97 4 cyl 2wd AT... suggestions?

[AnotherHat]

Ok, I'm sure everyone is wondering "Why would anyone have a gutless T4R without any of the fun stuff...?"
Personally, I own an '07 4WD V8 T4R Sport, but my daughter is about to inherit her grandparent's '97 2WD 4cyl w/automatic trans and about 110k. She'll be taking it to college in NY (near Albany). No indoor parking. It was a CA car originally. If I could send her with the 4WD I'd feel better, but I need to keep the V8 to haul my horse trailer and can't afford a new one at this point. Any safety suggestions to help her keep traction in the winter weather? It needs tires and has front bumper/grill damage (cosmetic) that we may or may not fix... Other than that, it runs great.

 

[IanV]

When I lived in Wisconsin we would throw either bags of sand or buckets of salt in the back of our vehicle to keep the rear wheels weighed down. Then if you get stuck you have the salt or sand there too. That's my only suggestion to keep from getting squirrely in the snow.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Ok, I'm sure everyone is wondering "Why would anyone have a gutless T4R without any of the fun stuff...?"

I didn't wonder at all, it was cheap and it's a great, reliable truck. Still very capable, too.

Being the owner of a 99 4cyl 2wd. It's all I had to work with, bought it when I turned 17, and I wouldn't trade it for a new Mercedes. (well another one...)

Sure, there's way cooler ones out there since they have 4wd and stuff, but this is mine and it's a part of me I say your daughter's got a cool ride!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3045612

 

[brian2sun]

Any safety suggestions to help her keep traction in the winter weather? It needs tires and has front bumper/grill damage (cosmetic) that we may or may not fix... Other than that, it runs great.

Good snow tires make a big difference in the winter. The severe winter service tires with the snowflake/mtn. emblem on them are the best - Goodyear Duratracs and Dunlop Maxx Tractions are a couple. These are very aggressive looking tires, I don't know if she'd be in to that or not. Bridgestone Blizzaks look a lot more subtle but also do excellent in the snow and have the severe service rating too.

Depending on if local laws allow them or not, chains are going to give her the best traction in the snow. Even with great snow tires, 2wds around here don't leave the house for days at a time if they don't have chains.

 

[Tomsriv]

I had one set of tires on mine that almost killed me. Don't use Cooper trendsetters in wet weather. I spun out with these tires getting on the freeway. I switched to Kumho tires in the rear and I'm pleased with them. If I'm stopping slightly harder than normal in wet weather the Coopers on the front will lock up, but the Kumhos still grip. Luckily I live in So. Cal so it almost never rains here.
I noticed Children of Boredom switched to 16" wheels. This will give it better grip that the 15" wheels. But it will also reduce the power as the taller tires will increase the final drive ratio.

 

[AnotherHat]

Thanks, I'll skip the Cooper tires! Meanwhile, I'll put chains on the shopping list and make her practice putting them on. The only time I ever put on chains I managed to put them on backwards (it was 2 am, on the way to Tahoe in my Accord, and all the guys that "volunteer" to put the townies' chains on for $20 had gone home for the night...), but they worked!

 

[AnotherHat]

I like the idea of the "aggressive" tires, but I don't know what her taste is on that subject. Would these be tires to run year round, or only for the winter? She won't have tire storage.

 

[brian2sun]

The ones I mentioned are all-season tires, they just do exceptionally well in the snow.

 

[JohnsD90]

What college? I will be an hour or 2 out from albany in the fall at SUNY Binghamton. Dont give her the car in the winter months, 4wd is rather necessary in most NY snowstorms to a novice driver, what i do is weigh the back down, i use 4 50lbs bags of wood pellets but i do have 4wd too, but basically anything that is like 200lbs over the rear axle is helpful.

 

[AnotherHat]

I just got a very expensive speeding ticket in Binghamton... 4 lanes wide, straight, open, great visibility, (not posted) 55mph... but I was clocked at 76.
She'll be at Bard, and I'll be avoiding Binghamton!

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I noticed Children of Boredom switched to 16" wheels. This will give it better grip that the 15" wheels. But it will also reduce the power as the taller tires will increase the final drive ratio.

1. It's Children Of Bodom. :guitar3:

2. I switched to from 15" to 16" wheels in October 2008. I have 17" wheels as of February 2010.

There's nothing these 231mm beasts can't handle, either Final drive ratio is still exactly the same, but it takes more power to rotate. When I change internal things, like when I get 4.56's as I planned, final drive will change and it won't be so bad. I'm expecting kickassery. :thumb3:

Where in SoCal are you?