How much under steer are you guys experiencing? 4+ inches of snow.

[2014Runner]

What's up guys? I'm riding on the stock tire in my '14 SR5 and while driving through around 4 inches of snow last night, I was experiencing tons of understeer with 4wd on.

Is this normal? The amount of understeer is significantly more than I ever experienced in my '08 Wrangler or '05 Pathfinder or '98 Pathfinder.. Usually with 4wd engaged in these SUVs if you give it a decent amount of gas, it maintains the steering path without a problem with plenty of snow on the road.

What have you guys experienced? Should I be shopping for new tires?

 

[thebwlife]

You need better tires.

 

[Ryan1975]

You need better tires.

This.

 

[JB.]

What's up guys? I'm riding on the stock tire in my '14 SR5 and while driving through around 4 inches of snow last night, I was experiencing tons of understeer with 4wd on.

Is this normal? The amount of understeer is significantly more than I ever experienced in my '08 Wrangler or '05 Pathfinder or '98 Pathfinder.. Usually with 4wd engaged in these SUVs if you give it a decent amount of gas, it maintains the steering path without a problem with plenty of snow on the road.

What have you guys experienced? Should I be shopping for new tires?

Since you include the Wrangler, which I presume never came with full-time 4wd, then it must be tires.

 

[jrandom]

A lot less than my 3rd gen and 100 times less than my old 89 STD dlx.

I'll say it too... get better tires

 

[diverscale]

Here everyone puts winter tires during winter, so we seem to forget how much difference there is between 4seasons and real winter tires.

Well, in the beginning of this winter, I hadn't put my winter tires and a snowstorm fell, everything was ''ok'', but during the snowstorm, I went home and put my winter tires on, oh my god the difference it made!

 

[2014Runner]

Tire shopping it is! Lol... How many miles til the stock ones wear down? Hmmm might just stick this winter out and get a good set before next winter along with a small lift.

Annoying that I just bought the truck and the tires suck ass.. Guess the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows after all :frusty::frusty:

 

[blizz86]

Tire shopping it is! Lol... How many miles til the stock ones wear down? Hmmm might just stick this winter out and get a good set before next winter along with a small lift.

Annoying that I just bought the truck and the tires suck ass.. Guess the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows after all :frusty::frusty:

Stock dunlops prob have around 25-30k. Might as well get them now if it means your safety.

 

[Jeremy556]

Tire shopping it is! Lol... How many miles til the stock ones wear down?

Kind of like that other age old question that no one knows the answer to, how long do roosters live?

Having now run 265 and 285 Duratracs, the 265s were much better in bad weather. The 285s tend to float on top of snow and ice and have much less steering stability.

 

[jrandom]

Just sell your stock tires while they're still new. The tire dealer, if their worth a dip, will give you a decent rate for them since they are brand new, if not sell them on craigslist, you should be able to easily get between $300-400 for them.

 

[2014Runner]

Kind of like that other age old question that no one knows the answer to, how long do roosters live?

Having now run 265 and 285 Duratracs, the 265s were much better in bad weather. The 285s tend to float on top of snow and ice and have much less steering stability.

That makes a lot of sense. Skinnier tire slices through, wider goes over. BFG A/T is most likely the route I'll go.

Same size as stock - I have read about some rubbing issues (prefer not to trim but will if I have to).. What have you guys experienced with the BFG A/T?

 

[NSW550]

I get the same under steer in my stock tires too. They suck! I'm going to get new tires eventually. I wish I would have made a deal with the dealer for new tires or a swap. I had 295 nitto trail grapplers on my expedition when I traded it in and loved those tires.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

That makes a lot of sense. Skinnier tire slices through, wider goes over. BFG A/T is most likely the route I'll go.

Same size as stock - I have read about some rubbing issues (prefer not to trim but will if I have to).. What have you guys experienced with the BFG A/T?

Skinny tires put more weight on a smaller surface area giving you more grip in slippery conditions. Stock tire on the runner suck. As everyone said, get new tires. I drove around today in the snow and had 0 under-steer. Sell your tires on CL and you will do much better than trading them in. BFG AT is a good tire, but they are a very old desighn and honestly there are other tires that are much more updated and will offer better traction in most scenarios. I would check out tires like the Cooper A/T3 or ATP, Duratracs (if you want more aggressive tread) or the Hankook Dynapro ATM. All of these tires are awesome and will get you through the snow without issue. (not talking s about the BFG I just feel that they are outdated and better choices do exist at this point) If you like you current gas millage then I would stick with the stock size. My current tires are great and I have only lost about 1mpg with the E rating. Good luck what ever you decide....tire buying is one of my favorite things.

 

[nevada]

That makes a lot of sense. Skinnier tire slices through, wider goes over. BFG A/T is most likely the route I'll go.

Same size as stock - I have read about some rubbing issues (prefer not to trim but will if I have to).. What have you guys experienced with the BFG A/T?

I just went wheeling on my 12 year old, 60% tread BFG A/T's. while I did have to get pulled/winched up the steepest hills, I was able to move around surprisingly well in the ice and snow. we got up to about 15" or so at one point..
I was able to go places I did not expect to be able to. i cant imagine what they would have been like when new.
i love these tires.

 

[Mike-1972]

What's up guys? I'm riding on the stock tire in my '14 SR5 and while driving through around 4 inches of snow last night, I was experiencing tons of understeer with 4wd on.

Is this normal? The amount of understeer is significantly more than I ever experienced in my '08 Wrangler or '05 Pathfinder or '98 Pathfinder.. Usually with 4wd engaged in these SUVs if you give it a decent amount of gas, it maintains the steering path without a problem with plenty of snow on the road.

What have you guys experienced? Should I be shopping for new tires?

I have relatively new General Tire Grabber AT/2s (265/70R17s) and I seem to be experiencing more understeer on slippery surfaces in 4WD than I was running all seasons on my '98 Pathfinder - then the traction control feature kicks in (rat-tat-tat).

Hard to know how much without a side by side comparison (and I won't say it's impossible I'm wrong since it's been a year since I had the PF out in the snow) but it just seems that way to me.

 

[jrandom]

Same size as stock - I have read about some rubbing issues (prefer not to trim but will if I have to).. What have you guys experienced with the BFG A/T?

I have stock size BFG AT's, on TE stock rims, at stock height, I only getting rub at full lock + a good compression, otherwise none at all. I have a Trail, so I cannot speak of other trims, I do not know if there are any liner/fender flare differences in size.

 

[Quentin]

Pshh, I leave my 4Runner in RWD with the T/C and S/C off and dorrrrifto everywhere!

But really, I was pretty happy with my stock Bridgestones in the snow. They were predictable and had pretty good traction. I haven't noticed my GY Wrangler AT Silent Armor being much better, honestly.

 

[jrandom]

Pshh, I leave my 4Runner in RWD with the T/C and S/C off and dorrrrifto everywhere!

:tongue: :driving: yeehaa!

 

[eddiebx]

Pshh, I leave my 4Runner in RWD with the T/C and S/C off and dorrrrifto everywhere!

But really, I was pretty happy with my stock Bridgestones in the snow. They were predictable and had pretty good traction. I haven't noticed my GY Wrangler AT Silent Armor being much better, honestly.

You reminded me of the time I thought it was a good idea to turn off traction control in my RWD car with low profile summer tires during an unexpected snow storm, just so I could have some "fun" in the parking lot. That fun consisted of me spinning out of control and sliding helplessly at the light pole for about a good 50-100 ft until my car finally decided to stop a few feet away from the pole. Talk about white knuckle driving :help:



Question for you guys...this is my first 4WD vehicle, and I noticed that when I have the t-case locked, I'm actually able to get it to over steer in the snow w/o issue. Granted I haven't exactly tried it out at any speeds above 10-20 mph, but isn't over steer normal in this case? (I have GY Duratrac tires on, if that matters)

Only time I've ever experienced gas pedal induced under steered in the snow is with FWD vehicles.

 

[jrandom]

In 4wd your front tires (lol or singular tire with the least amount of traction) are now pulling you through a corner while the rear(s) are/is still pushing. Pulling is a bit harder than pushing so the back end catches up slightly easier. So the front pull gives you traction in your steer but the tail still wants to travel the direction of momentum since it is a tad bit stronger than the pull. It makes sense in my head I hope I described it understandably.