Roads
are snow covered and icy for at least 4 months of the year here. North idaho. Only the intersections are ice free. I dont get into the city much during the winter, but the main arterial roads are the only things they plow. Interior road clearing is nearly non existent. City folk need 4x4 to grt out of their driveways.
I don't want to use 4WD unless it's needed. If for no other reason, unlike AWD it forces tires to slip when going through a curve since the four tires have to take a slightly different path. I want all the traction I can get, including lateral.
And unless all the tires are at the correct pressure for the load (have the same static loaded radius), there will be some slippage even going perfectly straight.
Aside from not wanting to give up any of the potential grip, I also want to get a better feel for what I'm driving on. In the example posted earlier, had I been in 4WD that slick ice might have gone unnoticed...until it was too late and I ended up at the bottom of a 500' slope.
Also, much like I use 2WD with my Jeep until 4WD is necessary, I think it makes me a better driver by forcing me to pay more attention and pick a better path.
Of course, when failing while rock crawling it's usually only a matter of trying again in 4WD, but on slippery public roads I may not get a second chance if unable to tell how much (or little) traction is available.
Put a bit differently, I love going sideways, but only when I'm in control.
