traction control vs. AWD

[gfl@cc.bellcore.com (grant f lenahan)]

Silly discussion, really.

Traction control simply backs off power to:
1) maintain the most traction from the 2 wheels,and
2) maintain control (fishtailing)

The ultimate amount of forward traction is *still*
limited to the 2 wheels - in the case of a BMW 2 lightly
loaded wheels to boot.

AWD will provide power to all 4 wheels.  In the case of
a torsen-equipped quattro, up to 75% to the wheels
with the MOST traction.

No contest re: forward motive traction.

On the topic of *controllability*, traction control
can do a good job of limiting fishtailing, etc.  Maybe
better than AWD, once things are getting interesting.
However, with AWD you don;t get to that level of excitement
nearly as quickly.

For best snow safety, I use 4 smow tires, narrower, so
that I can brake and steer, as well as accelerate {my way
into real trouble}.

Having owned BMWs, they "don;t go in the snow", at least
not very well, except the _IX version; BMW's "quattro"
(RIP).

Grant