AWD (all wheel drive) disadvantages???

[manning]

I am in a market for one and never have owned AWD/4WD, only 2WD.

I am familiar with the advantages.

I'm trying to figure out the disadvantages. What do you have to pay more attention to in maintenance.

As an example, someone said if you have say 40,000 miles on your tires and you blow one out, you have to replace all four tires instead of one because the difference in the diameter of the new tire will destroy the transfer case.

 

[DawnCt1]

I am in a market for one and never have owned AWD/4WD, only 2WD.

I am familiar with the advantages.

I'm trying to figure out the disadvantages. What do you have to pay more attention to in maintenance.

As an example, someone said if you have say 40,000 miles on your tires and you blow one out, you have to replace all four tires instead of one because the difference in the diameter of the new tire will destroy the transfer case.

You may have to replace them before 40K! We saved our other three tires from our Ford Explorer, "just in case" we blew out a tire that matched the tread we have in the garage attic. Whats the advantage? None if you live in Florida. If you live in New England and absolutely have to be some where, it sure comes in handy. I traded my 2 wheel drive CTS and got an AWD. When I had trouble getting up a hill in my neighborhood without snow tires, I decided I don't want to be 'stuck'.

 

[georgina]

It is generally recommended that you replace all 4 tires at once (mine don't usually make it past 40,000 miles anyway). Alignments may cost more for 4-wheel ones. I don't think the car can be towed in the traditional manner (need a flatbed tow). Gas mileage may be slightly lower. I won't buy anything but AWD with the snowy hilly roads around here.

 

[manning]

It is generally recommended that you replace all 4 tires at once (mine don't usually make it past 40,000 miles anyway). Alignments may cost more for 4-wheel ones. I don't think the car can be towed in the traditional manner (need a flatbed tow). Gas mileage may be slightly lower. I won't buy anything but AWD with the snowy hilly roads around here.

Is AWD that hard on tires ???

 

[RitaZ.]

What vehicle are you considering?

 

[JR6ooo4]

Is AWD that hard on tires ???

I have never heard that. Being hard on tires translates to gas guzzling in my mind.

WHen I have priced the difference between 2wd and 4wd pickups... Insurance was much more for 4wd. Since any front end crash damage would be much more costly to repair.

Mikeee

 

[manning]

What vehicle are you considering?

2010 mountaineer. Need it for the class three tow capacity of around 7000 lbs.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

2010 mountaineer. Need it for the class three tow capacity of around 7000 lbs.

I don't know anything about a 2010 Mountaineer however we tow a boat and there is no way in heck I would be without 4wd.

You will tear out your backend and kill your transmission faster. Plus it is just unsafe to tow in hills. We do have the Ozarks where we tow and no way could we pull our boat without 4wd.

We have a Yukon that has about a 8000 capacity. I looked up yours and your are about at your limit at 7300. I hope you are considering the weight full with whatever you are considering.

As far as tires, cars need tires. When the 4wd needs them they are not cheap that is for sure.

 

[manning]

I don't know anything about a 2010 Mountaineer however we tow a boat and there is no way in heck I would be without 4wd.

You will tear out your backend and kill your transmission faster. Plus it is just unsafe to tow in hills. We do have the Ozarks where we tow and no way could we pull our boat without 4wd.

We have a Yukon that has about a 8000 capacity. I looked up yours and your are about at your limit at 7300. I hope you are considering the weight full with whatever you are considering.

As far as tires, cars need tires. When the 4wd needs them they are not cheap that is for sure.

You're right tires are not cheap. A Michelin tire for the mountaineer is 204.00 times 4, plus tax.


I will be well within my limit with the mountaineer. I am considering the Hi-Lo trailers the largest one is 28 feet with uvw of 5320 lbs and gvwr of 7000 lbs. Talking to Hi-Lo they said to figure another 300-500 lbs added on the 5320 for options . I'm looking at smaller one at around 4,009 lbs uvw and 6000 lbs gvwr.

 

[lspst8]

I have a AWD Dodge Caliber, and the tires are pretty expensive. Luckily I've only had to replace the tires 2 at a time .... I'm under the impression that all 4 tires have to be the same brand, not that you have to replace all 4 at once if 2 of them are still good. But I only have experience with my car. It could be different for other models. My tires lasted about 35,000.

 

[mickeyboat]

We have an AWD Toyota Sienna, and are almost to the point where we have to replace tires. They are run flats, too, so I am sure they will cost a pretty penny.

My biggest complaints about AWD are that there seems to be a lot of road noise, and we get terrible gas mileage.

 

[manning]

I am now leaning towards 2wd. One thing that would concern me is being out there and having the transfer case go. I know that anything can happen to a vehicle, but this increases the chances. The extra cost of tires and I understand replacing a transfer case is not cheap.

 

[DrCavin]

If you have a NEED for 4wd then buy one, if you have gotten around without for awhile, then you probably dont need the extra expense.

 

[manning]

If you have a NEED for 4wd then buy one, if you have gotten around without for awhile, then you probably dont need the extra expense.

I agree. The new info for the 2010 mountaineer just came out and in it, it says you have to get the AWD to get the v8 (needed for towing). However when I go to edmunds or kelly blue book for pricing there is no indication that it is a must. If not a must I would be inclined to take a pass on AWD.

I get the argument that it is needed for bad weather ie snow. I am retired and tell them I really don't have to go out and drive in it. Within a day the roads are cleared.

 

[sbell111]

Is AWD that hard on tires ???

No harder than a 2WD.

Regarding the 'same sized' issue, with all vehicles, tires on the same axle should be the same size. It is doubly important for tires on drive axles because they are geared to assmue that the tires are the same.

Frankly, I wonder why anyone would want to drive around with mixed-sized tires.

We have an AWD Toyota Sienna, and are almost to the point where we have to replace tires. They are run flats, too, so I am sure they will cost a pretty penny.

My biggest complaints about AWD are that there seems to be a lot of road noise, and we get terrible gas mileage.

Road noise is a factor of the tire design, not ADW v 2WD v 4WD. There are plenty of sites where you can compare the various qualities of tires that will fit your vehicle. I used TireRack's site when I chose the replacements to my Grand Cherokee's BFG AT TA KOs. I ended up with Firestone Destination ATs. They have very good ratings. However, the firestones were better in all but one category - road noise. I decided that performance was more important than noise and I am still very happy with the decision.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am now leaning towards 2wd. One thing that would concern me is being out there and having the transfer case go. I know that anything can happen to a vehicle, but this increases the chances. The extra cost of tires and I understand replacing a transfer case is not cheap.

With that much towing you need a 3/4 ton truck to pull that big of a load.

Our 1/2 ton Yukon strains pretty hard pulling our 5000lb boat.

You will kill the transmission on a 2wd before you ever kill a transfer case.

If you do not get 4wd, you will kick yourself.

 

[manning]

No harder than a 2WD.



Frankly, I wonder why anyone would want to drive around with mixed-sized tires.

.

From the responses of the research I am doing it is not a matter of buying mixed sized tires, but the difference in diameter from wear of the tires. I guess wear of the tires changes the diameter. Someone told me that you can have 30,000 - 40,000 miles wear on all four tires and if you put a new one on of the same type and brand it would cause a problem.

 

[daisax]

I've had AWD for almost 10 years now and have replaced tires two at a time. It's a pain, but the pain goes away the first time you drive past a line of cars that can't make it up a minor hill in a snow storm!