[mannykannot]

That's a fair question, though I would guess that, unless the wheel is locked, it is no more likely to slip out under braking traction than driving traction. That figure may well be higher than for fitted chains or studded tires.

AWD has the characteristic of improving driving traction while doing very little for braking or steering, as demonstrated by the guy who passed us and then rear-ended the mail delivery van.

[KennyBlanken]

In a true full-time AWD system when applying any power, there's half the torque which means there's more capacity for the tire to handle side loads from cornering/turning.

However, AWD in vehicles without traction control recovery from a slide is more difficult due to there being two different thrust vectors.

[mannykannot]

I take your point. I was thinking only of steering without drive traction.