Toyo tires > Understanding the Drive Layouts

Understanding the Drive Layouts

by: Alvin Agomaa

The drive layout is the arrangement of the engine, transmission, and driven axles. The types of drive layouts are Front engine Front wheel drive (FF/ FWD), Front engine Rear wheel drive (FR/RWD), Mid engine Rear wheel drive(MR), Rear engine Rear wheel drive(RR), Four wheel drive (4WD or 4x4) and the All Wheel Drive(AWD). Each of these layouts has their own performance, advantages and disadvantages.

Front engine Front wheel drive (FF/FWD) ? The Engine and the two driven axles are placed in front, where the power from the engine is transferred straight to the front wheels. This layout increases the interior space especially in small cars because there is no central tunnel needed for the driveshaft. FF layout has advantage when it comes on low grip surfaces, and its tendency to understeer reduces the risk of losing control. The disadvantage is the load placed on the front tires. The front tires must transfer all acceleration, steering, cornering, and braking forces to the road. This kind of tasks gives a lot of stress in front tires which may lead to wear and tear, while the rear tires have very little load on them.

Front engine Rear wheel drive (FR/ RWD) - This is the complement of FF layout, where the engine is placed longitudinally at the front but the two driven axles are placed at the rear connected through the driveshaft. With this kind of layout, installation of more powerful engine such as V8, V10 and V12 is not a problem. Since the FR has a driveshaft, central tunnel is present in this layout a little interior space is sacrificed. All of the disadvantages of the FF layout are the advantages of FR layout.

Mid Engine Rear wheel drive (MR) ? The drive layout that consumes a lot of interior space of the car especially the seating capacity, the engine is placed in the middle of the chassis and the driven axles are at the rear. Although it has more weight at the rear, entering a corner makes it more difficult because the front tires have less traction resulting to understeer and since the rear is heavy, the car tends to oversteer when exiting a corner. This kind of layout is commonly used in racing cars and sports cars because of weight distribution focused in the center of the car.

Rear engine Rear wheel drive (RR) - This layout places both engine and the driven axle at the rear of the vehicle, even though the rear wheels benefit from the additional grip due to the added weight given by the engine, the front wheels still need grip in order to steer the car effectively. That?s why RR layout car can also be prone to understeer.

Four Wheel Drive (4WD or 4X4) / All Wheel Drive (AWD) ? It is a term usually used to describe a car where the four wheels receive power from the engine simultaneously. This can be found in an off-road vehicle. A well distributed power to the four wheels improves the grip of the vehicle. The terms 4WD and 4X4
are used in jeeps and other off-road vehicles that require the driver to switch from 2WD used in street driving (two wheel drive) to 4WD to improve the grip depending on the road condition like mud, snow, etc. and it has a high and low gear selection. The AWD term was invented to identify the vehicle capable of driving all the wheels on any road condition without selecting high and low gear selection because the power is distributed on all the wheels. Unlike the 4WD with gear selection, you don?t have to select the appropriate gear to match the road condition. Most of the modern cars use AWD system for more traction and better handling.

About The Author

Alvin D. Agomaa is a car enthusiast who also write articles to give out advices about car maintenance, tips for buying cars and the like.

For free car classified listings visit http://www.ozfreeonline.com/cars/.

How Creating Curb Appeal Will Help You Selling Your Home

How Creating Curb Appeal Will Help You Selling Your Home

by: Susan Wong

You may not know and realize how important of curb appeal to your home. It is a common sense that if you have an attractive and clean home on the outside, this will make someone want to see the inside. This strategy is very useful when you are attempting to sell you home; great curb appeal is just as important as having a home show beautifully on the inside. If the outside is not clean this can deter a potential purchaser from even booking a showing to see your home, even though the interior could be spectacular.

It is better to get others? opinions in order to take an objective look at the outside of your property. To enhance the appearance of your home there are a few inexpensive things you can do. The most important consideration is the state of repair of the property. You must repair everything that needs repairing, which includes any cracked windows, broken railings,...

How Creating Curb Appeal Will Help You Selling Your Home

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How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires

How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires

by: Bill B. Carmel

When it comes time to replace your old and worn ATV tires, many riders are eager to purchase new tires, but many are unaware what to do with the old ones. Regardless where you live, throwing old tires in a body or water or natural environment is improper?and in many cases illegal?since the tires can corrupt nature. When disposing of your old ATV tires, be sure to do so in a proper and legal manner that will not negatively impact the environment for future generations.

More and more often, tires are being recycled and formed into all sorts of new products. From park benches to carpets, recycled rubber is a durable and economical product. When you are faced with the decision what to do with your old ATV tires, look to your local recycling company to see if rubber is accepted. Although you may not be able to place your tires to the curb if you community is involved with curbside recycling...

How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires

Toyo tires > How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires

Weight and Motorcycle

Weight and Motorcycle

by: Maricon Williams

Have you ever bothered about the significance of weight to your bike? Maybe yes, but to other riders, the answer will be on the negative.

Weight affects the performance of the motorcycle. In fact, it greatly improves the bike?s braking acceleration and deceleration. Thus, to reduce the weight of the wheels can make a great boost. That change can be a catalyst to achieve your most desired motorcycle performance.

Motorcycle parts and accessories play an important role in the performance of the motorcycle. They can break or make a history. This is the reason why we have to know them by heart and apply the best solution to bring out the best in every part.

In connection to weight, it must be correlated to these motorcycle parts. Say for instance, the tires. Weight can be considered in two ways ? the static weight and the dynamic weight. The first speaks of the weight the motorcycle is not...

Weight and Motorcycle

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How To Choose The Proper Bicycle

How To Choose The Proper Bicycle

by: Jeff Slokum

There are many different types and styles of bicycles. You will need to decide on the type of biking you will be predominantly doing in order to help you narrow down your choices. Below are just some of the types of bicycles available on the market today.

The first bicycle we will mention here are what are considered by some to be comfort bicycles. These are the type used by most weekend recreational bike riders. They usually have a comfortable shock-absorbing seat and shock absorbing front forks and wide pedals.

Another type of bike which is a bit more rugged than the comfort bike is a trail bike or light duty mountain bike. These bikes can take a bit more rough stuff than the bikes mentioned above but are not meant for serious mountain biking.

Touring bicycles are for those who go long distances and faster than recreational bike riders. These bikes are built for riding on the pavement....

How To Choose The Proper Bicycle

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How To ?Pump? Money Back Into Your Pocket. Gas Money Saving Tips.

by: Dmitry Popov

With Gas prices around $2.60 dollars a gallon, how would you like to get 15, 20 or even 35 cents off each gallon you buy? At www.pumpandsave.com you can learn gas saving tips, compare and apply for great offers and save Big at the Pump each and every time.

Here are few tips from www.pumpandsave.com:

1. Stay within posted speed limits. The faster you drive, the more fuel you use.

2. Use overdrive gears. Overdrive gears improve the fuel economy of your car during highway driving.

3. Use cruise control. Using cruise control on highway trips can help you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, reduce your fuel consumption.

4. Anticipate driving situations. If you anticipate traffic conditions and don't tailgate, you can avoid unnecessary...

How To ?Pump? Money Back Into Your Pocket. Gas Money Saving Tips.

Toyo tires > How To ?Pump? Money Back Into Your Pocket. Gas Money Saving Tips.

Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code

Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code

by: Debbie Pettitt

So, you need new tires for your car or truck, but how do you know what to buy?
What do all those alphanumeric codes printed on the tire sidewalls mean, anyway?

If you're in the market for new tires, you may simply want to replace your worn tires with exactly the same tire it came with.
But you MAY want to consider an upgrade.
If you know how to read the tire sidewalls, chock full of valuable information, you've got an advantage over most people and are prepared to make an informed decision.
So let's get underway!

Tire Size Markings (example: P215/65R15 89H)

Broken down:

P = Passenger

Other designations are

LT = Light Truck

T = Temporary (spare tire)

215 is the width (in millimeters) of the tire from sidewall to sidewall.
A wider tire has more grip but the bad news is that you lose fuel economy,...

Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code

Toyo tires > Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code

Dog Training Aids

by: Dana Goldberg

You may think that dog training aids are out there for you to spend money and not actually reap any benefits from. That is not the case. Dog training aids are there to help you succeed in teaching your dog, this could be teaching him obedience, agility or any other type of teaching you want to do. There are many aids available but only a certain few will work with your dog and his temperament.

I find the best training...

Understanding the Drive Layouts potty training Dog Training Aids Toyo tires

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Drive A Race Car For One Day

by: Cristian Andrei

Have you ever wanted to drive a real race car around a world famous racetrack? Have you ever wanted to experience the speed, the power, the rush? Well, all of this are now posible right next to you! How? Simple: racing courses and racing schools

What are offering this schools and courses?

First, of course Introduction to racing. Your adventure will begin with a short classroom and SkidCar session where...

Understanding the Drive Layouts

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Understanding the Drive Layouts hdtv

Fall Fashion Trend - Take Your Jacket To The Shrink

by: Brenna Cleeland

Fall and winter may have brought out long peacoats and trenches before, but not this year. One of the most sought-after pieces for the upcoming season will be the shrunken jacket, in a variety of styles. The difference between these new, tinier versions of your traditional autumn and winter favorites is their length; cuts are the same as traditional coats, but they hit slightly above the...

Understanding the Drive Layouts Fall Fashion Trend - Take Your Jacket To The Shrink Toyo tires

Toyo tires > Fall Fashion Trend - Take Your Jacket To The Shrink

Western Theme Party Ideas

by: Dee Schrock

Howdy! Here are a few ideas for rowdy, rootin-tootin western theme party.

Western theme parties are one of the most popular theme parties- sure to go over well with all your guests.

This popular theme party can be prepared in less than a day, or in only a few hours for those high energy hosts!

Welcome each guest with a bandana and sheriff's badge.

Decorations

Think rustic and hearty! Here...

Understanding the Drive Layouts Western Theme Party Ideas Toyo tires party

Toyo tires > Western Theme Party Ideas