smart: I have a front wheel drive vehicle and it is now winter time. I have been told for years that it is smart to put some weight (salt bags, cinder blocks etc.) in my trunk to put weight on my back wheels for traction. What I am curious to know is this still a good idea even in a front wheel driven car or should I stay away from that?Is it a smart idea to weigh down the back wheels of a FWD vehicle during winter?Not needed in a front wheel drive car. There is enough weight on the front end with the motor there. Used to put weight in the trunk of cars if they where rear wheel drive. The extra weight on the wheels that pull gave extra traction.Is it a smart idea to weigh down the back wheels of a FWD vehicle during winter?Rear wheels don't provide any traction really. If you put weight in the back, that weight carries inertia that can cause the rear of the car to swing around in a panic stop if the rear wheels start to slide. 18-wheelers call it jack-knifing. But since you don't have a trailer, the result is still similar. That's why front wheel drive became popular. The weight of the engine and trans-axle puts that weight on the front drive wheels for better traction.Is it a smart idea to weigh down the back wheels of a FWD vehicle during winter?yes because the road is slippery and if you slam the brakes you would go flying into the next car, but since you have the cinder blocks you wouldnt. and it also holds your car down more to make it heavier so it will be more stirdy.