I NEED All Wheel Drive (Pros and Cons of AWD)
June 29, 2025
So winter has arrived and you don't feel confident in how your 2-wheel drive vehicle does in the snow and ice. You envy all those people with all-wheel-drive (AWD) and 4-wheel-drive (4WD) cars, trucks and SUVs. You start thinking, "I need one of those. I'll be able to go anywhere without any worries." The truth is there might be another option for you that you might not have thought of.
Sure, you've seen the ads that tout the advantages of AWD and 4WD, and some of the videos make it look like they can handle everything Mother Nature can throw their way. The truth, though, is that vehicles with drive wheels at all four corners can't stop any more quickly than those with 2-wheel-drive. Yes, AWD and 4WD vehicle have advantages when it comes to acceleration, but when it comes to stopping and handling, they generally don't.
If you buy a new AWD or 4WD vehicle, you are going to spend thousands of dollars. Maintenance and upkeep costs are higher due to the vehicle's increased complexity and weight, and you're likely to take a hit in fuel economy. So, what's the option we mentioned above? It's simple. Winter tires.
If you have a front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle with winter tires, you'll notice a tremendous difference in your winter traction and stopping than the all-season tires that are on most vehicles. One tire company, Michelin, wanted to find out which was better in the snow: an AWD car with all-season tires or a FWD car with winter tires. And they found while the AWD car could get going a little more easily, in most of the other comparisons, the FWD car with winter tires handled equally or better and stopped in a shorter distance. The optimal combination would be, of course, AWD or 4WD with winter tires. But one major consumer testing magazine found that only about 12 percent of their subscribers who drove AWD or 4WD vehicle in the snow for more than 6 days in the previous winter even used winter tires!
So a set of winter tires may give you the handling and stopping you're looking for and for a lot less cash than a new AWD vehicle. Consult your service advisor for some recommendations. You may be pleasantly surprised at how you can handle winter roads without having to handle a new, big, fat monthly payment for a new vehicle.
Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff
2020 N. Westwood Blvd
Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63901
573-686-5585
http://www.charliesfastlubepoplarbluff.com
Need Service?
More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff
Differential Service
March 15, 2026
When you're driving and turn a corner, you probably aren't aware of all that's going on with your wheels. The outside wheels have a longer distance to travel than the inside wheels, so there are gears that allow the wheels to go at different speeds when you turn. That set of gears is called a d... More
The Right Stuff (Choosing Replacement Parts)
March 8, 2026
Let's face it. Vehicles are complicated machines, each having thousands of parts. And since they're subjected to heat, cold, vibrations, bumps and much more, these parts wear out and need to be replaced. When your service advisor says you need a new part, you may have many options. Let's say ... More
Timing is Everything (Timing Cover Replacement)
March 1, 2026
Theres an important part in your vehicle that shields your timing belt, timing chain or cam belt from the debris and gunk that can be kicked up from the road. Its called the timing cover. Its important because the timing belt or chain is what coordinates parts of your engine called the camshaft... More