4x4 driving questions/concerns

RWD vehicles have oversteer. FWD vehicles have understeer. 4WD vehicles when the front wheels are engaged can have understeer as well as oversteer. Look up the definitions.

 

So you are basically referring to loss of traction via wheelspin and not due to momentum and other things.

Spin your rear tires you get over steer, spin the fronts you get understeer while turning.

 

LOL lots of rwd cars have understeer!
anytime you push the front wheels into a turn you can get understeer. RWD vehicles are usually more prone to oversteer, but you go in too hot in anything and it will understeer.
Maybe you should look it up

Also, mid/rear engine rear wheel drive vehicles are VERY prone to understeer on the way in, and oversteer on the way out of a turn.

Here you go. Read the whole thing.
http://www.drivingfast.net/car-control/understeer.htm#.UTkEfTV6dMs

 

A FWD vehicle has oversteer when it loses traction, meaning the front wheels, the drive wheels slip and cause lack of control.

An RWD vehicle has understeer when it loses traction, meaning the rear wheels, the drive wheels slip and cause lack of control.

A 4WD vehicle has both understeer and oversteer at times, because both the front and rear wheels have power and can slip causing lack of control.

 

You should take your own advice and look up the definitions. FWD cars can have oversteer and RWD trucks can have understeer. The definition of either one does not have anything to do with which tires are driving the vehicle. It's a matter of how a vehicle loses traction in a corner.

 

Yup, that's my defintion of understeer and oversteer.

 

And there's the problem... that's YOUR definition.

 

It doesn't have to spin under power. any loss of traction can cause understeer or oversteer.

again,

 

My FWD oversteers and my RWD understeers. Look up the definitions.

Understeer is greatly reduced in 4WD for me.

 

It's also the classic definition, keeps it neatly categorized instead of an ad hoc definition that fits any circumstance.

 

and that's why you say things like rwd vehicles are impossible to understeer

That is just the usual scenario, but not the only one.

 

I find this true in deep snow and mud but not on flat ice.

 

Largely depends on conditions. But with my taco current and prior. Understeer is increased in 4x4. It's much easier to cause understeer with 4x4.

Anything can understeer or oversteer. Front wheel drive cars are usually more prone to under and rear trucks to over steer.

The point I was trying to make is of the front wheels slip while under power. It's much harder to get grip back than if they were not powered. At highway speeds...

Cruising along and the back end kicks put a bit. Let off the throttle and it straightens. Cruising in 4x4 and the front slips... Much tougher. In 2wd highway conditions with an empty truck. The rear will almost always give first..

 

Any vehicle can have oversteer or understeer

WTF

 

No, actually it's not the classic definition, it's the made up one in your own little mind. It's ok though, keep your head in the sand...

 

^this

 

Can we stop the hypotheticals and only chime in if you've driven in snow?

 

That has nothing to do with the OP either...

 

I have done a lot of reading about this and it has been proven that 4 wheel drive does very little for you in extremely slick conditions. The ONLY area it helps is accelerating, everything else 4 wheel drive is a hinderance. The extra weight makes it harder to stop, and having more than wheel with power makes your more prone to spin out while driving a constant speed.

 

Agreed!

We have come to the conclusion any vehicle can exhibit over or under steer.

Can we acknowledge that in slipper conditions such as ice or snow that 4x4 can increase the likelihood of under steer while under power.

Braking is braking and locked up tires will slide...