What is a 4×4 Car?

4×4’s can look great on the road and also be great to drive too! But what they actually are and how they differ from a regular car is often unknown or misunderstood, so in this article, we’re going to disregard some of the myths and explain in a bit more detail just exactly what the 4×4 is.

How does it work?

The law of physics states that energy always looks for the easiest path to take. In terms of cars, this means that as soon as one wheel is on a slippery surface, then all the energy will suddenly be sent to that one wheel and away from the other wheels without traction, which results in losing forward motion. But when in a 4 wheel drive setting, both the front and rear axles are locked to ensure that at least one wheel on each axle is powered by the engine and is working efficiently to drive the vehicle forward at all times.

The misconception?

The common myth surrounding the 4×4 is that all 4 wheels are turning at the same time and the same speed, but this is not the case. In actual fact, the outside wheels are spinning faster than the inside wheels which drives the car forwards despite turbulent road conditions.

What’s the different between a 4 wheel drive and a 2 wheel drive?

A 2 wheel drive (4×2) has 4 wheels, which relates to the first figure,  but only 2 of them are powered – usually the rear 2 – which relates to the second figure. Whereas a 4 wheel drive (4×4) has 4 wheels and is also powered by all 4 wheels which allows it to tackle more road conditions easily.

What are the benefits to driving a 4×4?

4×4 driving is great for off road driving, uphill driving, driving during extreme weather conditions such as snow and for driving on turbulent surfaces, for instance working on a farm as well as a generally improved driving experience overall due to the enhanced traction.

What models of 4x4s are there?

Range Rover, Jeep, Toyota and Suzuki are amongst some of the most popular models of the 4×4 car driven, but there are other models as well as these to choose from.

 

Despite the 4×4’s hard wearing and durable nature, it still requires regular servicing and MOT checks just like any other vehicle. For a reliable auto company you can trust, please get in touch with the friendly team here at Auto Exhausts and Tyres.