Limited stock tires: Yokohama Geolander G96 in snow?

[badburro]

I've only seen one post of someone with some experience with the Geolanders in the snow. I know summer is next week, but would like to know other people's experience with these tires in the snow and ice. I have an opportunity to swap these tires out and get a credit for them, but I have to make a decision within 7 days.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

:surfer:

 

[GP_Pete]

Mine did fine last winter. But i really want something more agressive. I didnt push it too hard on the roads. But i did test it out around the neighborhood first 6+ inch snowfall we got. Tried starting up snowy hill from a dead stop. Fine. Tried stopping hard from 20 mph. Did pretty well. I.e. Didnt make me fear for my life. Tried hitting the gas while cornering at 15 mph. Didnt slide at all. So thats neighborhood driving. That being said i felt it could be improved with better tires

 

[alaskaman]

check out the reviews on Tire Rack.

 

[Bilbo]

Bump.

With all the snow continuing to pile up in the Midwest and New England this winter, I'm just curious about recent experiences with the stock Geolander G96 tires on the Limited. Have they served you well for on-road and mild off-road use, or are you dumping them as soon as possible?

 

[dwm2112]

I swapped the on my wife's Limited after 1 winter. I ended up going to a 17" wheel to increase tire options and put Goodyear Duratracs on.

 

[mattr]

I think it depends on your climate, I did an extended 24hr test drive with them on a Limited before I ordered and decided that I wanted them delivered to me in the trunk. The dealer is mounting 17" with Michelin X-Ice when I take delivery this week. Our roads here are mostly a hardpacked 2-12" layer of ice and snow and trading in an Audi with Blizzak's I wasn't about to cannonball my new ride down the hill in the first week.

 

[BCrunner78]

changed to 17"

Mattr - I did the same thing - got trail rims with Toyo GSI5 - it runs way better on the side streets etc, even better than the wife's audi with pirelli snows.

Did you get a deal on your limited in calgary? I made a painful mistake and got a 2014 sr5 upgrade last year and always regretted it compared to the limited so I went in at end of month and got a '15 limited. Much happier, wife much happier when she drives it. I found I ways always switching the sr5 in/out of 2h and 4h and did a few turns on ice/snow packed roads and heard the grinding plus hearing the dreaded thud from 4h to 2h. Also limited drives way nicer.

 

[mattr]

Mattr - I did the same thing - got trail rims with Toyo GSI5 - it runs way better on the side streets etc, even better than the wife's audi with pirelli snows.

Did you get a deal on your limited in calgary? I made a painful mistake and got a 2014 sr5 upgrade last year and always regretted it compared to the limited so I went in at end of month and got a '15 limited. Much happier, wife much happier when she drives it. I found I ways always switching the sr5 in/out of 2h and 4h and did a few turns on ice/snow packed roads and heard the grinding plus hearing the dreaded thud from 4h to 2h. Also limited drives way nicer.

Nice - I tried to get some TRD Rims but the dealer told me they weren't able to get them. They're putting on Worx Beast wheels so I guess I'll have to get rid of that chrome and stormtrooper it sooner than later. I think I got a pretty decent deal, they came down very close to invoice but made some margin on the extras I added, my wife wanted to add the 7yr/120k platinum warranty (we just had to replace the nav unit on the audi so I think she was worried about electrical stuff), as well as some 3m, rust proof, and the wheels / tires, and weathertechs all with the dealer so I think they made some margin there which got the base price down a little more. I'm really looking forward to the Limited. Coming out of the Audi I knew I would miss some things (a small car with 340hp is the big one) so I thought the Limited would add some nice creature comforts. Agreed - I could see how the selectable part time 4wd would work in a lot of place south of the border but on my drive to work I switch between dry pavement and sleek ice too many times which I think would make it a bit of a pain. We test drove the limited quite a few times and eventually took it home overnight for a longer test and it definitely seemed like the way to go, the X-REAS felt good to me, I expected it to be more similar to my 07 FJ but there was no comparison.

 

[blakjack23]

OP, it would help if you stated where you live. You'll get difference answers from someone in Kentucky vs. Canada.

I'm in MN and the Geolanders serve me well enough that I don't need a dedicated winter set. We get a lot of snow, but for the most part the highways and main streets are plowed in under 24 hours. If I were driving on hard pack snow all winter I'd probably get a dedicated winter set though.

 

[Bilbo]

OP, it would help if you stated where you live. You'll get difference answers from someone in Kentucky vs. Canada.

I'm in MN and the Geolanders serve me well enough that I don't need a dedicated winter set. We get a lot of snow, but for the most part the highways and main streets are plowed in under 24 hours. If I were driving on hard pack snow all winter I'd probably get a dedicated winter set though.

[MENTION=50203]blakjack23[/MENTION] The OP posted about 4 years ago. I was just trying to be a good citizen by resurrecting an old thread rather than starting at new one, lol.

Seriously, I did specify the Midwest and NewEngland 'cause it seems they're measuring snow in feet rather than inches this winter. (Sorry I didn't mention my friends north of the border.) My own experiences in Idaho and the intermountain west have been tame compared what they have been facing.

Good to know that your experience with the Geolanders has been positive.

 

[blakjack23]

[MENTION=50203]blakjack23[/MENTION] The OP posted about 4 years ago. I was just trying to be a good citizen by resurrecting an old thread rather than starting at new one, lol.

Seriously, I did specify the Midwest and NewEngland 'cause it seems they're measuring snow in feet rather than inches this winter. (Sorry I didn't mention my friends north of the border.) My own experiences in Idaho and the intermountain west have been tame compared what they have been facing.

Good to know that your experience with the Geolanders has been positive.

Oops! I didn't even notice this was that old. :bolt:

My tires only have about 4/32nds left also. So I'm surprised they have been as good as they have.

 

[badhabits]

I had the Bridgestones on mine which are about the same as the Geolanders and swapped mine out after the first time I got hung up on level ground in a wet grassy field that was only slightly muddy. You could get around on the stock tires but it is definitely easier with better tires. As to the choice of tires check around on this site there are a lot of suggestions. One thing to check out is find a post by [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] and and check the links in his signature.

:lookout:

 

[perkdog258]

I live in Western NY and I have never had an issue with the Geo's. I replaced with Bridgestone this past summer. Yeah going to 17's would be nice for more options, but once I was honest with my self mine is a daily driver. I want the better fuel economy and durability of an all season tire. I also think the LE drive system make snow travel that much easier. So far the 4runner has been the best driving in the snow I have ever had. Just my opinion though....

 

[ScoMey]

Another MN chime-in...

I'm on my second winter with my Limited's Geolanders... I have to say that I've driven on worse tires in the winter. Way worse. I'm looking at you Firestone Destination LE...

Anyway, they're obviously not great like a dedicated winter tire, but they seem to work OK - I think it helps that they're slightly narrower. Coupled with the Limited's full-time 4WD, they seem to do alright. And, I'm a fairly conservative driver on snow covered roads, YMMV.

That said, I'll be on the hunt for 17's this spring or summer.

-sjm