The snowicane a couple weeks ago dumped up to 20 inches in some places, and marked the first and probably only real significant northeast snow accumulation this winter. By now this is all old news as most remnants of the blizzard have melted into the murky March ground. I for one made the most of it while it was around.

Snow accumulations and drifts on northern roads made it necessary for travelers to brush off their windshields and winter driving skills. Some made use of those chunky snow tires they all sprang for. You all surely slap those noisy skins on your wheels each year before winter undoubtedly strikes, right? No? Some drivers rest assured in their four-wheel drive SUVs, Jeeps and all-wheel drive [AWD] cars. Traction at every corner is enough to get them over the river and through the woods safely. But is it really?

The first day of my 'Spring Break', my friend [for the sake of reputation let's just call him Chris] and I inadvertently decided to crack this debate wide open. Is AWD alone better in snow than snow tires on an inferior drive-train? In the ensuing test, far from precise or fair, a 1994 Buick Regal Custom with snow tires gets pitted against modern engineering, an AWD 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5.

It all started the Friday I got home from school 2 weeks ago. I was out constructing an igloo with snow and a recycling bin when Chris arrives fresh from work and willfully parked his new-ish Subaru straight into 10 inches of snow. AWD inspires plenty of confidence, but was of inadequate help when it came time to actually drive out of the yard.

Ground clearance, traction and tires are all factors when it comes to bogging through deep snow. Legacys are typically higher sprung than most passenger cars but not enough to matter in this much snow. AWD has been featured on every Subaru model for the last 15 years, though a tougher limited slip system could have helped in this case. As for tires, the four brand new Goodyears were in fact all-season, but their low tread profile did little more than fill up with snow, turning the tire into a natural drag slick.

Shoveling the snow out from under the rocker panels effectively un-beached the Sube, but tires still were not in its favor. The car managed to drive across the yard and get stuck over a stolen Christmas tree and a snowbank. More shoveling, throttle feathering and careful yard maneuvering got the car out and on its way in due time.

After surviving the 175 mile drive home in snow that would allegedly delay said journey until Sunday, I firmly believed my Buick Regal could do what the Legacy couldn't. In the Buick's case, it gave up an AWD drive-train in favor of snow tires purchased the previous month. Chris, thoroughly ashamed of his car's snow prowess, watched as a car without any rally heritage whatsoever attempted the 'yard park'.

With an air of confidence, I hopped in the little white sedan and plowed up the hill and over into the deep snow. Even I was impressed at the traction the tires provided. Halfway down the slight slope I purposely slammed on the brakes, an attempt to prove the car didn't require momentum on its side. Predictably, the Buick was instantly stuck in snow well over its lug nuts and wheelspin ensued.

The driver-side wheel was lodged while the opposite wheel dug through the snow straight to the semi-frozen ground. A rooster-tail of dirt splashed the car and surrounding snow. The Regal had merely nice tires. The front-wheel drive car featured less ground clearance than the Subaru. I proceeded to shovel out under the car.

Somewhat defeated, I restarted the engine and began turning the wheels to clear more snow. Alternating between drive and reverse gave the car a rocking motion to help free it from the ruts. With what little slope I had to be stuck on, I tried braking at the top of the rocking motion. After shifting into drive I could use some momentum of the roll back down to help free the car. This technique worked swimmingly and the Buick was on its way through the rest of the yard all the way to the driveway.

Given the circumstances, it's hard to declare a real winner here. Ideally, a car would feature the best aspect of each test. Obviously, a four-wheel drive truck with ground clearance and some sort of locking or limited slip differential would be near impossible to get stuck in this situation. In short, there are things AWD and snow tires do very well, especially when used in conjunction, but they simply weren't designed to allow us to drive around our snow-covered yards. 

theCD's take: While AWD is a great option to have on your side in inclement conditions, ultimately, good tires are more important as they are what connects your car to the road.