Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I need some expert advice I have a good front wheel drive sedan that is great on flatlands, but in snow and ice, and on a 15-25 degree hill, it slips and slides around, and doesn't do well at all. In fact, I call AAA when I have trouble. In the past, I've had access to a 4-wheel drive, but now I'm on my own.
And...I must go into some hilly remote areas, and it's desolate, so I want something I can depend on.
Do you think if I buy some really good chains, that I can make it up these hills, or should I invest in a different vehicle...either AWD or 4WD? BTW, studded snows don't seem to make much difference.
I would invest in a good used 4WD that has four low and good set of all terrain tires that way you can get out of bad situations I would reccomend A mid 90's ford bronco
Get a Subaru Outback or a Jeep Wrangler, or whatever AWD/4X4 turns your crank.
However, if you are going to be on ice and snow, or mud, forget the "All Terrain" or "All Season" tires. Get REAL traction type mud & snow tires. Sure, they might be a little noisy on bare pavement, but IMO a little noise is a satisfactory trade for better traction and safety!
"All Purpose" tires are, IMO, at best worthless, and at worst dangerous.
I have REAL traction-type tires on everything I own (except the trailers. So far.), on both the front and rear axles. Steering and stopping are important, too.
all terrain are more of a off road tire like mud and snow and are louder and have 4-ply construction most of the time to prevent puncturing the side wall. all season are car tires and made for on road weather and the last alot longer unlike the soft compund rubber found in A/T type tires
I think part of your problem is on such a steep hill the front wheels unload as the car pitches up. A good AWD Subaru would make you an excellent second car, if you don't mind having 2 cars.
You could try some cable chains, they might help or might not, hard to say.
What kind of FWD sedan do you have currently?
Offhand if a set of Blizzaks all round don't fix your traction problem, I would be surprised. A set of "real" snows on their own dedicated, usually steel, wheels is a good thing to have in snow country.
x2 on the Blizzaks - get a set on steelies and swap over in the winter
I guess if that didn't work and the roads were paved, an AWD car/wagon from Subaru would be the next best thing (I'd want Blizzaks on it too). That or a Jeep fitted with a plow! (That image comes to mind when I think about people who live in snowy mountains. I really don't know what they drive when teh roads don't get cleared off by the road crews. I'd stay home.)
I have never had trouble with FWD cars in snow, in fact I have rarely chained up.
In extreme conditions I just rely on my 4x4.
To answer a question from M, I live in the mountains, hills are not a problem with proper throttle application.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have a good front wheel drive sedan that is great on flatlands, but in snow and ice, and on a 15-25 degree hill, it slips 
and slides 
around, and doesn't do well at all. In fact, I call AAA when I have trouble. 
In the past, I've had access to a 4-wheel drive, but now I'm on my own. 
