okay, i know nothing about cars. i drive a chevy blazer 4wd. it recently started snowing and there's ice on the roads. this is texas and it doesnt snow often. anyhoo, i go to the gym everynight. with the icey roads i don't know if it makes it safer if i drive with 4 wd or 2 wd. is it easier for a car to slide and flip with 4wd?
i would greatly appreciate any answers!
2006-11-30 08:26:21 · 5 answers · asked by portuguese_tease 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
i forgot to mention it has auto 4wd, 4wd hi, and 4wd lo. i don't know the difference between all of them?
2006-11-30 08:39:11 · update #1
In a Chevy Blazer with 4WD - I would recommend you drive on the roads always in 2WD. Full time 4WD like you have on your Blazer is only meant for off-road use, or roads that are *completely* covered in snow/ice - which I'm guessing is almost never in Texas.
in 4WD - all your tires turn at the same rate, which helps you get traction when your stuck in the ditch - but on the pavement, you need your tires to turn at different rates, especially if you turn a corner. when you turn, the tires on the outside of your car have to go further (they are going on the outside of a circle - vs the inside of a circle). With 4WD - the transmission doesn't allow for this difference in rotation - This can make your truck unstable and the 4WD can actually cause your truck to flip over!
So - Use 2WD unless you need to use 4WD off road, to get out of a ditch.
2006-11-30 10:42:35 · answer #1 · answered by Darrick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the roads are icy, of course, the 4/wheel drive will allow you to have better traction in starting off and going up hills.
There is one thing that is real important for you to be made very aware of. While you will, seemingly, be able to drive normally, the stopping ability of a 4/wheel drive is no better than a 2/wheel drive. So when it comes time to stop at a stop sign, stop light, or even someone pulling out in front of you, the same rules of physics apply. Here you will slide with the best of them LOL.
Keep it simple. If you are driving on a long straight road, you probably can get by using the 4/wheel drive in HI range. But it is a personal choice because when you are in HI range, you won't be able to tell any difference in the way it drive. At least, mine doesn't. It just pulls better on the ice and snow. That you WILL notice.
Now when you are in low range, it is going to be slower and you will notice a pronounced difference because you will be barely creeping it seems. And you are essentially geared down so you can go slower, and with power.
Hope this helps. Be safe out there.
2006-11-30 19:02:37 · answer #2 · answered by Gnome 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Safer? Depends on the size of vehicle that you might be hit by. Four wheel drives tend to sit higher, so there is some safety, but with your blazer, I'd say not much height difference between the two and four wheel drives. As far as being safer from flipping, nope. They are just as prone to as a 2 wheel drive, if not worse when people do not know how to drive in the road conditions. I have never had a two wheel drive vehicle. In Alaska, and Oregon we are allowed to have studded tired 5 to 6 months out of the year, and with four wheel drive, this would help greatly on ice, but at what speed do they become ineffective? Its all about common sense, and speed. If it is icy, do you really want to keep going to the gym? There are things you can do at home, to get a small work out in, and in my opinion, a heck of a lot safer than risking an insurance premium increase for an hours work out during your in-climate weather.
Four wheel drive helps in snow or uneven grades where two wheel drive vehicles would get stuck. With icy roads, it will help you get a little more traction to get going, but then stopping is the problem, Newtons law of inertia, comes into play and if you cant get any traction to stop, then what ever you slide into will help you stop.
2006-11-30 16:36:52 · answer #3 · answered by dontblamemeivoted 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have 4WD on your vehicle, it will be better to have it engaged when driving in slippery conditions. The reason is that all wheels grip the road and it doubles your driving power delivery to the road. You still have to be careful, but it will enhance your safety in driving. Now, when it is not slippery, you need to disengage the 4WD in order to save fuel and improve handling especially at faster speeds. In 4WD it will be less inclined to slip.
2006-11-30 16:33:19 · answer #4 · answered by Doug R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4wheel drive auto. - When the back wheels slip, power is automatically sent to the front.
4wd hi - power is evenly spit, 50/50 front and rear.
4wd lo - off road gear.
2006-11-30 17:30:15 · answer #5 · answered by beverhouzen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋