Horrible snow traction!
- Thread starter BlackRunner
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maine runner
New member
Mich X terrain
Eric -
While I don't have the Mich XT, they are shown as a "highway all season tire" as are the Dunlop Grand Trek tires on Tire Rack.
Most of the tires the guys are talking about are considered "On/Off Road, All terrain tires"
While some may say they handle snow well, an all season tire, in my opinion, is not enough for real snow. (we average 100" a season. We got 8" last night and expect 8-12 tomorrow night.
Eric -
While I don't have the Mich XT, they are shown as a "highway all season tire" as are the Dunlop Grand Trek tires on Tire Rack.
Most of the tires the guys are talking about are considered "On/Off Road, All terrain tires"
While some may say they handle snow well, an all season tire, in my opinion, is not enough for real snow. (we average 100" a season. We got 8" last night and expect 8-12 tomorrow night.
Uneek
Super Moderator
lawwailok said:
If it's a couple inches at a time like Tahoe, the CrossTerrains will be fine. I got 8000 miles on mine and I haven't had any traction issues at slow speeds or at highway speeds, 35-45mph, with snow. I was in Tahoe this weekend and it was snowing pretty much most of the day Saturday, nothing particularly heavy though.
The only time I had a bit of challenge was on a steep driveway that was iced over last season. I recall what Thai mentioned in his post about A-TRAC and keeping the RPMs at 1500 and let it work its magic. I was parked at a 90* angle and had to turn the other way to back out of the driveway, took many tries to finally get the 4R's butt pointed in the right direction. That driveway is a total b***h, a 330i slid sideways after it was parked overnight dented its quarter panel from a driveway marker, a WRX slid out of the driveway right after it was parked and a tC couldn't get up the driveway even with chains.
magnumfan
New member
Tahoe snow...
Hey Uneek, I disagree a bit with your idea about how light the snow can be in Tahoe. I do agree it often can be light. But....
I used to work there, which is why I now live in El Dorado Hills, 4 winters ago, we had about a total of 19 feet in south shore, there was so much snow it was completely up the side wall of the building I used to work in. and over one two week period when my chevy tahoe was sitting in the parking lot at work, I was away in China and when I got back it took me and one of my buddies two full days to dig it out, we ended up pulling it out with a tractor from CALTRANS, then the darn doors wouldnt open, the rubber seals had frozen solid.
Also one night also about 3 or 4 seasons ago, I drove into an avalanche just below Echo Summit, there were maybe 40 or 50 cars caught up in it and we had to wait for CALTRANS to come rescue us
fyi, the local forcast for this weekend (Thursday to Sunday) is for several feet up here.
Hey Uneek, I disagree a bit with your idea about how light the snow can be in Tahoe. I do agree it often can be light. But....
I used to work there, which is why I now live in El Dorado Hills, 4 winters ago, we had about a total of 19 feet in south shore, there was so much snow it was completely up the side wall of the building I used to work in. and over one two week period when my chevy tahoe was sitting in the parking lot at work, I was away in China and when I got back it took me and one of my buddies two full days to dig it out, we ended up pulling it out with a tractor from CALTRANS, then the darn doors wouldnt open, the rubber seals had frozen solid.
Also one night also about 3 or 4 seasons ago, I drove into an avalanche just below Echo Summit, there were maybe 40 or 50 cars caught up in it and we had to wait for CALTRANS to come rescue us
fyi, the local forcast for this weekend (Thursday to Sunday) is for several feet up here.
Uneek
Super Moderator
Re: Tahoe snow...
I never drove up to Tahoe knowingly that there will be a big storm. So far, I haven't been caught in a road closure, but I know people who have and their trip from Tahoe back to the Bay Area took over 10 hours. The storm this Thursday will be bad and advisories are calling possible blizzard like conditions with frequent road closures and predicting 5-10' feet of snow. It'll be good times for those that are up there. Most of the time when I go up it's a light dusting, at most a few inches per hour, with hardly anything on the ground and Caltrans still require 2WD vehicles to chain up.
magnumfan said:
I never drove up to Tahoe knowingly that there will be a big storm. So far, I haven't been caught in a road closure, but I know people who have and their trip from Tahoe back to the Bay Area took over 10 hours. The storm this Thursday will be bad and advisories are calling possible blizzard like conditions with frequent road closures and predicting 5-10' feet of snow. It'll be good times for those that are up there. Most of the time when I go up it's a light dusting, at most a few inches per hour, with hardly anything on the ground and Caltrans still require 2WD vehicles to chain up.
I agree with everyone else about the tires. Tires can make any vehicle handle well or handle poorly in snow.
That said, I'm very happy with the 4Runner and the Michelin CT's that came with it. I think it handles great in the snow, although the deepest snow I've seen is no more than maybe 3-4" on unplowed, paved roads - nothing off-road.
That said, I'm very happy with the 4Runner and the Michelin CT's that came with it. I think it handles great in the snow, although the deepest snow I've seen is no more than maybe 3-4" on unplowed, paved roads - nothing off-road.
Koz
New member
The 4X4 4th gen 4Runner is the best vehicle I've ever driven in the snow. Been driving 35 years and I have driven many other SUVs/Pick-ups in the snow. Depending on the condition of the snow and road surface there are limits to traction. Try going up a slight incline of wet grass!
Koz
Koz
Baba Booey
New member
cwest94 said:
The 4Runner has a 4WD system far better than the Auto 4WD in your old Chevy, IMO. With the 4Runner, you either have full-time 4WD with the V8 or you have the capability to drive a V6 in 4WD full-time as well. With this system, you always have a significant amount of power being transferred to both the front and rear wheels at all times (something like up to ~70% to the rear and up to ~45% to the front). When appropriate, locking the center diff will give you an equal split of power from front to rear just like in the Chevy's standard 4WD mode.
My understanding of the Chevy system is that it is basically in 2WD and uses clutch packs when slippage is detected to transfer power from the rear wheels to the front. I don't know what the percentage of power being split from front to rear is, though.
Any time there is even a remote possibility of snow, I put my V6 into 4WD ahead of time and leave it there for days until the snow clears.
cwest94
Member
Baba Booey said:
Yes, GM uses clutch plates to put it in and out of for wheel drive. I"m not sure what the percent was in the rear and front wheels, I wanna say 60% rear and 40% front.
WoW, I didn't know you could just leave the 4Runner in 4x4 mode at all times. My 4Runner is the V6 sport, so your saying it's totally safe to drive at all ranges of different speeds in the 4wheel drive high mode? All my driveing is between 35mph streets and 60mph highway.
Baba Booey
New member
cwest94 said:
Absolutely. The 4Runner is designed to be driven in full-time 4-Hi. The full-time 4WD V8 and multi-mode V6 basically have the exact same 4WD system components. The system utilizes a Torsen center differential that allows the vehicle to be driven in 4WD on any surface at any speed, so long as you do not "lock" the center differential. If you live in a wintry climate, you can activate the 4WD and leave it there all winter. Just be sure to read the manual for the particulars (e.g. shifting into and out of 4WD under 60mph, etc.).
Locking the center differential (switch on the dash to the left of the steering wheel) essentially locks the front and rear driveshafts together so that power is split equally. However, there is now no ability to differentiate between the front and rear axles, and so it should not be driven on dry pavement in this manner. This is basically "old-school" 4x4.
Koz said:
I second that. Different snow's , mud , will make a traction difference no matter what you are driving.
On rural roads and hiway driving I can always drive at least the speed limit if no one else is on the roads and not the slightest worry. ( diff. unlocked and VSC engaged)
If having a snow storm of significant depth ind driving in the city among all the plowed or unplowed piles in the road at I go diff. locked , other wise the VSC will shut me down and I need to power out.
Its is a learning curve with this system , but does do a great job.
swisstype
New member
I have a Ford F350 4WD that I have a plow on. After driving that around all day yesterday in the snow plowing, I was so happy to get back in teh 4R and scoot. That thing really does well in snow. I am running stock tires too... Dunlops, FYI. While they are not the greatest, I can make it through anything. Spend 5 years in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan with a Honda Accord, and you can get through anything.
magnumfan
New member
Auto 4WD
Hey cwest94
Joe Here.
I had the same Chevy and I also loved the Auto 4WD option in my old 99 Tahoe.
Here is the good news, if you have the V8 T4R you are in 4WD all the time, if you have the V6 you can just put it in 4WD all the time, which is very similar but better than the Chevy Auto 4WD. It will have no effect on the T4R, it will just drive fine. (gas milage will probably down slightly - which is why I think they gave us the 2WD option) (and thats exactly why I bought the V6 and not the V8)
Just dont engage your center diff on asphalt road if you are in 4WD. It will cause issues when you corner
I took my V6 up into the El Dorado National Forest near where I live yesterday to play in the snow and mud and drove for probably 40 or 50 miles or so on Asphalt in 4WD at up to highway speeds (where safe), with no issues, on mixed snow, ice and dry road
So the net net, is that you have a better 4WD than your old Chevy could ever be. In my opinion.
regs
Joe
cwest94 said:
Hey cwest94
Joe Here.
I had the same Chevy and I also loved the Auto 4WD option in my old 99 Tahoe.
Here is the good news, if you have the V8 T4R you are in 4WD all the time, if you have the V6 you can just put it in 4WD all the time, which is very similar but better than the Chevy Auto 4WD. It will have no effect on the T4R, it will just drive fine. (gas milage will probably down slightly - which is why I think they gave us the 2WD option) (and thats exactly why I bought the V6 and not the V8)
Just dont engage your center diff on asphalt road if you are in 4WD. It will cause issues when you corner
I took my V6 up into the El Dorado National Forest near where I live yesterday to play in the snow and mud and drove for probably 40 or 50 miles or so on Asphalt in 4WD at up to highway speeds (where safe), with no issues, on mixed snow, ice and dry road
So the net net, is that you have a better 4WD than your old Chevy could ever be. In my opinion.
regs
Joe
Re: Auto 4WD
That is incorrect ! The Chevy has the auto 4wd option which I like but its not the same as running the 4R in 4wd mode. The chevy runs in 2wd until slippage occurs and then the front wheels kick in , on the 4R when you put it in 4wd its actually driving all 4 wheels and the power torsion power distributes the amount between front and back but is alway in 4wd. It does not kick in and out like GM auto 4wd.
magnumfan said:
That is incorrect ! The Chevy has the auto 4wd option which I like but its not the same as running the 4R in 4wd mode. The chevy runs in 2wd until slippage occurs and then the front wheels kick in , on the 4R when you put it in 4wd its actually driving all 4 wheels and the power torsion power distributes the amount between front and back but is alway in 4wd. It does not kick in and out like GM auto 4wd.
steezemcqueen
Moderator
my 1991 pickup is a lot better in the snow than my 3rd gen. but i think that it is mostly due the difference in ground clearance.
P.S. they both have 31x10.5 BFG A/T's
P.S. they both have 31x10.5 BFG A/T's
