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Originally posted by Polak:
Quote:
You get better traction because the bulk of the weight in the vehicle is over the front tires. That's why 2wd Pickup trucks put weights over their rear axle in their beds to help with traction when driving on snowy roads, otherwise the rear instead of moving forward wants to move sideways.
The only time you may get a slight advantage is when you are stationary and you're trying to accelerate on a slippery surface (in a straight line only). That is when the weight helps you out.

The moment you are in motion and taking a corner you are accelerating with the same tires you are steering with therefore you're actually making it lose traction quicker. Not to even mention if you happen to be breaking... very easy to overload the front tires and lose all control.

Most cars these days (excluding pickup trucks) have a pretty balanced weight distribution and so steering with one set of tires and accelerating with the other is an advantage.

I'd draw a few free body diagrams for you guys but I don't have a way of scanning them.
[Geek]
See, you didn't clarify your post. From what you posted it seemed as if you were implying that it doesn't matter which wheels drive under any circumstance, as long as it's snow.

As for cornering in snow and the rear wheel drive vs. front wheel drive argument... Take your foot off the gas and you will turn just fine in either one, however... At slow speeds during an understeer you can pull the car out with front wheel drive easier than with rear wheel drive.

Bottom line is that if I had to pick either front or rear wheel drive in snow (no 4x4) I would sure go front wheel drive, just because I've driven a Maxima (and before a Sentra) in Chicago winters for many years.

At times when it snows here I keep my truck in rear wheel drive and don't even bother with 4x4, however it's a lot less forgiving, even with skilled and more precise driving. That doesn't mean that it can't be done.