Why do thin tires offer better grip on snow than fat tires?

[Analog]

Ahem.... Mr. Skoorb, up here in Michigan (snow today by the way), the rule of thumb is, shed those fat tires and get some thin ones if you're headed into snow. Not exactly sure why...

 

[amdskip]

Why'd you make a new post?

 

[Bulk Beef]

Infinite slider.

 

[Colt45]

more weight per square inch, so more squish action i guess.

 

[StageLeft]

I think for the same reason water skiis are fat. Picture a water ski as wide as a cross country ski - you'd need to go insanely fast for it to stay above water, so in the same way snow tires sink in under the snow. Also why snow shoes are so fat.