Well, winter came early up here in Minnesota. I am someone who has always driven an AWD vehicle, this is the first year that I have owned a FWD with my 2010 TSX. I loved it in the summer, but frankly, it sucks in the snow. At least, compared to what I am used to. Does anybody put weight in the trunk? Would that help, or no? I know, someone is going to recommend Snow tires, but thats not what I am asking. Just want an opinion on extra weight, if that would be beneficial or not.

 

i dont think that will help.
probably just cause your front wheels to spin more

 

I'm no guru but am pretty sure that method is only used for RWD cars. On FWD if you have really bad winters snow tires are pretty much your only option with the exception of studded winter tires or chains.

 

Weight is normally added in the trunk of a car, which is a problem for a front wheel drive car as it does nothing to increase traction over the driving wheels, resulting in no gain in traction while accelerating. However, adding weight to the rear of a front wheel drive car can help with braking, by making it less likely that the rear wheels slide under heavy braking in adverse conditions.

 

Weight is supposed to be added over the driven wheels for added traction. This being a front wheel drive car would make adding weight to the truck counter-productive.

 

 

Yeah as the others have said, sand bags in the trunk of a FWD car will do no good. I know you said you didn't want to hear "get snow tires", but that is the best option if you have to drive in snow. I've had snows on steely rims for the last 3 cars I've owned and will never not run without snows again.

 

It's not the car, it's the tires. I can't believe how poorly those Michelin 4-season tires perform in the snow. I am looking pretty hard at replacing them with Continental Extreme Contact CWS tires. My other option is snow tires, but I'm not too thrilled about it since the roads in our metro area get plowed/salted/cleared very quickly. You only need the snow tires for the first 24 hours after a storm.

 

mmm I was thinking about the saddlebags on my girls trunk..

And yeah, these all seasons blow in snow.

 

I asked this same question at my work office. All the people with FWD cars put weight in the trunk. They say they definately notice a difference in the snow. I am not saying any of them are car experts, its just their opinions from their experience. But I guess, I would say, don't completely disregard the idea as worthless. Like I said, I used to own AWD cars, so this is quite a change for me in the snow. Snow tires are an option I am also exploring, but thats a completely different (and much more expensive)subject.

 

Not to deride your coworkers, but it's all in their minds. Putting bags in the trunk of a FWD car won't do anything to improve traction. It *may* help with braking, but think again, you're adding more weight, which means the car will have to work harder to come to a stop. Not to mention brake bias is almost always towards the front of the car, anyways.

Simply put: Don't add weight to the rear of a FWD car. It doesn't have any benefits.