Q: Where do you put snow tire chains if you have only one pair?
Front or rear axle - what is best?
A: On 4WD vehicles:
• Snow chains mounted on all 4 with 4WD/AWD - ideal lateral stability, perfect acceleration, crisp steering, super braking. However, part time systems will show some understeer (turns are wider than intended). Full time 4WD systems are best. This is what everyone should have for snow and ice. Be careful anyway.
• Snow chains mounted on front axle with 4WD/AWD - good acceleration, good steering, good braking. However, since the rear wheels have no lateral guidance, the rear end might come around - fast. Not good. Feather your brakes. Go slow.
• Snow chains mounted on rear axle with 4WD/AWD - good acceleration, lousy steering (no lateral guidance), marginal braking (remember, 80% of brake force is created at front wheels and without chains that ain't happening). No fishtailing. Best compromise for 4WD with only one pair of chains. Go slow.
Attention: Since some of the automatic AWD systems are marketed as 4WD or AWD, placement of snow chains has to follow different rules - check with your owners manual for correct procedure.
On 2WD vehicles:
•Chains mounted on front axle (front wheel drive) - good acceleration, good steering, good braking. However, since the rear wheels have no lateral guidance, the rear end will come around. Not good. Feather your brakes. Go slow.
•Chains mounted on rear axle (front wheel drive) - almost no acceleration, bad steering, so so braking. No fishtailing. Not useful.
•Chains mounted on front axle (rear wheel drive) - almost no acceleration, good steering, good braking. However, since the rear wheels have no lateral guidance, the rear end will come around. Not good. Not useful.
• Chains mounted on rear axle (rear wheel drive) - good acceleration, bad steering, so so braking. No fishtailing. Not useful.