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this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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It's SUVs in my area. There's enough actual farmers and people who legitimately need pickups to somewhat offset the limp dick compensators. SUV drivers here tend to be piss scared and incredibly timid, which is why they buy SUVs. Think being higher up is safer.
Which is true until you flip, in which case you're fucked. And that's ignoring that the rise of SUVs and pickups has seen an average of a 6% YOY increase of pedestrian deaths since 2008.
I live in a snowy area, and most of the accidents in the winter seem to involve trucks and SUVs. It's probably just because trucks and SUVs are more popular in my area, but there's something to be said for getting overconfident, after all, all cars have four wheel braking.
I have never bought snow tires in >10 years of living here, have only driven two wheel drive cars, and I've never wrecked a car. I did slide into a snowbank once with my sporty car when in college, but I was going slow enough that it wasn't hard to get out (just threw down some microfiber rags to get traction and reversed). I try to avoid unplowed roads, so it's just not needed once the roads are cleared.
I hate driving SUVs and trucks, and I only put up with my minivan because it's so practical with kids (I have three).
I lived in snowy af Ohio for 8 years with a Kia Sephia. I was poorer than now then and couldn't afford snow tires yet I made it just fine. I'd always see trucks and SUVs driving crazy fast down the highway, and saw 2 crash right in front of me.
I'm with you, people do not need SUVs for the snow.
Yup. A set of snow tires will do much more for you than AWD or 4WD, though it'll never hold a candle to snow tires + AWD/4WD. But snow tires and FWD is plenty for pretty much everyone that's not regularly offroading in deep snow. If you're really worried about it, get studs.
Make sure to take them off in the spring because they wear out really fast when it's not cold. Swapping them shouldn't cost a ton (like $100 or so), and snow tires are usually a bit cheaper than regular tires. It's certainly less expensive than gas longer term.
Being higher up isn't really safer, sorta feels that way but push come to shove a lower cg is almost always preferable.
Had the same perception on a dualsport motorcycle. Great being able to see over traffic but oh man it's a long way down when you fall.
I rolled my 3rd gen 4 runner in a snowstorm a few years back. Had it flipped over, popped a couple dents, and still driving it today! I should probably fix the sway bar and get new tires but I like to live dangerously I guess.