1999 E320 4Matic traction.

[MeMySelfundIch]

understeer is alot easier to maintain then oversteer. so the better tires go on the rear..

get a decent set of snow tires, and you´ll be amazed where your 4matic will take you trough! there is a saying in germany "Allrad hört da auf,wo der ADAC nimmer hin kommt"

AWD stops there where the AAA can´t reach you

[Figuero]

Yes - The best tires go on the rear. It's the under/over steer argument. Another way to look at it is that the front tires point the car in the direction you want to go, the rear tires keep the car going in the direction that it's pointed in.

[Kajtek1]

Originally Posted by Figuero

Another way to look at it is that the front tires point the car in the direction you want to go, the rear tires keep the car going in the direction that it's pointed in.

Not really. When you loose the traction on rear wheels because you put too much gas and you loose traction on front wheels because of bad tires, all you have left is God mercy.

[armanchosbenz]

Maybe , the 4matic isn't the best awd systems on the market,but my 2000
4m got me through 8 inches of snow without even struggling.The traction
was amazing...the only problem was...the rear would fishtail on turns,but that was my doing...i was having too much fun.

[Kajtek1]

Let me make it more clear.
4M is AWD system just like on any other brand. The torque split makes small difference between the models, but with open differentials and a delay electronic traction has - AWD will never be match for 4WD system that will have torque to some wheels regardless if other corner is spinning or not.
I hope new models have the 1 sec delay improved?
1 second is long time in road situation. I had the same feeling pulling a heavy boat with electric over hydraulic brakes. The brakes work excellent, but with 1 or 2 sec delay, what was enough to give me wet back few times.

[Figuero]

Originally Posted by Kajtek1

Not really. When you loose the traction on rear wheels because you put too much gas and you loose traction on front wheels because of bad tires, all you have left is God mercy.

Intuition would agree with you, but the logic is flawed. I agree that too much throttle will cause the rear to lose traction but in extreem weather it's about available traction, not throttle setting. Look at this video and keep in mind that the demo is using a FWD car so the throttle has nothing to do with rear traction. The demo is about hydroplaning, snow and ice would be much more dramatic.

Mixing Tires | Michelin Tires

Virtually every tire company says put the good tires on the rear.

[Kajtek1]

As always, there are many variations in the life and you should note that the test was done by well trained driver who "could feel" front tires loosing the traction. That situation will never happen to average Joe.
Than chances of hydroplaning on snowy roads are minimal, while good braking is very often needed. Again, all depends what you value more.

[lupoelsker]

Originally Posted by Figuero

Intuition would agree with you, but the logic is flawed. I agree that too much throttle will cause the rear to lose traction but in extreem weather it's about available traction, not throttle setting. Look at this video and keep in mind that the demo is using a FWD car so the throttle has nothing to do with rear traction. The demo is about hydroplaning, snow and ice would be much more dramatic.

Mixing Tires | Michelin Tires

Virtually every tire company says put the good tires on the rear.

Nice video. Looks like me this winter, except I did a couple of 360's, and that is when it gets a little hairy.
Hard braking in winter, should be avoided at all costs, except in emergency of course, and keeping your distance from "everything" is the best policy.
It is not me, that worries me, it is the other guy, and what they are about to do.
New tires on the rear, would have cost me less pairs of shorts this winter, for sure.
All the hairy moments this winter, were caused by loss of REAR traction, and none by the front. With less weight over the tires in the rear, they are the first to "give way" when the road surface is slippery. That is why you see light truck owners putting sand bags in the rear of their vehicles.
Two wheel drive owners (rear wheel drive),put sand bags in the trunk, and this helps with traction in general, keeping the tires on the road. Heavy is better.
With my 4 wheel drive truck, fully loaded is best for winter, and with about 200 lb+ added above the rear tires, I have the least problems.
"To many horses to the rear tires is bad."

[Figuero]

Originally Posted by Kajtek1

As always, there are many variations in the life and you should note that the test was done by well trained driver who "could feel" front tires loosing the traction. That situation will never happen to average Joe.
Than chances of hydroplaning on snowy roads are minimal, while good braking is very often needed. Again, all depends what you value more.

Yep - as they say "You pays your money and you takes your pick".

[MeMySelfundIch]

Originally Posted by Kajtek1

Not really. When you loose the traction on rear wheels because you put too much gas and you loose traction on front wheels because of bad tires, all you have left is God mercy.

neh, then you are just a poor driver. Having AWD doesn´t even start to apply to normal driving situations. AWD has more traction when taking off and apply forward movement, and thats it. So if you loose traction while leaving the snowy intersection, you are giving to much boot. Under normal driving, braking and cruising along (which you do considerably more then doing full throttle starts..) AWD won´t help - sometimes even the opposite!! It is just plain physics. the Good tires go on the rear on all cars. If you loose traction because of booting it in the snow, you have to learn how to accelerate under less then ideal weather conditions.