Winter Tires for SUVs: Is 4WD Enough?

Your SUV has four wheel drive. You feel confident for winter. But 4WD alone does not guarantee safety on snow and ice. Winter tires provide the essential grip you need.

Winter Tires: What 4WD Does

Four wheel drive sends power to all four wheels. This helps your SUV accelerate. It helps you move forward from a stop. 4WD does not help you turn more effectively. 4WD does not help you stop faster. Your brakes stop your vehicle. Your tires provide the grip for stopping and turning.

What Winter Tires Do

Winter tires use a special soft rubber compound. This rubber stays flexible in cold temperatures. All season tires harden when the temperature drops below 45°F. Hard tires slide on cold pavement. Winter tires also have deep grooves and biting edges. These features grip snow and ice. They provide traction for acceleration, turning, and most importantly, braking.

4WD with All Season Tires vs. 2WD with Winter Tires

Tests show a two wheel drive vehicle with winter tires often outperforms a four wheel drive vehicle with all season tires. The winter tire vehicle will stop in a shorter distance. It will maintain better control in corners. 4WD helps you go. Winter tires help you go, stop, and turn.

You Need Control in All Situations

Acceleration is only one part of driving. You must also steer and brake. Winter tires improve your vehicle’s performance in eaction. They shorten your stopping distance on ice. They reduce sliding when you change lanes. This control prevents accidents.

The Essential Combination for Safety

Use four wheel drive and winter tires together. This combination gives you the best performance. You get improved acceleration from 4WD. You get superior braking and cornering from winter tires. This is the maximum safety setup for winter conditions.

Make the Change for Safety

Install four winter tires on your SUV. Do this when temperatures consistently stay below 45°F. The specialized rubber and tread design provide the grip you need. Your 4WD system is a powerful tool. But it works best with the right tires. Do not rely on 4WD alone for winter safety.

For more information about Winter Tires, visit Wikipedia.