While driving the vehicle may not be very different, the way the cars are handled in different situations vary from the way the front wheel drive vehicle is handled. Knowing what your car is capable of and the way it should be handled in snow and ice is important, because thinking that both are handled the same way is completely wrong and can be hazardous.

Preparing the vehicle for the winter season and keeping the winter kit is important. The car should be driven slowly at a good distance from the vehicle ahead. There are many drivers who drive front wheel drives (FWD) and rear wheel drives (RWD) and are still ignorant of the basic factor that the method of handling both the cars in snow is different and applying the method of one on the other could even get you killed. The FWDs used to be preferred over RWDs because in the RWDs, the rear wheels that push the vehicle may slip and can cause the back end of the car to swing. However, in the new RWDs this problem is not relevant anymore.

There is no best kind of vehicle, no matter what wheel drive it is. Every vehicle has its advantages and disadvantages. In order to be sure how to drive your RWD vehicle and handle it in different situations, you should carefully read the vehicle's manual so that you get it right.

No matter what wheel drive a car is, the way it drives depends a lot on where the weight of the vehicle. When the car skids, your first reaction should be to ease up on the gas pedal. This first reaction greatly varies from the one required in the case of a FWD vehicle.

All the factors that are the disadvantages of an FWD vehicle are the advantages of an RWD vehicle. The acceleration of the car is handled by the rear wheels, which mainly direct the vehicle. However, a disadvantage of a RWD is that the rear wheels sometimes tend to get the power from the engine which robs the vehicle's horsepower and also adds extra cost along with extra weight. These factors can make RWDs less efficient than FWDs.

Another thing about RWDs that is considered to be a disadvantage relative to FWDs is that RWDs are less practical. This is another advantage, as the control is completely in the hands of the driver who makes the vehicle as practical as it can be. As RWDs are more likely to lose traction easily in slippery conditions, the vehicle should be driven at a slow speed and if the car skids, you should steer into the skid and accelerate gently instead of steering away from the skid - even if your instincts tell you to. This is because the latter would only cause you to lose control even more, instead of regaining it.