Quote:
Originally Posted by MissVito
It seems logical that AWD will help it handle wet or snowy roads. My '14 X5 has rear wheel drive and a couple of times when driving in heavy rain on the highway I felt the car got a little unstable. I've heard the AWD versions feel like they're driving on rails. I grew up in and learned how to drive in NY and have driven in snow and ice. I know there's not much you can do on ice, but I think it should help with other road situations. Plus the AWD is a little faster than the RWD ;-) (We also have mountain property in TN and the road up has some sharp turns and not meticulously kept up.
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About 90%+ of what you are discussing is mediated by the tires, which affect forward motion, turning, and stopping. Adding power to the front wheels helps with forward motion if/when the rears have lost traction, best exemplified on your snowy mountain road example, but far secondarily to having dedicated winter tires. Hydroplaning in the rain is a 100% tire phenomenon (and speed dependent).