Great tires 2WD vs crummy tires on 4WD truck
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Originally Posted By: crw
A few years ago Car and Driver did a very detailed test which showed that good snow tires on a two-wheel drive car were "better" and "cheaper" than a 4WD car with regular tires. Of course, these were cars. I don't think they tested trucks. But my vote would be for great tires on a 2WD truck, vs. average or poor tires on a 4WD truck.
Amen...used to drive a RWD Volvo with 4 snow tires in Vermont...and watch all the 4WD trucks and AWD Subarus crash with their all-season tires..."but I have 4WD!" they would say...sure...and if I put Ray Rice in loafers, he would never gain a yard...no traction...sigh...like 4WD ignores the fact that the tires themselves have to grip the surface...
A few years ago Car and Driver did a very detailed test which showed that good snow tires on a two-wheel drive car were "better" and "cheaper" than a 4WD car with regular tires. Of course, these were cars. I don't think they tested trucks. But my vote would be for great tires on a 2WD truck, vs. average or poor tires on a 4WD truck.
Amen...used to drive a RWD Volvo with 4 snow tires in Vermont...and watch all the 4WD trucks and AWD Subarus crash with their all-season tires..."but I have 4WD!" they would say...sure...and if I put Ray Rice in loafers, he would never gain a yard...no traction...sigh...like 4WD ignores the fact that the tires themselves have to grip the surface...
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: PopPop
Only real reason for 4x4 is the "low" gear when you need it. No better with traction and stopping.
Low gear. I have owned 4x4s for 20 years and I have never put the transfer case into low. Never.
So I guess your theory is incorrect. Here in Saskatchewan we get 4 foot dumps of snow overnight,highways get closed,but I keep on trucking. Gotta get to work. No excuses
Low range is for 4 Wheeling...that's why real trucks have it in the transfer case and soccer-mommie cross-overs don't...it's also good when you need a ton of torque...like moving a heavy boat up a steep ramp...in the snow, generally you're traction limited, not torque limited, so low range actually hurts by increasing the torque to the wheels, making it easier to break traction...
Originally Posted By: PopPop
Only real reason for 4x4 is the "low" gear when you need it. No better with traction and stopping.
Low gear. I have owned 4x4s for 20 years and I have never put the transfer case into low. Never.
So I guess your theory is incorrect. Here in Saskatchewan we get 4 foot dumps of snow overnight,highways get closed,but I keep on trucking. Gotta get to work. No excuses
Low range is for 4 Wheeling...that's why real trucks have it in the transfer case and soccer-mommie cross-overs don't...it's also good when you need a ton of torque...like moving a heavy boat up a steep ramp...in the snow, generally you're traction limited, not torque limited, so low range actually hurts by increasing the torque to the wheels, making it easier to break traction...
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Originally Posted By: Astro14
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: PopPop
Only real reason for 4x4 is the "low" gear when you need it. No better with traction and stopping.
Low gear. I have owned 4x4s for 20 years and I have never put the transfer case into low. Never.
So I guess your theory is incorrect. Here in Saskatchewan we get 4 foot dumps of snow overnight,highways get closed,but I keep on trucking. Gotta get to work. No excuses
Low range is for 4 Wheeling...that's why real trucks have it in the transfer case
and soccer-mommie cross-overs don't...it's also good when you need a ton of torque...like moving a heavy boat up a steep ramp...in the snow, generally you're traction limited, not torque limited, so low range actually hurts by increasing the torque to the wheels, making it easier to break traction...
Agreed. What I am trying to say it that low range has limited usage in day to day driving. In snow it puts way too much torque to the ground.
My chev right now had 350 rwhp coming out of a cammed 5.3 with a dyno tune. I have put it in low range once,to pull a zoomboom forklift out of the mud. I was on dry pavement. The whole truck was jumping,all 4 wheels were spinning,great smoke show but didn't pull it out. I put it into high 4x4 and pulled it right out.
I can see it being useful for pulling hay trailers loaded however day to day low range is pretty useless. My transfer case also had a lever. Those pushbutton and auto 4wd transfer cases have too many issues. And the push button module alone cost 450 from the dealer. I will stick with lever style transfer case and non-auto 4x4 models.
I have 300000 kms on the drivetrain of this truck and have abused it to no end,and still no problems.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: PopPop
Only real reason for 4x4 is the "low" gear when you need it. No better with traction and stopping.
Low gear. I have owned 4x4s for 20 years and I have never put the transfer case into low. Never.
So I guess your theory is incorrect. Here in Saskatchewan we get 4 foot dumps of snow overnight,highways get closed,but I keep on trucking. Gotta get to work. No excuses
Low range is for 4 Wheeling...that's why real trucks have it in the transfer case
and soccer-mommie cross-overs don't...it's also good when you need a ton of torque...like moving a heavy boat up a steep ramp...in the snow, generally you're traction limited, not torque limited, so low range actually hurts by increasing the torque to the wheels, making it easier to break traction...
Agreed. What I am trying to say it that low range has limited usage in day to day driving. In snow it puts way too much torque to the ground.
My chev right now had 350 rwhp coming out of a cammed 5.3 with a dyno tune. I have put it in low range once,to pull a zoomboom forklift out of the mud. I was on dry pavement. The whole truck was jumping,all 4 wheels were spinning,great smoke show but didn't pull it out. I put it into high 4x4 and pulled it right out.
I can see it being useful for pulling hay trailers loaded however day to day low range is pretty useless. My transfer case also had a lever. Those pushbutton and auto 4wd transfer cases have too many issues. And the push button module alone cost 450 from the dealer. I will stick with lever style transfer case and non-auto 4x4 models.
I have 300000 kms on the drivetrain of this truck and have abused it to no end,and still no problems.
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I put my 2003 Silverado in low range one time just to see how it accelerated. Not real impressive, seemed faster in high range. Then I read somewhere the engine computer limits horsepower to protect the drive train when in low range.
I never had any issues with RWD cars or trucks. As long as you have good tires, a bit of weight over the rear, and a locking rear end they are ok.
If conditions are that bad I simply won't go out.
4wd is nice but I view it as a luxury. I don't buy it in my trucks because I would literally use it 1-3 times a year, and I don't think its worth having it the other 362/4 days I don't need it.
If conditions are that bad I simply won't go out.
4wd is nice but I view it as a luxury. I don't buy it in my trucks because I would literally use it 1-3 times a year, and I don't think its worth having it the other 362/4 days I don't need it.
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