Do You Need AWD in Iowa?

As Des Moines and Waukee area drivers know, keeping up with routine maintenance is essential in ensuring that your luxury vehicle continues performing in top shape and that it’s safe for the road—especially during the snowy and icy winter months. That’s why many drivers who visit our Johnston service center ask, “is it necessary to have AWD?” 

To safely drive during harsh weather conditions, a vehicle with all-wheel and four-wheel drive s highly recommended. Thankfully, most cars now offer AWD to handle harsh weather conditions. Learn more about safe driving during the harsh Iowa winter months, and don’t hesitate to contact our service center for additional winter safety tips. 

Is It Necessary to Have AWD?

In an all-wheel drive (AWD) system, power is sent to all four wheels. There are two types of AWD systems: full- and part-time AWD. As their names suggest, full-time systems send torque to the front and rear axles all of the time, while part-time AWD systems can sense when torque is needed and send it to the front axle.

So, is it necessary to have AWD? It depends on where you live. While Iowa is relatively flat, AWD could still be crucial for safe and confident driving in your area. If you drive or live where the roads are not as well-maintained, we strongly suggest considering an AWD drivetrain.

Not in the market for a new or pre-owned vehicle? That’s okay — contact our service center to see what you can do to ensure your vehicle is ready and safe for the snowy and muddy roads, like getting proper snow/winter tires.

Do I Need AWD in Snow and Ice?

The winter months can be unpredictable for many West Des Moines and Clive drivers, but it’s important that we make sure that your vehicle is prepared for the snowy weather. Not only are AWD vehicles excellent for handling severe weather conditions, but you’ll also enjoy the many benefits of all-wheel drive, which include:

• There are fewer chances of getting stuck, especially when paired with the proper tires and an advanced AWD system like Volkswagen 4Motion.
• Superior traction driving on slick roads.
• Fewer chances of spinning when turning a corner.
• Stronger performance.
• Better off-roading capabilities.

Have you found AWD vehicles beneficial during your winter drives in Iowa? There’s plenty of debate on this topic, and we want to know your overall thoughts and experiences with your AWD vehicle! 

What Are the Proper Tires to Have?

As mentioned above, while AWD may not be essential for driving in Iowa during the winter months, it does help make driving easier and safer. Because tires are one of the most important parts of your vehicle, you’ll want to have the proper tires for taking on snowy and icy roads in Iowa. Many experts even say having winter tires on all four wheels is more important than the power on all four wheels. 

Winter tires are made of a soft and pliable rubber compound designed for handling snow, ice, and cold temperatures safely. Because their tread patterns are much deeper than your regular tires, they also have small slits called sipes, they can provide better traction on slush, ice, and snowy roads. Essentially, winter tires allow you to safely stop and turn on snowy roads around the Des Moines area.

Winter tires are excellent for keeping you safe as you’re commuting to work or running errands around town, but they’re only designed and meant for the winter months. Our team can provide details about storing your tires when it comes time to switch them out.

Visit Us at Lithia Volkswagen of Des Moines Today!

Our service experts are here to help advise you about AWD vehicles and choosing the best winter tires for your vehicle. If you’re new to the area, a new driver, or just not used to winter conditions like snow or ice, or even driving on unmaintained roads, having an AWD could be an advantage for you. You can rest assured that you’re in excellent hands at our Johnston dealership. We’re proud to be part of the community, and our team is standing by if you have any questions. Give our team a call today.