I just bought an 06 4runner not knowing they even made 4x2's (DOH!) and I keep getting mixed answers on how it'll do in the snow. I live in St Louis-lots of snow and lots of hills. My tires are Michelin cross terrains. Am I going to be one of these clowns getting stuck on a snowy road in a SUV?
06 4runner 4x2 in snow
- Thread starter tedspice
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
riverider said:I have a 98 Nissan Maxima and I have driven it in deep snow and ice for over 400 miles, No real problems and I have a 82 Ford Bronco 4X4 it drives no better then my Nissan in snow and ice.
If your heading into the backwoods yes 4X4 is a must have. But with traction control the 2wd 4Runner will work fine in snow and on ice as good or even better then one having 4wd.
every winter I see on TV News so many people in their new and old 4X4s sliding all over and ending up in the ditchs or crashing.
Don't get carried away with the myth that a 4wd is going to just make ice driving a slam dunk.
Good tires and using your head and the 2wd will get you there and back.
:iagree: 100%
I would also add that dedicated snow tires and 120-180lbs in the back would make it a "tank" in the snow. I grew up with 2wd pick-ups. Limited slip, snows and a little weight can be an incredible combo:bigok: (NOTE: I said a little weight. More is not always better. At some weight the front will get 'light' and stopping/steering will become more difficult.)
What will also be very important is to read, understand and practice the use of the Auto limited-slip (VSC off) switch. For safety I would recommend turning it off aboove 20mph or so. I think it may do that by itself, I'm not sure.
Ruffian
New member
Uneek said:
Exactly why my parents made me learn to drive in the snow in a 4x2 vehicle. My Dad said exactly the same as others put here. It's the driver and the tires that makes all the difference. When I had my 4x2 4Runner, I drove it in the snow all the time. I ALMOST got stuck twice. Once, while in Colorado, I got in some deep stuff, I'm talking more than a foot of fresh falling good old CO powder, and I felt the traction going. So I carefully turned around, and headed down to lower elevation. 2nd, up in Tahoe. Had to stop on a hill, and I had no traction what so ever to get going again. I had to get the car to wiggle over to where there was less ice and snow until I got at least one tire to grab, and then I gave her hell to get momentum again. Out of 8 years of owning her, I ALMOST got stuck only twice.
I think since you didn't have the experience of knowing the 4x4 thing, driving a 4x2 will teach you what to watch out for. Invest in some good tires, and drive carefully. No sudden stops, starts, turns etc, stay out of deep stuff, watch speed going into turns and the hills and you'll be ok. In other words, drive like Grandma does all the time, when you're in inclement weather. Also getting stuck is not bad (teaches you not to do it again or if you do, how to quickly get out) unless your in Fargo, ND at 2 am in the middle of the country with no one around & no survival gear. But if you are not smart enough to put yourself in that type of situation without being prepared for the worst, than nothing we type here is going to save you! That my friend, is called natural selection.:biggrin2:
Could be worse. You could be a cow in a Kansas snowstorm.
borgzman
New member
I have the 2wd, and last Feb was my first time driving in snow/ice. It was 50 miles of icy road, I was sliding and the VSC keeps on beeping. Until I stopped on a safe shoulder, the guy behind me also stopped and advised me to put weight in the cargo..so I filled my coleman with snow so as to add weight on the driving wheels then the maneuverability improved until I reached my destination..(trembling..LOL!) Then I changed the Dunlops with BFG Radial Long Trail and go back to the same route its a lot better! Its just all about tires! The second time, the station already noticed that mine is 2WD and instructed me to put on chains..but I took it off and its fun to drive with little sliding..anyway VSC is always helpful.
RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
riverider said:
Your Maxima was FWD and you can't really compare it to RWD since pulling a vehicle's weight through the snow is easier than pushing it.
Define deep snow.......once you get near 10" clearance is a factor and 2wd will struggle when it gets deep. Also once in that deep snow or on an incline 2wd will struggle vs a 4wd.
If you live in a metro area such as Denver,they plow pretty well around here so having 2wd is usually fine but if you live where the roads aren't as well maintained I can't imagine living in Colorado w/o 4wd or at least AWD.
riverider said:
With comments like this... stay in Oklahoma and stay away from this great state! You have absolutely little idea what you're talking about and I've read that in a number of your new posts.
Colorado's gun laws are very friendly to most if not all of the counties here. I've got a concealed weapons permit, have hunted here for over thirty years and have driven virtually ALL of the difficult 4 x 4 roads here. I've also climbed all of Colorado's 14,000 ft peaks and many others as well.
A 4 x 2 will never compare to a 4 x 4 in winter weather... period!
alaskaman said:
I spoke with three tire dealers whom I know, and I also happen to be in the truck business. Their comments to me were very similar to what I read online, especially coming from the Ford truck owners... there have been quite a few reports of flat spotting in the very cold temps.
I said to myself, why by a tire that has issues. For most, they might not have a problem and the Pirellis are probably fine.
I went with a proven very high quality tire.
:
alaskaman
Senior Member
appreciate your post. Have reviewed Tundra Form. about 95% of all reports that I have read say the flat spotting goes away within 5 miles max. Reports came in from Canada to Colorado. Most felt that the flat spotting was tolerable. 2 reviewers (both with Sequoias) said that it could not compensate and had to eventually return the tires despite repeated rebalancing etc. Tire Rack talks about flat spotting in general terms and is quite informative. I think that before I actually enter the highway once I am in Alaska will drive around the parking lot or go back and forth until the tire is secure if it is an issue. Many people reported that it was not. I imagine by next year this time, I will either have them or I won't due to this issue, as they are phenom in driving conditions all around.
Thanks again for the input.
Thanks again for the input.
leftyguns21
New member
RonMAIDEN said:
2nd that.
and on topic. lots of good info in here thanks everyone
