Definition
Driving wheels are the wheels that receive power from the engine to move the vehicle. Depending on the drivetrain, these may be the front wheels, rear wheels or both axles; steered wheels determine the direction.
Grip, chains and the brakes
Anything meant to keep traction goes on the driving wheels: snow chains and special tyres must be fitted at least to them, or to one wheel on each side of the same driven axle. On a motorcycle or moped the rear wheel is the driving wheel and the front one steers, which is why the rear tyre wears fastest. Traction control (ASR) matches engine force to the grip of the driving wheels. The foot brake, however, works on all four wheels — not only on the driving wheels.
Official sources
Key facts
- They receive engine power and move the vehicle.
- Front-wheel drive: the front pair. Rear-wheel drive: the rear pair. All-wheel drive: all of them.
- On motorcycles and mopeds the rear wheel drives and the front wheel steers.
- Snow chains go at least on the driving wheels.
- The foot brake acts on all four wheels, not just the driving ones.
Frequently asked questions
- Which wheels are the driving wheels?
- The ones that receive engine power: the front pair on a front-wheel-drive car, the rear pair on a rear-wheel-drive one, and all four on an all-wheel-drive vehicle.
- Which wheels does the foot brake act on?
- All four. The service brake spreads braking force across every wheel, not only the front ones or the driving ones.
Practice real questions on this topic
Free DGT 2026 test with exam-style questions and explanations. No signup. Or explore the free DGT test in English hub for everything in one place.
In the DGT exam
- How many rear-view mirrors must a two-wheeled moped carry as a mandatory requirement?
- Regarding ageing of passenger-car tyres, which action is appropriate?
- Besides checking before long trips or whenever necessary, how often should tyre pressure normally be checked?