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Car Differentials

Mike2002

Senior member
In a regular car with whatever differential system most cars have, how many of the tires have power to them when driving on a road. I know that when one tire starts slipping in the snow, all the power goes to that slipping tire. But on a road, does only 1 of the tires "power" the car?
 
yes. limited slip means that there is a force that the differential must "overcome" for the wheels to spin at different speeds. so if you get one wheel spinning, a limited amount of power will still go to the wheel getting traction, rather than none.
 
Most cars are two wheel drive with an open differential. Both wheels are 'powered'. When one loses traction, only one is 'powered'.

Mark
 
Originally posted by: Mike2002
Anyone else?? I seem to sense a difference of opinions

A differential does none other than puts power out to two wheels and allows both wheels to spin at a different rate if necessary.

A limited-slip differential will make it so both tires spin at exactly the same rate (locked) when a certain amount of power is applied.
 
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