I don't think many will agree. Snow tires along with AWD are the best solution. But snow tires FWD beat AWD and all seasons. There is probably some evidence that RWD and snow tires are not as good as AWD and All seasons.

 

If you live in real hilly areas like Colorado, etc. than I would definitely opt for AWD and snow tires because lots of factory traction control systems just bog down and cut power to the wheels so your chance of making it up a hill are slim to none in slippery conditions. If you live in the rest of the country where roads are plowed and you're not driving through 10"+ of snow and don't have hills to worry about, you do not need AWD.

 

I don't think this is what people on here are arguing. Winter tires are always a good idea in a snowy region.

 

The Subaru excellent AWD system has nothing to do with stopping. When you press your brake, it is all about the tires.

 

To say winter tires aren't better for safety in the winter, is like saying disc brakes aren't better for safety over drum brakes no matter the car or truck. It only takes one time that you can't stop quick enough. I don't understand the resistance for winter tires. It reminds me of all the arguments against seat belts. Now after many years of laws requiring their use, most have gotten onboard. Europeans have been onboard with winter tires for many years.

 

Exactly. In a snowy cold climate I’d rather have a 2WD car with winter tires than an AWD car on allseason tires.

 

Have you ever owned an Outback with all-seasons? I have. Simply fantastic in the winter....though I'll admit our winters usually aren't like Maine or the Northern Rockies. Only disappointment with mine was that it wasn't quite as reliable, mechanically, as I had hoped. I had to replace several things prematurely, though warranty took care of a couple of them.

 

I have owned multiple AWD/4WD vehicles that were/are excellent in the snow. If I lived in the north or in Canada, I would still rather have a 2WD car on winter tires. If I lived in those climates I would put winter tires on my AWD cars. I wouldn’t even consider not doing so.

Have you driven a modern car on modern winter tires in a cold climate? Clearly not. If you had you would realize how ridiculous the statement that an AWD Subaru doesn’t need them in that climate is. Like I said my brother in law lives in that climate and has an AWD Subaru, he runs winter tires.

 

We are talking about stopping, if you think Subaru AWD, or any AWD for that matter, help in braking, or if you think all seasons can stop as short as winter tires in cold conditions, you are hopeless.
Nobody is saying you cant get by with all seasons, we are just simply making the point that winter tires are superior

 

I'm sorry to say but you have no idea what you are talking about... winter tires makes all the difference even between good tires like blizzak or gsi5 and cheap ones. I drive 50000miles a year and driven on all types of tires and vehicules and can attest that when you need to brake on icy roads only good winter tires can do it.It has nothing to do with fwd rwd or 4wd systems, it is braking and accelarating in winter conditions... Sure subies and mitsus out there will do better with the same tires than a rwd bmw per say but it does not even comparable to what a good winter tire can do.

 

Stopping and turning...

Some people just can’t admit that other people might have more experience or knowledge on certain subjects than they do. I’m a good snow driver, but you guys in snowier climates obviously have more experience and a viewpoint of more value than mine. That’s just common sense.

 

No, I didn't say that. I'm aware that AWD is mainly a boon to starting, and, alone, doesn't necessarily affect stopping or handling. I'm a careful driver, though, especially on slippery surfaces, and generally don't do things that get one in trouble.

Why I did say, though, and stand by it, is that my Outback was superb with all-seasons. Whether it would have been even better with winter tires is a moot point.


That's true...but I owned my Outback for six years, through some of the worst stuff nature can throw at the D.C. area. That's not exactly living with one's head in the sand, though I'll concede that, most of the time, winter here is not like further North....or even in WV.

 

as a poor teen, I drove through a whole Michigan winter in a 70 mgb. It had bald tires al the way around. The right rear tire was as smooth as a race slick. On one occasion on a back country road I was drift busting through drifts that were over the hood. I never got stuck that winter. I wasn't involved in a accident. Luckily nothing happened where I had to stop quicker than anticipated. Just because I had no issues doesn't mean winter tires wouldn't have been better, and safer. Not that winter tires existed then. Skill kept me from getting stuck. Luck is why an accident didn't happen ( someone doing something where I couldn't stop or avoid them) . A awd/4x4 means you can drive through deeper wetter snow easier. It doesn't stop or turn any better on a slick road. Tires are the only thing that makes any car or truck stop and turn when it's slick out. The worst conditions I've driven i certainly wasn't deep snow. Ice and black ice are the worst conditions. While that awd helps get going on hills it is still hard to stop and turn. Once I tried winter tires and saw how much less the abs had to work, that's the proof. That's all I needed to get me on board. Fact is deep snow you can stop pretty well with any tires. The displacement of snow slows you quickly. Those miner snow events where the snow drifts and leaves a layer of ice is a bigger deal. People drive to fast , and A/S tires suck under those conditions compared to winter tires. Nobody's arguing that a outback can go through deeper snow than a is250 on winter tires. We are saying, that the is250 on winter tires will stop and turn better when cold slick conditions. That can be ice, cold rain, or some snow. When the outback is just on A/S tires. Now that outback will accelerate quicker because all four tire are being driven. That still doesn't equate to better stopping. As both cars still have four wheel brakes. If tires didn't matter for traction we would all be running on Sunny brand tires because they are less expensive. Me I'll stick with summer tires for summer, and winter tires for winter. I'll pass on tires that are a jack of all trades , but can't master any of them. I'm not that silly kid I once was.

 

an accident doesn't have to be of your own making. Someone can pull out in front of you. Stopping a foot shorter could safe you from that accident.

 

Physics are what they are Mike. It’s not a question of doing something to get yourself in trouble, in many situations in the winter things unfold that are not your fault.

Winter tires procide dramatically more grip than all season tires in cold weather. That’s a FACT. Do you want more grip or less grip?

Bottom line, winter tires ALWAYS increase your margin of safety in cold climates. ALWAYS. Whether or not your Outback would have been safer on winter tires is not a moot poisn’t, it’s a FACT that it would have been.