip test
Well here in Finland there’s not much choice. Between december and february
winter tires are required by law.
Thanks for doing this test properly. Autocar tried to do this test with a
BMW 1 series against a 6 series, one being manual and the other auto, the 6
series using low-profile tyres, and said the cars were “practically
identical”.
Winter tires are not just for snow or ice. Below 7 degrees C, normal tires
simply lose their gripping ability.
Winter tires are not cost efficient and not practical for Alberta. We have
slippery, snowy days and then chinooks afterwards. As a result, our roads
are mostly dry for 80% of the winter and therefore the soft compound of
winter tires will wear down quickly. In the past I’ve gotten 2.5 seasons
out of a set of winters. My 4×4 Ford truck with all terrain tires has no
trouble getting around.
Buy a Land Rover
this is the best test done so far i have found on the internet…this
should be trended and people’s misconceptions must be broken that you dont
require awd,,just fwd with good tyres is better option and greener aswell
as u will get more mpg
The concept to achieve the right answer is simple, and we don’t need a
video to understand that: traction (so 4×4) doesn’t give you GRIP (which is
the main thing), but correct tyre set do! ;)
Think you don’t need snow tires?
4×4 and AWD are NOT the same
that’s why we call them summer only tyres
Driving out to the Alps this winter? Make sure you have the right tyres.
http://ow.ly/qJ4U9
Well, since it is getting to be that time of year I thought I would start
my yearly rant against “all-season” tires, which are really just three
season tires. Then found this and thought I would save you the rant – good
watching:
Winter Tyres or 4×4: which is best? – Auto Express
I have a civic with bridgestone winter tires and I climb any hill ive come
a cross!! this hill in the video would not be a problem. Turn traction OFF
next time cause it doesnt help with the climb.
Don’t want to be stranded this winter?
Winter tyres work! We give you the proof.
just put at tyres on your 4×4..the new general grabbers are great in the
snow
put chains on front summer tires and relax :p
Te front wheel drive will go better up a hill driven in reverse. Try it !
Apparently they think we all just drive up snowy hills without turning. I
want to see an actual handling test of snow tires. We know they grip better
already. But how about throwing in a corner or two.
the problem with all these tests is that you are using summer tires, which
everyone knows are useless on the snow. Most cars sold in countries with a
real winter come stock with all season tires, not summer tires. I’d like to
see a test with a set of proper all seasons vs winters. Which in my
experience, all seasons are not utterly useless like those shown here. I
have all three sets. The car with the summers would not make it out the
driveway in winter. The all season equipped car would be about 60% as good
as my truck with snow tires.
The last coment with braiking is the moste important in the hole story.
braiking and cornering is JUST as bad on the 4×4 as on the FWD car on the
summer tires. and usaly ppl stop when they have slided in the ditch r
somthing like that. you can look at the video “Daily drive on the snow
covered roads in Norway” where i drive on snow with a RWD volvo and have no
problem’s it’s just more fun then in the summer ;)
why don’t you wait for march to post videos about winter tires?
Should have tested how they grip when braking down the hill
Winter tires are a must in snow… regardless of AWD or FWD :)
I’ve just put 4 x Goodyear Ultragrip 8s on my crappy Toyota Corolla. Never
mind £760 a set, these came in at £230 for a set. Ooosh!