Car Tires AWD in snow: Why is 17" tires better in snow vs. 19" tires

[Meast21]

Is there a big difference. WIl 17" regular tires handle the road much better than 19" regular tires?

 

[shrxhky420]

Because size matters



SH420

 

[rkymtnman]

^^^ that right there.

 

[Coldnasty]

Because size matters

View attachment 5060403

SH420

Lmao

 

[GrassBurner]

The most important quality for a snow tire, is gonna be tread pattern. Second is gonna be the width of the tire. The wider the tire, the bigger the contact patch. In deep snow, this is gonna help the vehicle ride on top of the snow, instead of trying to plow through it. A smaller diameter will technically rotate faster, but traction is gonna be more dependent on tread pattern, tire composition, and how heavy you are on the gas.

 

[Meast21]

The most important quality for a snow tire, is gonna be tread pattern. Second is gonna be the width of the tire. The wider the tire, the bigger the contact patch. In deep snow, this is gonna help the vehicle ride on top of the snow, instead of trying to plow through it. A smaller diameter will technically rotate faster, but traction is gonna be more dependent on tread pattern, tire composition, and how heavy you are on the gas.

I'm taking it a 17" tire on a FWD car won't handle as good as a 19" tire on a AWD car correct?? I'm mostly taking about in the snow/winter.

 

[rkymtnman]

Second is gonna be the width of the tire.

i run narrower tires on my winter studs.

In the winter, narrow tires are better under extreme conditions as they provide higher surface pressure against the road. Narrow tires also work better than wider ones in loose snow and slush. Wider tires, for their part, will offer more grip on hard surfaces, Martin Dražík says

 

[rkymtnman]

I'm taking it a 17" tire on a FWD car won't handle as good as a 19" tire on a AWD car correct?? I'm mostly taking about in the snow/winter.

i can't take a 17" or 19" inch. your mileage may vary. YMMY

 

[PadawanWarrior]

i run narrower tires on my winter studs.

In the winter, narrow tires are better under extreme conditions as they provide higher surface pressure against the road. Narrow tires also work better than wider ones in loose snow and slush. Wider tires, for their part, will offer more grip on hard surfaces, Martin Dražík says

Agreed. And us mountain folks know WTF we're talking about. I'll only ever get studded tires for all my cars.

My FWD Integra has 14" studded for winter, and 16" Azenis RT615K for summer. It's fun passing 4WD's and all those guys all year round, lol. Those Azenis are crazy fun.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

The aspect ratio makes a difference too, along with width. 50 series tires are harder than 70 series if you get what I'm saying.

 

[Herb & Suds]

Man studded tires … those were the days
But please don’t tell my mrs
She’ll start complaining about riding on the hood
Front wheel drive and all

 

[Boatguy]

Pizza cutters for the win in snow.. Wide tires, even studded arent any good in anything but ice

 

[lokie]

I'm taking it a 17" tire on a FWD car won't handle as good as a 19" tire on a AWD car correct?? I'm mostly taking about in the snow/winter.

What information are you actually seeking.

Talking tires is one matter to discuss, but in this post you introduce 2 different types of automobiles.

There are variables afoot here.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

What information are you actually seeking.

Talking tires is one matter to discuss, but in this post you introduce 2 different types of automobiles.

There are variables afoot here.

View attachment 5060422

AWD, FWD, 4WD, Car, Truck. It doesn't matter. The logic is the same. Narrower, higher series tires are better in snow.

 

[lokie]

AWD, FWD, 4WD, Car, Truck. It doesn't matter. The logic is the same. Narrower, higher series tires are better in snow.

This may be true. It does not answer the question, what information is sought.

The answer to this will open new material to work with.

 

[BarnBuster]

All those USPS vehicles use skinny small diameter tires in snow conditions.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=126

Wide or narrow tires? Here’s how your choice will affect driving / Nokian Tyres – Finnish tire maker

Many drivers want their summer tires to look flashier than their winter equivalents. That is why wid...

www.nokiantyres.com

 

[raratt]

When offroad around here you want the widest tire you can get to stay on top of the snow, either that or you need a lot of clearance for when you break through the crust. Our Sierra Cement is different that Midwest powder.

 

[raratt]

Pounds per square inch of ground contact does not mean traction when you are talking rotational force. If that were the case funny car tires would be skinny.

 

[Hairybuds]

When offroad around here you want the widest tire you can get to stay on top of the snow, either that or you need a lot of clearance for when you break through the crust. Our Sierra Cement is different that Midwest powder.

That’s BS.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

When offroad around here you want the widest tire you can get to stay on top of the snow, either that or you need a lot of clearance for when you break through the crust. Our Sierra Cement is different that Midwest powder.

I disagree. I lived in Truckee for 6 years or so snowboarding. My little Accord with studded tires got me everywhere I needed. Every once in awhile I'd have to throw chains on, but most of that was just because they were required sometimes on I-80.

Pounds per square inch of ground contact does not mean traction when you are talking rotational force. If that were the case funny car tires would be skinny.

Funny cars have wide tires on the back so they get more traction. But they're also on a specially created surface. In snow those things wouldn't move, lol. I can just picture you trying to drive around in winter with those tires, lol.