AWD debunked and no better than FWD..
This author is an idiot. I drove my Evo the first winter I had it with ****ty nankangs in a foot of snow and I pointed and laughed at the FWDs anand RWDs that were wrecking left and right. Driver mod ftw.
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From: Thornton, CO & Pasadena, MD
Poor wording on my part I suppose in regards to the title.
Here's a key in thisarticle:
"However, my experience—hard-earned from wrecking more than one AWD vehicle during snow-handling tests for a tire company—is that AWD is counter-productive when the roads are slick. At the same time AWD doesn't improve your handling, it does offer an overly optimistic sense of available traction, and it provides the potential to be going so much faster when you need to stop. (Note to those from warm climes: Snowbanks are not puffy and cushiony.) The laws of physics mean a vehicle's cornering power is the job of the tires and suspension.
"In the snow, it is all about the tires," says automotive engineer Neil Hannemann, whose resume includes helping to develop the original Dodge Viper, creating a proof-of-concept vehicle for the original all-wheel-drive Chrysler minivan, and driving ice racers on frozen lakes. Having power to four wheels rather than two sounds like it would help the car handle, which is why you see those ads that infuriate me. But good tires beat AWD.
Here's a key in thisarticle:
"However, my experience—hard-earned from wrecking more than one AWD vehicle during snow-handling tests for a tire company—is that AWD is counter-productive when the roads are slick. At the same time AWD doesn't improve your handling, it does offer an overly optimistic sense of available traction, and it provides the potential to be going so much faster when you need to stop. (Note to those from warm climes: Snowbanks are not puffy and cushiony.) The laws of physics mean a vehicle's cornering power is the job of the tires and suspension.
"In the snow, it is all about the tires," says automotive engineer Neil Hannemann, whose resume includes helping to develop the original Dodge Viper, creating a proof-of-concept vehicle for the original all-wheel-drive Chrysler minivan, and driving ice racers on frozen lakes. Having power to four wheels rather than two sounds like it would help the car handle, which is why you see those ads that infuriate me. But good tires beat AWD.
For those that don't pay attention to detail, the article was originally posted on Popular Mechanics. The author definitely took the wrong approach; article should be titled "The Merit of Snow Tires." The way he went about it is like saying that 14 year olds in the inner city are better at playing soccer with a soccer ball than 14 year olds that live in rural areas are at playing soccer with a football. He's just sensationalizing an obvious point.
It is definitely opinionated and he touches on tires as the dominant point. He is correct if you place a blizzak vs all season tire then blizzaks win out. When you place the same tire on fwd, rwd vs awd in snow then the outcome is obvious.
The tires are very crucial yes, but in a lot of circumstances the awd system helps. How many owners especially non-car enthusiasts are going to go with snow tires or all seasons? Then take into account which drivetrain will get you out of those "sticky" situations? AWD is definitely recommended when you live in the northeast.
It is the fault of the driver if you are AWD and ****ty tires driving in the snow thinking AWD will save you.
Experience but no logic.
The tires are very crucial yes, but in a lot of circumstances the awd system helps. How many owners especially non-car enthusiasts are going to go with snow tires or all seasons? Then take into account which drivetrain will get you out of those "sticky" situations? AWD is definitely recommended when you live in the northeast.
It is the fault of the driver if you are AWD and ****ty tires driving in the snow thinking AWD will save you.
Experience but no logic.
So the article is about people who are bad drivers basically?
It's an article that is based entirely on opinion, not fact. I.e. it's a terrible article to base any conclusions off of
It's an article that is based entirely on opinion, not fact. I.e. it's a terrible article to base any conclusions off of
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From: Columbia, MD
While this article is stupid and pointless, I did laugh at this line.
In any case, its a poorly written, poorly worded article saying "snow tires are good for snow". 
Ok, thanks Yahoo.
However, my experience—hard-earned from wrecking more than one AWD vehicle during snow-handling tests for a tire company
Ok, thanks Yahoo.
Just my opinion.
FWD, RWD, or AWD with snow tires will get you just about anywhere when nobody else is on the roads.
RWD in a foot of snow going up a 20% incline with traffic is pretty nerve wrecking regardless of the tire you have on. But I've done it and passed FWDs and AWDs stuck in the snowbank while doing it.
In summary, a crappy driver can put any car into a snow bank, regardless of tires. A decent driver + snow tires can handle most situations regardless of drivetrain layout.
FWD, RWD, or AWD with snow tires will get you just about anywhere when nobody else is on the roads.
RWD in a foot of snow going up a 20% incline with traffic is pretty nerve wrecking regardless of the tire you have on. But I've done it and passed FWDs and AWDs stuck in the snowbank while doing it.
In summary, a crappy driver can put any car into a snow bank, regardless of tires. A decent driver + snow tires can handle most situations regardless of drivetrain layout.
Your above scenario does bring back some white knuckle memories though.
But yea made it through many a winter with the car on snow tiresYes we used to get 24in snow storms in the NE back then you prob still get them in June
the idea that 2wd + snow tires is better than awd + all-seasons isn't news to anyone here, but it's probably worth relating to the general public. It's too bad they chose to go for the sensationalist title and straw-man arguments though.
If you read the article, you'll note that he never actually "debunks" awd anywhere or even suggests that awd is somehow flawed. He's debunking the idea that snow tires aren't necessary with awd vehicles and lamenting the fact that awd cars allow unskilled drivers to accelerate faster in slick conditions. All valid points, of course, but i guess they just needed a catchy and controversial title to get people to click on the story. Editors love when an article provokes people to anger and debate, because it results in more traffic. Just look at how people in this thread are eager to jump to the evo's defense.
If you read the article, you'll note that he never actually "debunks" awd anywhere or even suggests that awd is somehow flawed. He's debunking the idea that snow tires aren't necessary with awd vehicles and lamenting the fact that awd cars allow unskilled drivers to accelerate faster in slick conditions. All valid points, of course, but i guess they just needed a catchy and controversial title to get people to click on the story. Editors love when an article provokes people to anger and debate, because it results in more traffic. Just look at how people in this thread are eager to jump to the evo's defense.
