Deep Snow Tire Experience?

[flyinhawaiian01]

Honestly, why anyone with a stock 4 runner would want to try fording 18 inches of snow is beyond me. The 4runner has less than 10" of clearance, data below is from the '16 runner's brochure"

4Runner encourages you to take on the toughest trails. Up to 9.6 inches of ground clearance, an approach angle of 33 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees on 4Runner Trail help keep the adventure going.

So, no matter what tire you have on it, if it digs in just once, you will be sittin' there dangling your wheels in 4 big ol' holes!

But hey! If y'all think a snow tire or mud terrain will getcha through it, more power to ya! Just make sure to post vids of it!

Less than 18 inches:

 

[trex9K]

Honestly, why anyone with a stock 4 runner would want to try fording 18 inches of snow is beyond me. The 4runner has less than 10" of clearance, data below is from the '16 runner's brochure"

I have ventured miles through 18"+ in a stock TEP with the stock tires without getting stuck.

 

[Jetboy]

For really deep snow - the lower the ground pressure the better. So the biggest widest tire you can find is going to be best. After that - you want something that has lots of siping and won't dig. Old Dick Cepek Fun Country are probably the best tire ever sold in the USA for deep snow. Arctic trucks has some special made tires now that are very similar but more like a winter tire tread in a big 44" size. Not sure if you can get them in the USA or in a smaller size.

In my land cruiser with 39" tires at 3psi I can ride on top of most snow conditions. I've literally driven over top of forest service campground buildings that were disappeared under snow. Of course didn't damage them, but the snow was at least 10 feet deep maybe more. Once the snow gets more than 8ish inches - tall skinny tires are no longer worthwhile. You want big wide floaty tires.

I've also heard that Super Swamper Trixus MT tires are pretty good in snow - but that's usually in a big size too.

 

[Peyto]

Honestly, why anyone with a stock 4 runner would want to try fording 18 inches of snow is beyond me. The 4runner has less than 10" of clearance, data below is from the '16 runner's brochure"

4Runner encourages you to take on the toughest trails. Up to 9.6 inches of ground clearance, an approach angle of 33 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees on 4Runner Trail help keep the adventure going.

So, no matter what tire you have on it, if it digs in just once, you will be sittin' there dangling your wheels in 4 big ol' holes!

But hey! If y'all think a snow tire or mud terrain will getcha through it, more power to ya! Just make sure to post vids of it!

Less than 18 inches:

It would essentially depend on the snow type. 18" of a freshly fallen "champagne powder" is no problem for a stock T4R, but 18" of a settled and hard snowpack like in the picture you posted would be much more challenging.

 

[Jhalko]

Why do I have an urge to pour some Baileys in a cup of coffee and head for the couch? Seems much better than wheeling in nearly two feet of snow.

:tea:

 

[trex9K]

It would essentially depend on the snow type. 18" of a freshly fallen "champagne powder" is no problem for a stock T4R, but 18" of a settled and hard snowpack like in the picture you posted would be much more challenging.

I did it in wet heavy snow and I didn't get stuck. But I was probably pushing my luck!

 

[Wild Duck]

BFG A/T KO 2's, 15psi up to 3'-0" in some drifts dry snow some packed snow and ice. They did great, I'm waiting until later in the season to see how they do on packed older snow.

 

[tigger]

Okay, while you guys fight over which tires are good in snow, I'll state my claim that ProComp X-Terrains suck bawls in deep snow! 15" snow base on a forest road that became blocked with a tree. Tried to turn around and as soon as it got sideways on this skinny road, cliff behind, hill in front, all those pieces of crap wanted to do was slide sideways!

These are them:

I now return you to your banter, carry on!

I have had the exact opposite experience as Chris with the X-Terrains. Maybe because his were on a pickup and mine on a Jeep, but they got me in this far...

 

[Land_Shark]

I have ventured miles through 18"+ in a stock TEP with the stock tires without getting stuck.

??? maybe you mean 18cm...

52 posts in less than 2 weeks.....about 4 a day....interesting

 

[trex9K]

BFG A/T KO 2's, 15psi up to 3'-0" in some drifts dry snow some packed snow and ice. They did great, I'm waiting until later in the season to see how they do on packed older snow.

Was that the very grippy type of snow?

 

[1engineer]

I think there area lot of liars in this thread. I have driven in deep snow for 35 years. Every winter we get several big snows.

Driving in 8-12" of Heavy wet snow is tough regardless of tires. The best tire is a wide, well siped tire. AT tread pattern is the best compromise because too aggressive digs in trying to find bottom and summer tread will not allow the vehicle to make purchase on the snow.

12-16" of snow is extremely difficult to drive in, especially in tight quarters like on a tree lined dirt road or in traffic on the highway. You only have around 10" of ground clearance. At any speed your tires are trying to climb the snow and it is constant fight. Any turns are slow and laborious. The drag is terrible because the entire drivetrain is getting pushed through the snow. When close to 16" high centering is a real possibility. This is when the frame and suspension components ride up onto the snow and "lighten" the ground pressure on the tires. When this happens you are well and truly stuck and the only cure is getting pulled out or shoveling.

18" of snow is above the center cap of the wheels. You are pushing snow with the lower part of the front bumper. You can only drive in this depth for a short time before having to back up and hit it again as you constantly ride up on the snow and start spinning. I am in 4LO at this depth.

22"+ of snow means you are walking. Sure you can blast through a drift for a few feet but we are talking about continuous driving of untouched snow. I have had to park the vehicle at this depth and walk the last 1/2 mile home. The drag from the snow becomes higher than the vehicle's tractive effort and you spin. 22" is up on the doors.

Now, snow in the west is different. Less moisture content means the snow is dry and powder and has much less drag than the heavy wet snow we get here in the east. I would think you could go through a lot deeper snow out there.

The BEST thing you can do to go through deep snow is 1) have a wide tire 2) have a lot of sipes in your tread and 3) air down. Even then you can't go much past 16" of heavy wet snow before you start to lift and high center the vehicle which means stuck.

Now here's the problem: You have a wide tire with lots of sipes. How does that work when you hit hard packed snow that has turned to ice? Not well. Now a narrow tire works best with a winter tire tread and lots of sipes. You want a higher ground pressure.

At the end of the day winter driving requires you to drive in all winter conditions from deep snow to hard pack icy snow. A winter tire like the Michelin or similar will be the best all around performer.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I have had the exact opposite experience as Chris with the X-Terrains. Maybe because his were on a pickup and mine on a Jeep, but they got me in this far...

LOL! Now, weren't you with me that day we followed Zach up that trail?

And I'm surprised you posted a pic of that heep on t4r!!! Jus' kiddin'!!!!

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I think there area lot of liars in this thread. I have driven in deep snow for 35 years. Every winter we get several big snows.

LOL! Can't agree with you more! I think everyone here is thinking completely different scenarios! 18" of snow on a road that's been packed down is really not 18" of snow!

And airing down is definitely key here, but we know that there are a lot of folks who think airing down is a pointless waste of time! As soon as I hit the trail, I pull over, screw my Staun deflaters on and wait till I'm at 12psi.

In case anyone wants to disprove airing down gives you better traction, here's a little photo for you:

And another:

Of course, this should be in another thread altogether, but since you mentioned it, I thought I'd post to back that theory up.

 

[Desert_Runner]

Interesting, I am just now getting into 4wheeling and I really had no clue that people aired THAT far down. WOW.

 

[1engineer]

Interesting, I am just now getting into 4wheeling and I really had no clue that people aired THAT far down. WOW.

Bead Locks.

 

[Intruder]

I've wheeled in deep snow once or twice. My MT/Rs aired way down are the best choice for deep snow because the treads act as little paddles and self-clean. Any good MT tire will be better in snow because it's so similar to driving in mud. Airing way down is key so that you float on top of the snow instead of digging in. You also want to keep steady momentum and speed instead of jamming on the skinny pedal and digging in to the point where you're high centred or that you polish the snow into ice.

Of course, the problem with MT tires is that while they're good in deep snow they have the traction of a hockey puck on hard packed snow and ice. An AT tire like the Duratrac or my Nokian Rotiivas will do better in those conditions because of the siping, but they don't self clean as well in mud and deep snow.

No matter what if the snow is deep you will eventually get stuck regardless of the tires you're running, which is when it pays not to be wheeling alone. This is a Land Cruiser on 37s locked front and rear and aired down to something like 8 psi. Only the winch is getting him out of that.

DSC_3284.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr

 

[badhabits]

Speaking of bead locks this looks interesting.

How the Coyote Enterprises, Dual, Internal, Pneumatic Beadlock works

 

[jasonv]

No, everyone does not. I'm going to keep saying it, those tires have a good rep because they cost an arm and a leg and everyone who buys them wants them to be awesome so that's what they tell everybody else. They are in fact distinctly average when it comes to AT tires on snowy roads.

In deep stuff they're a little better, but again, not as awesome as their price tag would indicate. For an AT tire in hub-deep snow I'll take my ST Maxx over my Duratracs any day. I've never owned a set but I'd take Nevada's AT/KOs too.

his opinion. your opinion. why would we weight either opinion higher than the other? no one has presented any evidence.

 

[nb rob]

No mention of chains for deep snow?

My 4r is a daily driver, so no wide tires for me. I need something that's going to perform well on icy/slushy roads. Occasionally deep snow.
My pickup truck days lead me down a long road of narrow, well-siped tires-- the ones the plow guys use and recommend.

For deeeeep snow, tire chains are amazing. Although I haven't used them on my 4r yet. A bit of research and a bit of gawking tells me that they will fit the rear only, unless some significant spacers are used up front.

Anyone here use chains?

 

[KidVermicious]

his opinion. your opinion. why would we weight either opinion higher than the other? no one has presented any evidence.

You shouldn't, and when the fawk did I say you should? Don't call me out and then put words in my mouth.

I'm just objecting to the idea that "everyone knows Duratracs are awesome". I spent the extra money on Duratracs because "everyone knows they're awesome", and they definitely aren't.