so almost half. LOOOOOOL at the guy that lives in Florida telling people how to drive in the snow. HAHAHAHA

Try driving in Scandinavia sometime. It's standard practice over there, I know from experience from spending 3 months over there in winter. and I've spent the winter driving every day in the Rockies at high altitude for the last 3 winters. There are times when if someone didn't have their blinkers on, you wouldn't be able to see them at all. Did you have bad lasik or something? hazard lights in snow aren't blinding anyone, grandpa.

What he said...

Back in the 90's when i lived in New England I'd be driving home is a snow storm and invariably get passed by someone who "paid 25k for their Jeep Cherokee- and was going to get their money's worth" Ten or so miles later, I'd pass by him as he was off the road in a ditch.

Knew people who wrecked their Jeeps or trucks and their answer always was "but it's 4wd".

Slow and steady and you'll be fine, BUT driving around the Ashville / Boone / NC - Tenn border there are some SERIOUS, SERIOUS hills. It's easy to get distracted and your speed creeps up on the downslopes.

Well apparently I've got a bunch more experience in the snow than you.
25 Years in northern Michigan climate that averages over 120" of snow per year. Lights are used in blizzards, no hazards just out of courtesy.
So explain that winter driving to me again. lol

Everything the above posters have said is good advice
I’ll add, make sure your windshield washer is full of correct fluid
Wiper blades are good, snow probably won’t be your issue, ice will be though

There are actually a number of automotive car clubs in so many areas of our country that hold winter driving car control clinics that are open to all makes and models of vehicles.

Find one and register.

Once you learn (a) how to control your vehicle with no traction, and (b) how to maximize the traction your conditions offer, you take on a new outlook.

I am a retired instructor from many of these clinics and the differences I see after one day of practice is heart warming.

Just Do It.

The 4Runner with KO2s makes a very capable snow vehicle. With all of the traction aids, most of the time 2WD is all that's needed for the wet snow we have in Tennessee. But if you get into some stuff, 4WD and taking your time works. If you have a Trail or ORP, the Sand/Mud mode works very well on slick, steep hills. And in December, you're probably not going to see much white stuff anyway.

I've driven this thing to Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, all over Massachusetts, etc, in the dead of winter and never gave it a second thought.

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If your seed is creeping up while driving, you’ve got bigger issues than snow!


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settle down grandpa, it's almost time for your dementia medicine. I didn't say that was my only winter driving experience, grumpy pants. 120"? that's cute. I live where we get 200. also, LOL. Hazards are legal in all conditions in Michigan. But you keep up those angry, misinformed tirades about what people should do in states where you don't live. Irrelevant rage is a good look.

Where I'm at, our roads and highways are now snow-covered.

If you're asking about on-road/highway driving in the snow, the main advice I can offer is to slow down and drive to the conditions.

All vehicles on snow-covered roads will need more distance to come to a complete stop. So leave a good distance between you and the car in front.

The speed-limit is usually defined for dry clear roads - slow down (be in control and drive to the conditions) on snow-covered roads. Winter road conditions include snow, ice, black-ice, slush, etc. and all will have an affect on your ability to control the vehicle.

Agreed here. I always liked "4WD is not four wheel stop".

Great advice above, but (unless I missed it) a few things to add. Most of these are common sense, but worth stating and practicing.

- Ice is a much bigger problem than snow, and packed snow is more challenging than fresh. Know what you're driving on. I will often test my stopping capability by slamming the brake when no ones behind me and see how quick I can stop. In the mountains, this can not only change rapidly, but so to the slope of the road. Test often and adjust your speed as necessary. It's a scary feeling to test and find you're going way too fast, but that's way better when you have time to adjust back down to a safe speed.

- Tread depth makes a huge difference in snow. Your capability from the previous year may not be the same.

- Where most people get into trouble is ice that's covered by snow, or "black ice". Either case you won't see it coming and thus if you're already going slow you'll be in much better shape when you hit it.

- When you begin to slip, not only steer into the slide, as mentioned above, but take your foot off the gas and brake until the vehicle is in control. Antilock brakes have really changed the way you can control a vehicle in an emergency maneuver, but you have to have control of the vehicle before you slam on the brakes. If you do have to slam on the brakes, continue to steer into the slid as you slow down.

- Like normal driving, you need to have situational awareness. Are there cars next to me, behind me, etc. Choices in an emergency maneuver may be limited by your momentary surroundings.

- All things being equal, you can steer around a problem in less distance than stopping in front of it.

Listen to the advice given in these responses regarding slowing down etc. It is too easy to build up speed and then not be able to slow down quick enough. As far as the KO2's, don't worry your self. They are fine, not quite as good in snow and ice as tires like the Cooper AT3 4S or the Falken AT3W but better than the stock 4Runner tires.

Snow won't be an issue in the Smokies.

maybe 1-3 "real snows" a year. (2-5")

if anything its a dusting which is gone by 9am.

TN resident here and lived in the Smokies for 7 years.

Where I live (Utah), flashers are REQUIRED if the vehicle is traveling slower than normal: trucks going up hill, fog, snow, etc. Makes sense to me to warn those idiots that come up behind you faster than conditions allow.

Also, here in Utah, it is illegal to pass a snow plow, no matter what lane the plow is in on a multi lane highway, but you see it all the time. Where it snows a lot, like here, we have these humongous snow plows that can clear THREE lanes at a time: one blade out front and a blade dropped down on each side. No way am I going to tangle with one of those!

That would be true...........