No, quick, QUICK, activation of Trac on a FWD or F/AWD vehicle is of the utmost importance. When wheelspin/slip develops due to drive torque, too much drive torque, on the front wheels then you not only do not have enough traction for forward (or reverse) motion, but you have also lost all ability to maintain directional control of the vehicle.

Think of Trac as being an inverse form of ABS. Rather than being designed to shorten your braking distances as some folks believe, ABS is actually designed to keep your wheels rolling, rolling ever so slightly, so that should you need to provide directional, stearing, inputs during severe braking there is the possibly of them being effective.

So, "drifters" use RWD vehicles exclusively, you can "spin" both rear wheels continously and still have (perverse) directional control. Not so with FWD or F/AWD vehicles.

So, the very instant even one of your front wheels begins to spin, Trac will activate braking instantly. So what, you say, I'll just stay on the throttle and "pull" myself out of this mess.

NOT..!!

If the front brakes are FORCED to restrain the wheelspin/slip against a high level of engine torque you will have over-heated brake rotors in very short order. Later, WARPED brake rotors, maybe even severely so.

Trac applies braking because otherwise you would/might have NO directional control. Trac also instantly dethrottles the engine because, basically, most (all??) drivers cannot be relied upon to lift the throttle in order to moderate the level of wheelspin/slip to something within reason.

I use the Trac on my '92 LS only as an indication of slippery conditions for which I might have otherwise been unaware. Once Trac activates I turn it off manually and then do my own "feathering" of the gas feed.