RWD, FWD, AWD, 4WD and snow tires - what's the difference, and which is best?

Your choices are rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive. The only thing these layouts have in common is the word drive. Which type of driveline layout is best for winter driving?

Rear-wheel drive. Although it is making a comeback, particularly with muscle cars, RWD is the minority. The engine is in the front of the car driving the wheels at the rear. The RWD system is heavier and takes up more space than FWD.

The major downside of RWD includes poor handling in slippery conditions. Less weight over the drive wheels can make them lose traction and slide sideways. When trying to get out of the slide, the driver may try to correct by steering into the spin.

Front-wheel drive. Before the 1980s, virtually all automobiles had rear-wheel drive. But a gasoline shortage sent carmakers scurrying to reduce weight and improve fuel economy. Front-wheel drive became a popular solution. It provided about the same interior space in an overall smaller package.

FWD may be the better choice for most drivers. A big advantage is its compact size. FWD systems provide good traction when accelerating in slippery conditions, with plenty of weight pressing down on the drive wheels.

All-wheel drive. All-wheel drive solves some of the issues associated with FWD and RWD cars. Vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive transmit power to all four wheels, or in some cases, to individual wheels. Unlike trucks with four-wheel drive, AWD systems need no operator input to function. AWD systems can even bias the power to the front or rear wheels depending on traction conditions.

AWD is an excellent option for motorists living in the Snow Belt states. All-season tires may be all you need.

Four-wheel drive. Four-wheel-drive systems are typically found in pickup trucks and SUVs. Unlike automatic AWD systems, the driver must usually select the 4WD mode. Trucks used to have an additional lever to engage the power takeoff in high or low 4WD range. Electric switches now handle the task for operator ease.

4WD systems are good for dealing with very deep snow and for off-road driving. Truck-type 4WD is the choice for drivers who live in remote or rural areas where roads are not plowed regularly.

4WD systems add considerable weight, which hurts fuel economy.

Winter tires. Today, winter tires are still a major improvement over regular and even all-season tires. They go beyond improved performance in snow.

Those who live in the South, who find snowfall a novelty, won't need winter tires. Residents of transition states will easily get by with all-season tires. These tires are often designated M+S for mud and snow. Motorists in the Snow Belt would be wise to get winter tires.

Winter tires have a softer rubber compound that remains more pliable, providing more grip when cold. The tread blocks also are designed to dig into snow and then spit it back out as the wheels rotate. Then there are the sipes. Sipes are razor-thin slits in the rubber that become thousands of micro-pumps to deliver traction on ice.