steveho
Member
Have you ever seen a RWD with a 50/50 weight distribution, or a FWD with most of the weight on the rear? Because you seem to be ignoring the fact that FWD vehicles have most of their weight over the drive wheels, while conventional RWD's do not. I did a 180 degree spin in a FWD car in the snow when I tried to slow down quickly because the back end came around on me. As far as the "friction" of the front wheels, how would that be any different between a FWD and RWD?
RWD vs FWD, weight distribution is only part of the question. The rest of the question has to do with the rate that the wheels are turning. Physics says that the faster turning wheels will always want to lead. So in FWD, that is a good thing in snow, and RWD is not as good in snow. This is given other factors being equal.
BUT, and here is the big but, when trying to slow down, RWD is better than FWD. The reason for this is when you take your foot off the accelerator in FWD, the front wheels are slowed down by engine drag (or regen motor drag) which means the rear wheels are turning faster, plus the fact that weight transfer goes to the front wheels, making it easier for the rear wheels to lose grip. This is what probably happened to you when you did a 180.
In RWD when you take your foot off the accelerator, the rear wheels slow down, dragging the vehicle slower without spinning out.
So inherently RWD is safer when trying to slow down on ice or snow, but FWD is better when accelerating. I prefer having more safety while slowing down than while accelerating.
Just my observations, but of course all of my observations are in gas cars with front engines. I've driven FWD, RWD, 4WD, and AWD and live in Minnesota.
-Steve