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OTwhattheF t1_j5pvsc5 wrote

Also a reminder that AWD/4WD does not help you stop. Tires and only tires make the difference there (functioning brakes are a given). Tires are the single point(s) of contact with the ground. If you have summer tires, even new ones, the rubber compound turns them into hockey pucks below 40 degrees because they're designed for hot temperatures. Proper cold-weather tires maintain pliability and grip in cold weather, and they have special tread patterns that siphon snow out of the tire tread.

Even all-seasons are just okay - I slid off the highway in Minnesota one time while driving on the best rated all-seasons I could find.

Be smart and slow down.

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Demmetros t1_j5qh70v wrote

Brakes matter too. If your brakes are near shot, they give out, tires keep rolling.

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midijunky t1_j5rcknx wrote

Ehhh... Maybe while braking, tires do trump all in that case. But AWD/4WD does help you stop in some circumstances. You don't want to brake sometimes if the roads are *that* bad.

If you let off the gas in a 2wd car and let your engine take some load, vs. letting off the gas in an AWD car, you've got more friction on the ground because of the fact that you've got all 4 tires doing some engine braking. 2 points of contact > 4 points of contact. Combine both and that's idea.

Honestly though, I think OP's main point was "Hey, you in the 4wd mall crawler dually diesel with a 20" lift, don't be a dick and help someone out if you see someone that needs it"

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