CF_Machete
Senior Member
Two weeks ago I was cruising in 4 wheel drive at 65 mph with 4-6 inches of snow/ slush on the highway. General Grabber AT2s are no joke on our trucks.
4Runner in snow?
- Thread starter Conrad
- Start date
CF_Machete
Senior Member
Now you're just showing off:clap2:
LawnDart
Senior Member
Aired down to like 8psi in that, and the ridge grapplers were awesome-sauce.
CF_Machete
Senior Member
Jealous as Hell!
Jetboy
New member
This is what you need to know for snow.
Tires are by far the most important component.
Softer rubber, more sipes, and lower ground pressure are the three keys. After those 3 factors are ground clearance. For normal snowy roads - the 4runner does great. Any model. For the most possible deep snow performance - trail or TRD Pro are going to perform the best. Traction control is good - but ultimately not as good in snow as a locker. It's just a physics limitation of traction control. It never can be as good as a full locker. One tire must be slipping to engage at which point it's crossed the threshold of motion (see above).
In really deep snow (like multiple feet deep) - you need to float on top. I attached a pic of the road at my family's ranch this week. With snow drifts this deep you're going to need more like 44" tires to stay on top. Or a big piece of yellow equipment to keep the roads passable. Then it's no problem for even a softroader like my wife's car. For floating on top, you need really big tires and light weight. A 5th gen 4runner is not a great choice. It doesn't sound like that's what you're looking for though.
Tires are by far the most important component.
Softer rubber, more sipes, and lower ground pressure are the three keys. After those 3 factors are ground clearance. For normal snowy roads - the 4runner does great. Any model. For the most possible deep snow performance - trail or TRD Pro are going to perform the best. Traction control is good - but ultimately not as good in snow as a locker. It's just a physics limitation of traction control. It never can be as good as a full locker. One tire must be slipping to engage at which point it's crossed the threshold of motion (see above).
In really deep snow (like multiple feet deep) - you need to float on top. I attached a pic of the road at my family's ranch this week. With snow drifts this deep you're going to need more like 44" tires to stay on top. Or a big piece of yellow equipment to keep the roads passable. Then it's no problem for even a softroader like my wife's car. For floating on top, you need really big tires and light weight. A 5th gen 4runner is not a great choice. It doesn't sound like that's what you're looking for though.
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SierraMare
Member
From Consumer Reports: Of the 53 vehicles evaluated via owner survey, Subaru's captured the top three places in snow performance, the 4Runner came in at 9th.
Survey Rates SUV and Wagon Performance in Snow
Readers' ratings show how AWD systems compare
Published: September 29, 2015 11:00 AM
Our 2015 auto survey asked subscribers to rate their vehicles’
performance in snowy conditions. The results revealed that some AWD and 4WD systems are better than others.
Sixty-nine to 92 percent of owners thought their 4WD and AWD SUVs and wagons were “very good” at snow performance.
Below, SUVs and wagons are ranked for winter driving based on 47,982 subscriber ratings. All respondents had driven their
vehicles without changing to winter tires on at least six snowy days during the winter of 2014-2015. The rankings are based
on 2012 to 2015 models that have at least two model years’ worth of data.
Read the report here:
Best Cars for Snow | SUV & Wagon Survey - Consumer Reports
Survey Rates SUV and Wagon Performance in Snow
Readers' ratings show how AWD systems compare
Published: September 29, 2015 11:00 AM
Our 2015 auto survey asked subscribers to rate their vehicles’
performance in snowy conditions. The results revealed that some AWD and 4WD systems are better than others.
Sixty-nine to 92 percent of owners thought their 4WD and AWD SUVs and wagons were “very good” at snow performance.
Below, SUVs and wagons are ranked for winter driving based on 47,982 subscriber ratings. All respondents had driven their
vehicles without changing to winter tires on at least six snowy days during the winter of 2014-2015. The rankings are based
on 2012 to 2015 models that have at least two model years’ worth of data.
Read the report here:
Best Cars for Snow | SUV & Wagon Survey - Consumer Reports
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Woz1976-MT
New member
I have been thoroughly impressed with my '16 TE in the snow. I had the dealer replace the OEM tires with Cooper Discoverer A/Tw (LT load E) tires as part of my order (never drove on the OEM tires at all).
The Cooper Discoverer A/Tw tires are year-round all-terrain tires that are also winter-rated (snowflake on the mountain symbol). With my experiences with Blizzak tires, I'd say the Coopers are almost as good but they are also all-year tires, too. Montana recently got hit with a couple of good storms (last one dropped nearly 12 inches at once) and I was surprised at being able to get around without using four-wheel drive with careful, conservative use of the go-pedal.
The combination of the tires and my TE made for some great fun while driving around in the snow!
The Cooper Discoverer A/Tw tires are year-round all-terrain tires that are also winter-rated (snowflake on the mountain symbol). With my experiences with Blizzak tires, I'd say the Coopers are almost as good but they are also all-year tires, too. Montana recently got hit with a couple of good storms (last one dropped nearly 12 inches at once) and I was surprised at being able to get around without using four-wheel drive with careful, conservative use of the go-pedal.
The combination of the tires and my TE made for some great fun while driving around in the snow!
Go drive one. Your version of "nice" will be different than mine.
I've had an SR5, Trail, and now a Limited. I prefer the Limited for the full time 4WD.
'dat front bumper is a beaut...
Beaumont67
New member
In Canada = 87 octane regular gas, is $1.089/Litre today
US liquid gallon = 3.78541 Litre's
( 1 US Gallon = 4.122 Litre's )
( and 1 Canadian Dollar equals 0.74 US Dollar )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Therefore - In S/W Ontario, we pay the equivalent of $5.57/US gallon
I've owned 4x4's for 25 years, and they all have been with part-time Hi-Lo transfer cases / and live in a Canadian snow belt.
- I have plowed through 2 feet deep parking lots (for fun), with a 1990 Chev. pickup / never lost traction
- drove a 1989 Nissan Pathfinder, easily through 8" wet snow slush
- driving arrow straight @ 65 mph, without swaying or fish-tailing
I've never had a winter accident, and drove past lots of vehicles that ended up in the ditch sideways.
IMPO - I don't need Full Time 4WD and the lower gas mileage associated with it / equaling higher operating costs.
- my wife drives a 2008 RAV4 Limited, 4x4 (part-time under 25 MPH), v6
- our son drives a 2015 Lexus RX350, AWD, v6
- and I drive a 2000 4Runner SR5, 4x4 (part-time), v6 / plus a 1998 Silverado 3/4 ton pickup, 4x4 (part-time), v8
I like using 2WD, most of the year / if one of my part-time 4x4 vehicles isn't adequate enough, time to stay off the roads.
- but sound winter driving skills (started learning, from the age of 16), Trumps or overcomes many weather elements & severe road conditions / even driving on gravel roads, is a lost art (did it in my youth, @ 90 mph)
- all acquired skill sets, of judgement & good pro-actions
- and not reactions to chaotic driving manners, in inclement weather
I'd take a new SR5 part-time 4x4, if it had Leather seats / but no full-time Limited 4x4, for me (needed here).
US liquid gallon = 3.78541 Litre's
( 1 US Gallon = 4.122 Litre's )
( and 1 Canadian Dollar equals 0.74 US Dollar )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Therefore - In S/W Ontario, we pay the equivalent of $5.57/US gallon
I've owned 4x4's for 25 years, and they all have been with part-time Hi-Lo transfer cases / and live in a Canadian snow belt.
- I have plowed through 2 feet deep parking lots (for fun), with a 1990 Chev. pickup / never lost traction
- drove a 1989 Nissan Pathfinder, easily through 8" wet snow slush
- driving arrow straight @ 65 mph, without swaying or fish-tailing
I've never had a winter accident, and drove past lots of vehicles that ended up in the ditch sideways.
IMPO - I don't need Full Time 4WD and the lower gas mileage associated with it / equaling higher operating costs.
- my wife drives a 2008 RAV4 Limited, 4x4 (part-time under 25 MPH), v6
- our son drives a 2015 Lexus RX350, AWD, v6
- and I drive a 2000 4Runner SR5, 4x4 (part-time), v6 / plus a 1998 Silverado 3/4 ton pickup, 4x4 (part-time), v8
I like using 2WD, most of the year / if one of my part-time 4x4 vehicles isn't adequate enough, time to stay off the roads.
- but sound winter driving skills (started learning, from the age of 16), Trumps or overcomes many weather elements & severe road conditions / even driving on gravel roads, is a lost art (did it in my youth, @ 90 mph)
- all acquired skill sets, of judgement & good pro-actions
- and not reactions to chaotic driving manners, in inclement weather
I'd take a new SR5 part-time 4x4, if it had Leather seats / but no full-time Limited 4x4, for me (needed here).
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ts01-4Runner
New member
Makes sense to me.
After decades driving upstate NY/New England in a boatload of Subarus, a CRV, a 4Runner and a Pathfinder with similar 4WD system, all I can say is WINTER TIRES.
But with the right tires, full time AWD as in my current manual Subaru Crosstrek and my wife's 3.6R Outback seems better than having to switch in and out of 4WD in my older 4Runner. (Not a fan of the new electronic system in the CVT equipped Subarus - seems like a step back to the CRV system).
A newer 4Runner could be in the future - in which case the tip to the Limited for full-time 4WD is very helpful.
I purchased a 2016 TEP on Saturday, and we got about 4-6 inches of new snow overnight last night. I know it is still on stock tires, but I am enormously disappointed in the snow traction and handling, even in 4HI. I'm calling the dealer this afternoon to see how much I'm going to get reamed on swapping it out for a Limited. Stupid mistake, but after this morning, the TEP is not a vehicle I will feel confident driving in winter conditions.
If the Limited switch is prohibitive, I'll be taking the bus in the winter until I can afford to make the upgrade.
If the Limited switch is prohibitive, I'll be taking the bus in the winter until I can afford to make the upgrade.
Saker
Senior Member
It's your tires, not the TEP !
NYT4R
Banned
I agree with your statement about the 5th gen vs old versions. I loved my 4th gen and I miss it everyday. I traded it in for a 5th gen. I wish I hadnt. Theres much good to say about the 5th gen, but......
The tires definitely play a part, but the primary issue is that you have to compromise between handling and traction. If you want to be able to steer the vehicle without the front wheels skipping along, fighting your turn tooth and nail, you have to stick with RWD and pray there's adequate traction to keep you from coming to a standstill with your wheels spinning. And then you pop it into 4HI and the thing jumps sideways on you and damn near takes out a mailbox.
I should also make it clear I'm not blaming the car, I made the choice to buy the Trail instead of the Limited, but for the way I use the vehicle, where I drive, and the snow performance I expect, I made a mistake. I'm sure for deep snow off roading, the TEP is the superior vehicle, but I felt like it performed worse than my 2000 Nissan Xterra on snowpacked and slushy roads, and that only had the stock BFG Rugged Trails. I won't even bother comparing it to my Outback with Hakkapellittas.
I love the 4Runner, it's a great vehicle for my needs, but only with the full time 4WD drive train. As it is now I have a $40,000 truck that I don't feel safe driving 5 months a year. This will turn out to be an expensive mistake.
Anyone want to buy a Blue 2016 TEP with KDSS? It only has 74 miles on it. Haha.
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