Myth: 4WD Vehicles Don’t Need Specialized Snow Tires
Many truck and SUV owners believe that having 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) means they are immune to winter weather. They think their “All-Season” tires are good enough because the engine can power all four wheels. However, All-Season rubber starts to harden and lose grip once temperatures drop below 45°F. No matter how many wheels are turning, if the rubber is hard as a puck, you won’t have traction.
Snow tires are made of a special compound that stays soft in freezing temperatures and has “sipes” that bite into the ice. A 2WD car with dedicated snow tires will almost always outperform a 4WD vehicle with All-Season tires when it comes to turning and stopping on a frozen road. 4WD helps you go, but tires help you stay on the road.
