FWD VS AWD

[fredricschwartz]

Hello everyone. I have an SX FWD and thought it would be sufficient for wet conditions (rain) and light snow. It in fact slides all over the place in both situations with relatively poor traction IMO. I now regret not going with AWD. Anyone else care to share their experience?

 

[2020Telly]

Hello everyone. I have an SX FWD and thought it would be sufficient for wet conditions (rain) and light snow. It in fact slides all over the place in both situations with relatively poor traction IMO. I now regret not going with AWD. Anyone else care to share their experience?

You could try upgrading the tires and see if it gets better?

 

[markjenn]

I don’t think the AWD vs FWD trade offs are any different on the Telluride than any other common crossover so you can read about these trade offs in a wide variety of sources.

AWD’s only advantage is better thrust in slippery conditions, particularly climbing snowy/icy grades. Cornering and braking are unchanged vs FWD. So if the car is “sliding all over the place” with FWD, it’s going to be doing the same with AWD except getting started and keeping going in very slippery conditions. AWD is useful in very challenging conditions where it is VERY useful, but doesn’t do much, if anything, in more normal conditions. I’d never get AWD for the rain - if you’re sliding around on wet pavement, you’re driving too fast for conditions, AWD or FWD.

Dedicated winter tires make a bigger overall difference in traction than AWD and improve braking and cornering. In some ways, all AWD does is improve your ability to drive too fast for the braking and cornering traction you likely have.

- Mark

 

[ucinn]

Cornering and braking are unchanged vs FWD

This is incorrect as the AWD has the torque vectoring and uses all 4 wheels to break and the transfer case to transfer power to the wheels with the best grip...but you are correct that braking remains the same in FWD and AWD.

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[II Kings 9:20]

Tires. The contact patch is a little bigger than a poker card and those 4 tiny spots are the only thing providing the friction for grip. You need better tires and for winter (not just snow), dedicated winter tires may be needed. Better tires? But but but they're Michelins! Not all Michelins are great in wet and snow and it is made worse IF you're a jerk, stomping on the gas pedal.

I run "snow tires" on all my FWD cars and Good Year WeatherReady on my X5 which is a superb all seasons tire with spectacular wet performance as well as snow. It has a dedicated snow flake symbol on the side wall. Were it available in the size I needed for my Genesis, I would have gotten it for that car. As it turns out, I got the Conti DWS (Dry/Wet/Snow but no snow rating on the sidewall) which is very good but not as good as the GY.

 

[2020Telly]

I’m not impressed with the Pirelli Scorpions that come on the FWD Tellurides. I have a slow leak in one and the grip is not great. Already at 22K and I feel I need to start budgeting a replacement. I know I shouldn’t expect a lot from OEM tires, but these feel cheap.

 

[SC300ES]

Hello everyone. I have an SX FWD and thought it would be sufficient for wet conditions (rain) and light snow. It in fact slides all over the place in both situations with relatively poor traction IMO. I now regret not going with AWD. Anyone else care to share their experience?

If you are sliding all over the place in rain you are probably driving too aggressively.

As far as snow and FWD, a lot of people swear equipped with good snow tires they are as good as if not better than AWD.

 

[II Kings 9:20]

If you are sliding all over the place in rain you are probably driving too aggressively.

As far as snow and FWD, a lot of people swear equipped with good snow tires they are as good as if not better than AWD.

I’m in my 28th Ohio winter, and can attest that modern snow tires on FWD or even RWD are better than AWD and basic all seasons tires.

It’s all about grip, not the drive wheels. I speak from experience with AWD, FWD, RWD with and without snow tires.

When braking, AWD is of ZERO value and grip makes all the difference for stopping.
If all cars are equipped with snow tires then AWD>FWD>RWD

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[alexdrums]

I’m not impressed with the Pirelli Scorpions that come on the 20” Telluride S. I have a slow leak in one and the grip is not great. Already at 22K and I feel I need to start budgeting a replacement. I know I should expect a lot from OEM tires, but these feel cheap.

Discount tire will fix the slow leak for free

 

[Tellmeride]

“Cornering and braking are unchanged vs FWD”

False statement. Try braking with a few inches of snow on the ground, even with the various AWD modes there’s a big difference, never mind FWD. Do it in Snow Mode vs all the other modes, the difference is night and day.

 

[PaulD]

False statement. Try braking with a few inches of snow on the ground, even with the various AWD modes there’s a big difference, never mind FWD. Do it in Snow Mode vs all the other modes, the difference is night and day.

AWD makes no positive difference in braking. In fact, the extra weight is detrimental to braking. For cornering under power AWD can make a difference by not overwhelming the contact patches at one end of the car. Essentially, each tire has a certain quantify of friction and that gets used up by either braking, corning or accelerating. If you're corning and braking or cornering and trying to accelerate at the same time, you're more likely to overwhelm the contact patch. You can't accelerate and brake at the same time, of course. So no, it's physically impossible for AWD to help braking.

If snow mode makes a difference in braking, it's because snow mode is somehow affecting the braking system in addition to changing AWD parameters.

As for FWD in snow, get snow tires. I'd rather drive a FWD car with good snow tires in snow than an AWD car with really bad tires.

 

[2020Telly]

Found this webpage that appears to have some great detail for Telluride owners.

2024 Kia Telluride Tires: Size, Spare, Pressure, Alloy Wheels, Bolt Pattern

8 things you need to know about the factory tires fitted on your 2024 Kia Telluride SUV including the size, right pressure, bolt pattern, spare tire, etc...

www.thekeea.com

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[alexdrums]

AWD makes no positive difference in braking.

I learned this the hard way, sliding down an icy mountain road. All cars have all-wheel braking, so if you have your foot on the brake—then it comes down to the quality of the ABS system. I wonder if there are any cars that will auto-release the brakes and put any wheels with traction into reverse when you are sliding...to try and recover control?

 

[2020Telly]

“Tests have shown that front-wheel-drive cars fitted with snow tires can outperform an equivalent AWD car with all-season tires under severe winter circumstances.”

What's Best On Snow And Ice: Four-Wheel Drive Versus All-Wheel Drive

The weather outside is frightful, so if you’re shopping for a new vehicle, be sure to choose one that can handle the elements adeptly.

www.forbes.com

@fredricschwartz - I don’t live in New England anymore to have to deal with regular snow. But if I did or if I decided to move somewhere else, one option I would consider is at tirerack.com and buy a second set of wheels with winter tires for about $1,500. Then rotate them in for winter and put the original wheels with all seasons on after winter.

Another option might be to ditch the OEM Pirellis altogether and just put good winters on year round. For example, Firestone sells Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 for about $1,000 out the door.

FYI, some people with AWD Tellurides are claiming that there is a vibration at speeds greater than 60mph.

 

[Cjunk]

Hello everyone. I have an SX FWD and thought it would be sufficient for wet conditions (rain) and light snow. It in fact slides all over the place in both situations with relatively poor traction IMO. I now regret not going with AWD. Anyone else care to share their experience?

Can I assume you checked the tire pressure? Mine came from the factory at 45-48 psi. Should be around 35 psi.

 

[PaulD]

I learned this the hard way, sliding down an icy mountain road. All cars have all-wheel braking, so if you have your foot on the brake—then it comes down to the quality of the ABS system. I wonder if there are any cars that will auto-release the brakes and put any wheels with traction into reverse when you are sliding...to try and recover control?

It's a bit counterintuitive, but reverse spinning the wheels wouldn't help. It would be as bad as locking the tires up if not worse, much in the way that doing a burnout is bad for acceleration.

ABS automates threshold braking (Threshold braking - Wikipedia) which is really the best way to do it. The only exception is on a loose surface like snow, sand or gravel. In those cases if you lock up the brakes, it forms wedges in front of the tires and that's the fastest way to stop though you do lose steering control. Also, it's important to realize that the brakes are ultimately limited by how much traction the tires have. The more grip the tires have, in whatever situation, the shorter you'll be able to stop.

I should have also mentioned that the torque vectoring AWD systems can help cornering as well, but again, not braking.

“Tests have shown that front-wheel-drive cars fitted with snow tires can outperform an equivalent AWD car with all-season tires under severe winter circumstances.”

What's Best On Snow And Ice: Four-Wheel Drive Versus All-Wheel Drive

The weather outside is frightful, so if you’re shopping for a new vehicle, be sure to choose one that can handle the elements adeptly.

www.forbes.com

@fredricschwartz - I don’t live in New England anymore to have to deal with regular snow. But if I did or if I decided to move somewhere else, one option I would consider is at tirerack.com and buy a second set of wheels with winter tires for about $1,500. Then rotate them in for winter and put the original wheels with all seasons on after winter.

Another option might be to ditch the OEM Pirellis altogether and just put good winters on year round. For example, Firestone sells Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 for about $1,000 out the door.

FYI, some people with AWD Tellurides are claiming that there is a vibration at speeds greater than 60mph.

A second set of wheels/tires for winter is a very good way to go. I'm going to order an SX but I'm going to try to hunt down a set of 18" take offs for winter.

If the AWD versions are vibrating, that might be issues with the center driveshaft, though I hope that's not common.

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[Ciscokd2000]

Hi

Hello everyone. I have an SX FWD and thought it would be sufficient for wet conditions (rain) and light snow. It in fact slides all over the place in both situations with relatively poor traction IMO. I now regret not going with AWD. Anyone else care to share their experience?

Hello I have a FWD telluride and I was caught a bad snow storm leaving Boston and driving though Mass, Connecticut and NY . The telluride handled the drive like a champ . I had no issue and I was very surprised how the SUV handle the snow , ice and heavy rain . I too was wondering if I made a mistake purchasing a FWD .

 

[Nas4atu10]

Does anyone here who bought the FWD model wish they had gone with AWD instead? Coming from an X3, which I loved the AWD in, I’ll be going to a FWD Telly once it arrives. I’m a bit nervous going back, even though I live in the SE, and don’t necessarily need AWD. I’m just curious if anyone wishes they had sprung the couple extra grand for it, or if you honestly don’t care about it?

 

[Schlegel]

AWD is awesome if you ever travel through heavy heavy rain or even light snow (like we've had here in Atlanta). It's nice to have but don't fret if you on't have it in the Southeast. My two cents. The few times I have used it on my KIA Sportage I was VERY glad that I had it. Telluride still on my wish list.

 

[Nas4atu10]

AWD is awesome if you ever travel through heavy heavy rain or even light snow (like we've had here in Atlanta). It's nice to have but don't fret if you on't have it in the Southeast. My two cents. The few times I have used it on my KIA Sportage I was VERY glad that I had it. Telluride still on my wish list.

Yeah, I hear you. I've been incredibly happy with my X3 in heavy downpours, it seems to have saved me a few times. We usually try and beat the mad dash to grocery stores before a snow storm hits our area here in NC, so once it hits, I'm not typically driving anywhere. Plus as others in this thread have mentioned, it is more beneficial to have snow tires on FWD than just AWD with standard all season tires, so if it we ever have a bad winter, I'll just pick some winter tires up. I guess I just have it in my mind that FWD makes the car feel cheaper driving overall I guess, which I know is complete BS.