Physics education research, electronic materials, and the musings of Christopher Moore, Ph.D.

I had a discussion with some friends and they pretty much told me I'm crazy. They told me a heavier car is much better in the snow then light cars.  Because of my love for mechanical physics, I can't let this one slide. I told them that's not necessary true that heavier FWD cars are better in the snow. I experience that my dad's 1990 corolla(~2200 lbs) was so much better then my 1988 accord (~3K lbs). His car would plow through 6" of snow and mine will be stuck even if it had new all season tires.  RWD is a different story, you want weight over just that axle.

All my friends' argument:
Heavy cars will provide better traction and won't slip.  So the heavier, the better.

My argument:
Lighter cars (corolla) are better in the snow. All you need is narrower tires to increase the surface area press from the tires to the ground, therefore it'll have the same effect as a heavier car. But the advantage is that it doesn't have to carry the extra weight compared to the heavy car. This car will require less force to build up that momentum and pick up. Just think about a FWD 4K lbs and FWD 2K lbs going up a snowy hill from dead stop, which will pick up faster.

I know there are going to be many people against my theory.  Whatever your opinion is, let me hear it. I'll let the physics people in here be the judge.  If I'm an idiot, let it be.