You are still getting swindled and bamboozled by the automotive industry

AWD will save me.

No. It won’t. AWD is an amazing feature being employed on more and more vehicles, but its not the be all or end all of road safety. There is still one thing more important then your AWD system and that’s the tires the AWD drivetrain is attached to. There are many videos on YouTube and the like showing just how important good old quality tires are over an all wheel drive system. Obviously awd coupled with good tires is the winning combo but there a few other things to take into account.

First is weight. AWD typically adds a few extra lbs. to the vehicle therefore lessening your fuel mileage therefore costing you more in the long run. Secondly, repairs down the road can occur to the all wheel system and can prove quite costly as well. Also, depending on the vehicle some have to actually delete the spare tire to make room for the rear drivetrain. Because of this the car or van is typically sold with run flat tires which cost substantially more per tire. Lastly as mentioned earlier, a lot of people think the can get by with a lesser tire or all seasons in the winter simply because all 4 of their wheels are driven. The truth is a good winter tire with front wheel drive car will always be the safer choice if you are in that climate then an awd system with all seasons. Although awd is a fantastic drivetrain, its does usually cost quite a bit more and its benefits are not always utilized to the fullest potential if you skimp in other places.