AWD and snow

[Jman79]

To the OP:
For just the original ask of how well this thing can march up a hill on snow/ice. There are some good YouTube videos to get an idea. Here is one...



There are some impressive videos of the tremor trail control also if you search. Impressive and tempting, but realistically expensive things, in my case, I'll use once every 5 years at best.

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[dalola]

Hello, only had my Mav since May and just ready to hit 4K. For those of you who have experienced winter in them how is the performance in snow? We typically get 3-7 inches here in the Ohio valley. I know you people further north are eye rolling but that seems to be enough for the masses to go into full crazy mode on the roads here. My vehicles sit in my garage at the bottom of a steep driveway as seen in my profile pic. For comparison my 4matic Benz sedan walks right up no problem. Can I expect the same out of my beastie with the factory Michelin Primacy 225/60/18 or should I be thinking about a winter tire/wheel combo?

To directly answer your question, it does very well for a simple (comparatively speaking...) computer controlled AWD system. Tires will be your limiting factor. I have the Falkens, and they have been very good for an AT tire. I would say you'll be fine as-is(meaning, no need for a tire upgrade, unless you just want to).

 

[W0lverine]

Hello, only had my Mav since May and just ready to hit 4K. For those of you who have experienced winter in them how is the performance in snow? We typically get 3-7 inches here in the Ohio valley. I know you people further north are eye rolling but that seems to be enough for the masses to go into full crazy mode on the roads here. My vehicles sit in my garage at the bottom of a steep driveway as seen in my profile pic. For comparison my 4matic Benz sedan walks right up no problem. Can I expect the same out of my beastie with the factory Michelin Primacy 225/60/18 or should I be thinking about a winter tire/wheel combo?

That may be overkill. I commuted 400 miles a week when we lived in Alaska with a 2wd ford ranger and never had any issues. Had 17 feet of snow one winter I recall. Just drive slowly and carefully.

 

[Tim d]

This does a great job of explaining the AWD system, and in the snow

https://www.google.com/search?q=202...#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:3aa27612,vid:Jy01NTuIhEQ

Am I correct that the AWD in an fx4 is different than the AWD in a non fx4? Say and XLT?

 

[RedRider]

Am I correct that the AWD in an fx4 is different than the AWD in a non fx4? Say and XLT?

The FX4 is an optional package, not a trim level like XLT, so they are the same AWD. FX4 gets you stronger skid plates, tow hooks and one or two other details, but not a different drivetrain. The Tremor package gets you the more trail-ready rear brake locking etc., but the extra weight derates your load capacity by [I think] around 250lbs. and you can't get 4k towing with it.

 

[Hooverq]

To directly answer your question, it does very well for a simple (comparatively speaking...) computer controlled AWD system. Tires will be your limiting factor. I have the Falkens, and they have been very good for an AT tire. I would say you'll be fine as-is(meaning, no need for a tire upgrade, unless you just want to).

That’s all I was asking. Thank you

 

[Mabcim]

Western NY here. Have driven an Escape and my Mav with those tires. Work fine for me. As with any tire, ice and super deep snow are the enemy of all seasons. Don’t get those that often.

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

I think most people wanting 4WD have not driven a FWD in snow ever. Maybe its somehow more macho to say that you absolutely need a 4x4 with stupid wheels hanging a foot outside the fenders just to get to work, but whatever. 3-4" of snow should not be a problem for FWD. I see lots of clueless people with no idea how to drive in snow and ice, and floor it when they should not be forming ice on the tires by spinning them as fast as possible. That's why the slippery mode setting mostly just slows down the throttle response and keeps the tread doing its job. IMHO, 4WD is great for getting you more stuck, and not much more than that.

why the rant trashing 4wd/awd as completely unnecessary macho affectations?

 

[Luthinator]

Hello, only had my Mav since May and just ready to hit 4K. For those of you who have experienced winter in them how is the performance in snow? We typically get 3-7 inches here in the Ohio valley. I know you people further north are eye rolling but that seems to be enough for the masses to go into full crazy mode on the roads here. My vehicles sit in my garage at the bottom of a steep driveway as seen in my profile pic. For comparison my 4matic Benz sedan walks right up no problem. Can I expect the same out of my beastie with the factory Michelin Primacy 225/60/18 or should I be thinking about a winter tire/wheel combo?

I had been debating if I needed AWD or hybrid. My commute is about 40 miles, each way, per day. I'm in the suburbs of Chicago. I went with the Lariet hybrid. If I absolutely needed to I could take my wife's Explorer that is AWD. I just kept telling myself, well if I got the AWD and some better tires. Then I could go off roading. ... Ya, so much exciting places to off road and hill climb in Illinois.

 

[bckrupps]

I have the FX4 with the stock Pirellis. We had a good rare ice storm here earlier in the year in Texas. I was very impressed. I don’t even think the tires slipped. With that being said I grew up in upstate NY and also lived in northern Indiana so I know how not to drive like a fool in bad conditions.

 

[Jman79]

why the rant trashing 4wd/awd as completely unnecessary macho affectations?

Because there is too much miss-information / miss interpretation that AWD is a snow quick fix. Emboldening some, who really should focus on better bad weather driving skill, to drive too aggressively or at all in bad weather.

I don't think the response is aimed at everyone or even the OP. Just that this kind of question sets off alarm bells for some of us, because we've all seen too many people in ditches or hitting others that really just need lessons in how to drive in bad weather.

In my honest experience the kind of people who ask a very general "how's the AWD fair in snow" are the ones who scare me. Those who do / can drive in snow tend to ask a little more pointed questions like... "Hey does the AWD on that handle steeper snow / ice grades well because I hate to shovel my drive" or "How do the stock tires rate on snow / ice?" because we all know good tires can outshine bad tires + AWD.

Long winded... It's a cautionary response to the way the question was worded.

PS: I'm not an AWD customer, but in watching some tremor videos the AWD and trail control seems awesome. But alas not one is make use of for the $$$

 

[Jman79]

Because there is too much miss-information / miss interpretation that AWD is a snow quick fix. Emboldening some, who really should focus on better bad weather driving skill, to drive too aggressively or at all in bad weather.

I don't think the response is aimed at everyone or even the OP. Just that this kind of question sets off alarm bells for some of us, because we've all seen too many people in ditches or hitting others that really just need lessons in how to drive in bad weather.

In my honest experience the kind of people who ask a very general "how's the AWD fair in snow" are the ones who scare me. Those who do / can drive in snow tend to ask a little more pointed questions like... "Hey does the AWD on that handle steeper snow / ice grades well because I hate to shovel my drive" or "How do the stock tires rate on snow / ice?" because we all know good tires can outshine bad tires + AWD.

Long winded... It's a cautionary response to the way the question was worded.

PS: I'm not an AWD customer, but in watching some tremor videos the AWD and trail control seems awesome. But alas not one is make use of for the $$$. My bike trails and Ski destinations I frequent need to be accessible to all vehicles.

 

[Deleted member 14823]

Okay, so basically anyone that added the AWD option (or even dares to ask about it) is an idiot who can't drive in the snow. Got it.

 

[Joe Mac]

I drive in the mountains in the winter to ski in Tahoe. Love the AWD because I hate chains. But I do agree having a clue how to drive is the key

 

[MavFromTheDead]

There's a bit of truth here. Knowing how to handle slippery conditions and edge-case defensive driving in general is well worth the cost of a driving school for those who have the time, availability and money. Alas, these courses tend to require air travel.

It reminds me of one day in sunny Little Rock. I had a Mazda RX7-R1 hot rod on summer tires. Rear wheel drive and fat tires and soft compound for speed. Manual transmission. Rotary engine with a ludicrous torque peak. The worst possible ride in icy conditions. While I was at the air base on a mission, an ice storm hit. My ride home was a hilly 20 minutes. But I managed it because I had elemental driving skills in ice. I knew to lift when the back came unstuck a bit. I knew to start up the hill fast and down the hill and curves slow. Basic stuff. I made it home past a vast legion of Arkansas drivers littering the side of the road. Not their fault - they were out of their element and caught by surprise.

Skill goes a long way when you don't have the right tools for the job. Google "winter driving schools".

I use to drive my RX7 out in the snow in NC when I was in high-school. I'd be out there with all the 4x4 trucks. The light weight makes a big difference too.

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