Wheel Drive: Which Option Fits You Best

When shopping for a car, individuals generally know which makes and models appeal to them, what color they want the car to be, what type of interior - fabric or leather - they will get and what accessories - such as satellite radio - will they want to be included.

However, one vehicle option not considered often enough in car purchases is which wheel drive is best. When it comes to wheel drive, there are four primary options: front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Each option offers its own advantages and quality performance based on the driving conditions.

Differential and Weight Transfer

To help understand the difference between these four wheel drive option, it helps to understand two vehicle components: differential and weight transfer.

When a car turns, the distance traveled by the wheels is not the same - the outside wheels will need to travel a further distance than the inside wheels do. As such, the outside wheels will need to rotate at a faster speed. The device that enables this change in rotation speed is called the differential. The differential also plays a role in regulating wheel traction - limited-slip differentials help tires to avoid slipping due to poor traction, which can occur when driving on snow or ice.

Weight transfer comes into play when a vehicle accelerates. When a vehicle accelerates forward, the weight of the car is transferred to the rear wheels. When the vehicle stops, the weight is then transferred to the front wheels.

Wheel Drive Options

Rear-Wheel Drive: With rear-wheel drive, the rear wheels drive the vehicle, while the front wheels provide the steering. There are several advantages to rear-wheel drive. First, this wheel drive option offers a greater degree of durability - which is preferable for trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. In addition, as the load increases, the traction also increases. Rear-wheel drive also can handle higher engine outputs and higher vehicle weights better than other wheel drive options. When it comes to performance, rear-wheel drive offers greater cornering response because the weight of the vehicle is equally balanced from front to rear. Rear-wheel drive also offers potentially superior braking because the weight is more equally distributed over the four wheels.

Front-Wheel Drive: In vehicles with front-wheel drive, the engine, transmission, drive gears and differential work as a single unit and drive the front wheels. Advantages associated with front-wheel drive include better fuel economy and more available space. Because the powertrain is one unit, the vehicle is much lighter in weight. In addition, the powertrain components are more compact, allowing for a roomier inside for passengers and cargo. Front-wheel drive also offers better performance on slippery surfaces at lower speeds so those who live in areas with frequent snow or rain can benefit from front-wheel drive.

Four-Wheel Drive: Many trucks and SUVs offer four-wheel drive. Vehicles with four-wheel drive will operate in two-wheel drive until the four-wheel drive is engaged. When the four-wheel drive is engaged, the differential - or the process in which the tires rotate at different speeds on turns - is blocked and all four wheels are forced to rotate at the same speed. This feature is desirable when driving on very low-traction surfaces, such as driving in deep snow or when off-roading in rugged terrain.

All-Wheel Drive: Vehicles with all-wheel drive function in a similar way as those with four-wheel drive except all-wheel drive allows differential rates of speed between the front and rear tires, which is where limited-slip differential comes into play. The benefit of all-wheel drive is the driver does not need to shift from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive. This type of wheel drive is best for those who desire maximum traction all the time in all weather.