quattro digest, Vol 1 #4340 - Snow tires and squirrels and such

[Larry C Leung]

> To: "'JordanVw at aol.com'" <JordanVw at aol.com>
> Cc: "'quattro at audifans.com'" <quattro at audifans.com>
> thanks..  but ive been getting conflicting answers on this..  its a
> front
> wheel drive automatic '86 5k NA.   some other lister said i needed
> all 4
> snows.   but why? the rear wheels are not traction wheels...?


Because the rears wheels are still used to stop and turn.
Picture this, entering a snowy turn, the front tires are firmly
planted because it's got snow tires, and weight is transferring
towards the front.

Car rotates into the turn, there is side loading on the front wheels,
and now that the car is rotating, there is now SUPPOSED to be
side loading on the back wheels. BUT THERE CAN'T be, because
the no seasons don't have snow tire like grip. So the back wheels
CAN' T stop the rotation, so the car spins. Mom, not happy.

Need I say more?

LL - NY