You're so right, Ed. The handling concerns
(besides the extra tire wear) is the worry, I think.
And, too many people want to drive fast, in 4WD, thinking it will somehow
protect them from losing control. Just the opposite is true, though.
Part time 4WD is actually two wheel drive, with
opposing wheels (left front, right rear) that can spin you in a circle before
you know it.
Actually it depends. If operating lots of
time in 4WD yes. If operating in 4WD on paved roads, yes (note
this assumes full time 4WD one never uses conventional 4WD on a dry paved
road.).
If you only use 4WD to get out of slick
campgrounds or every so often on a gravel road, it is not a big deal assuming
that the rolling radius (size) of the tires is quite close.
The problem is that with conventional, part time
4WD there is no differential to allow the front to go at a different speed
than the rear axle. This means that when the rolling radius between
tires is different between front and back, one set of tires must slip across
the ground. Note: the same thing happens even with matched tires when
you turn, thus the prohibition to operating the vehicle in 4WD on dry
pavement.
Note that in full time 4WD differing radius tires
on front and back will cause the differential to work hard to equalize the
difference and cause extra wear on the differential, in addition to some
possible handling concerns.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
(406) 642-9640
ranch(at)sisuwest(dot)us
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