My 2007 4 runner sliding in street snow

[jon9]

I bought in September a 2007 4 runner limited with 18" wheels (265 60R 18). I drove it for the first time in about 8 inches of snow on local streets where I live. I put the SUV into 4 wheel hi, differential unlocked, and still the SUV was sliding around turns, as well as when braking or accelerating. I was driving at normal snow speeds..slow. I also have on the SUV Blizack snow tires. Any help about what to do?

This is my first 4wd vehicle. I also have a Volvo XC 70 with all wheel drive. I took the volvo out in the same snow and it handled much better than my 4 runner.

 

[jon9]

How to stop sliding in street snow with T4R?

I have a 2007 Toyota 4 runner LTD. It has 18" wheels and P265/60R18 Blizack snow tires. It is still sliding bad in street snow in Denver. What can I do to stop the sliding?

Should I drop the wheel size and get some other tires? If so, what suggestions on wheel sizes and tires might anyone have? I go up to the mountains and ski, but I'm not an off roader.

 

[MT4runner]

well i deal with snow on a daily basis (in the winter) and going up to the local ski resort at least twice a week, my trick is to take it easy.... simply as that. dont slam on the brakes and dont get on the throttle so much. especially in a corner.
anti-lock? who needs anti-lock '' "old school" all the way. lol.

 

[Even Steven]

Re: How to stop sliding in street snow with T4R?

I have a 2007 Toyota 4 runner LTD. It has 18" wheels and P265/60R18 Blizack snow tires. It is still sliding bad in street snow in Denver. What can I do to stop the sliding?

Should I drop the wheel size and get some other tires? If so, what suggestions on wheel sizes and tires might anyone have? I go up to the mountains and ski, but I'm not an off roader.

What do you mean by "sliding" in street snow? Are you having problems stopping (sliding around) or are you having a lack of traction to get started?

Do you have 4wd? If you do, and you have Blizzaks on it, then I'd say that's about as good as it's gonna get for traction, unless you want to get studded snow tires.

 

[jon9]

2007 T4R Sliding in street snow

By sliding I mean poor traction, taking a turn onto a street (at slow snow speeds) the back end is slipping, and when I put on the brake the T4R keeps going. Yea, i am not a big fan of ABS.

I have a 2001 Volvo XC70 with 16" wheels and Nokian WR tires. I have no trouble in the snow with it. I just bought this 4 Runner in September as second winter vehicle.

 

[Even Steven]

Re: 2007 T4R Sliding in street snow

By sliding I mean poor traction, taking a turn onto a street (at slow snow speeds) the back end is slipping, and when I put on the brake the T4R keeps going. Yea, i am not a big fan of ABS.

Don't know what to tell you....I have no such problems driving in snow. If anything, your VSA should stop the back end from sliding in low-traction conditions.

How many times have you experienced this problem? Maybe you were driving on a snowy road with ice under the snow?

 

[jon9]

TR4 sliding in snow

It's happening every time I drive it in snow. What size rims and tires do you have on your T4R?

 

[MT4runner]

im running 31/10.50/15 goodyear wranglers. they seem to do fine. i could use a set of winter tread and studded but oh well... i've only noticed anti-lock helping on dry pavement anyway, never in the snow, it seems to take up all the cars power.

 

[magnumfan]

Tires

Hey Guy

this single item has been discussed many times on these boards.

the OEM tires that Toyta ships with the T4R are mostly junk.

You didnt say what you have on it, but if they are 18''s I can tell you the lowest cost, good value all terrain tire out there (that I found) is the Bridgestone Revo, I just put 5 of them on my 06 v6 Limited (also 18'') I paid $150 each for them, the BFG A/T is probably the best all terrain tire on the market, but in 18'' it is a $240 - $250 tire. (but a $140 tire in 17'')

I would swap my tires out. depending on where you live, if your in snow most of the year I would put snow tires on it, if your in seasonal snow, then you need to decide what to do.

good luck, in my opinion the T4R has an awsome 4x4 system. all you should ever do in snow is just put yours in 4HI, if you lock the center diff you turn off the VSC system (not good in snow, in my opinion - unless you want to spin tires for fun)

regs

joe

 

[magnumfan]

follow this thread and read it

this should help you decide what to do

in one of the posts, I included links to a couple of video's of T4Rs off road solving a very complex and hard problem for any 4x4 to do, and the T4R does it very well

other 4X4s could do the same (Chevy, Ford, Jeep, etc), but with thousands of dollars of mods to their drive lines

all the best

joe

 

[magnumfan]

link...

Sorry got distracted

here is the link

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33445&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

joe

 

[westwind1124a]

Jon9,

"I was driving at normal snow speeds..slow. I also have on the SUV Blizack snow tires. Any help about what to do?"

Very Strange! I have been critical of certain aspects of my 4Runner for the two years that I have had it(mostly nit-picky things of a QA nature). However, I can't say enough about the vehicle while driving in snowy conditions. Even with old Dunlops I never have any problems in the snow. Not to point out the obvious, but I would keep in mind that a 4runner sits a lot higher than your Volvo and it probably handles a lot different. I've heard that the xc70 is great in the snow also, being AWD and very low to the ground(compared to a 4Runner).

Probably not much help, just a thought.

 

[jon9]

T4R snow sliding

Hey Joe,

Thanks for the reply about my 2007 T4R Ltd sliding in the snow. I live in Colorado, so have lot of snow here. I swapped out the OEM P265/60R18 Dueler AT's that were on the vehicle and put Blizack snow tires (same size). Even in 4x4 hi with the snow tires the vehicle is still sliding. Feels like its floating on top of the snow instead of getting traction.

Another guy from the forum said that the 18" wheels are too big and are not getting enough traction, and that I should drop wheel size down to 16" and get a 235/80R16 tire.

When I called the Toyota dealer they told me not to change wheel size because because the computers are callibrated to the wheel size. I don't know..maybe i'm just nuts. Ive been driving in snow for 30+ years. Any ideas?

 

[magnumfan]

Re: T4R snow sliding

Hey Joe,

Thanks for the reply about my 2007 T4R Ltd sliding in the snow. I live in Colorado, so have lot of snow here. I swapped out the OEM P265/60R18 Dueler AT's that were on the vehicle and put Blizack snow tires (same size). Even in 4x4 hi with the snow tires the vehicle is still sliding. Feels like its floating on top of the snow instead of getting traction.

Another guy from the forum said that the 18" wheels are too big and are not getting enough traction, and that I should drop wheel size down to 16" and get a 235/80R16 tire.

When I called the Toyota dealer they told me not to change wheel size because because the computers are callibrated to the wheel size. I don't know..maybe i'm just nuts. Ive been driving in snow for 30+ years. Any ideas?

Hi Jon, nice to meet you. In reply to your questions I would say this:
1. Tire size has nothing to do with traction in snow. Its all about the tire itself. I am a bit perplexed that the blizztrack is giving you issues, I just looked at them and they look like a good snow tire. If rim size was an issue with traction, how would trucks and road crew equipment manage with their realy big wheels. I would go and talk to the guys at my local tire shop.

2. You CANNOT put 16'' rims on a Limited T4R, because the Ltd has big disc brakes on it, you can put 17''s on it though. I disagree with our freind at Toyota, if you put rims and tires on you T4R that are 17'' with the same external circumference as the 18'' (meaning the overall circumference of the wheel is the same as your 18'') then it will not mess up the cars computer calibration. The other thing, is if the toyota people knew their stuff, and you went to a 17'' rim, they could just recalibrate your computer to the same as a T4R Sport (that has 17'' rims) and it would all work. I think, either the toyota guy, 1. didnt know what he was talking about, or 2. didnt want to do the work to figure it out. He is right that if you put a wheel rim combination on that was different to the external circumference of what the T4R shipped with, you would have a problem, if you didnt recalibrate.

I just think he was either wrong or lazy

just my 0.2 cents

happy new year and good luck with your tires

Joe

 

[magnumfan]

correction...

Jon, I just realized I did say one thing that is misleading here.

Tire size does effect snow traction. If you have very wide tires, they can get a feeling like they are foating on the snow, but at 265 your tires are not that wide. What I meant to say, is that the height of your rims (16 or 17 or 18) has no effect on snow traction

I would talk to the folks who you bought the blizztracks from and see what they think. You do have Blizztracks on all 4 wheels right?

joe

 

[Falls]

Strange , I just haul in in snow and covered roads and I have tires with 37k on them. I would think you would not any problems with the Bridgestone Bizz., I always heard they were great in snow. With my tires I do notice I have to take corners pretty slow , the front end pushes and slides because of the tires being worn I guess.

Also the type of snow and its moisture content has a lot to do with how the truck will handle. I can notice some snow or road conditions will grip much better or much worse than others.

 

[jon9]

TR4 Sliding

Hey Joe,

Thanks for your help! As you can tell, I have an obsession about winter tires and traction. I've lived in snow country all my life. A brand of snow tire that I use on my Volvo XC 70 is called Nokian. I get awesome traction with these tires on road in snow. Nokian has a snow tire called Hakkapeliita Sport Utility 5. This tire is from Finland. They test them in the artic circle. A local dealer will have them in 3 weeks. So, I might get some and sell the Blizacks.

Otherwise, maybe I'll check out the Bridgestone Revo's...like u recommended.

All the best!

 

[Even Steven]

Am I having a case of deja vu here, or is this not the same thread started by jon9 from the other day?

Anyway, I'm starting to wonder if there's a problem with your 4Runner. If you are slipping and sliding so much in the snow, why isn't your VSC, ATRAC, ABS kicking in like crazy? I see no mention of that at all in your posts, just that your rear end is sliding out in snow, etc....

Like others have said, my 4Runner feels like a tank in the snow. Very sure-footed and planted, as long as I drive reasonably. If I do decide to try something stupid, the electronics are there to straighten everything out quickly.

 

[magnumfan]

Re: TR4 Sliding

Hey Joe,

Thanks for your help! As you can tell, I have an obsession about winter tires and traction. I've lived in snow country all my life. A brand of snow tire that I use on my Volvo XC 70 is called Nokian. I get awesome traction with these tires on road in snow. Nokian has a snow tire called Hakkapeliita Sport Utility 5. This tire is from Finland. They test them in the artic circle. A local dealer will have them in 3 weeks. So, I might get some and sell the Blizacks.

Otherwise, maybe I'll check out the Bridgestone Revo's...like u recommended.

All the best!

Hey Jon, the Revo is NOT a snow tire, its a xover, mud/snow/off road/on road combo tire. In theory it should be worse than your Blizztrack. I use it because I drive in some snow, some ice, a lot of dirt but mostly highway. (I have a 150 mile commute to the office, I dont do it every day). I agree with what Even Steven said, your VSC system should be alarming like crazy if you are experiencing what your saying. My VSC system works well in Snow/Ice

Joe

 

[rook]

Re: TR4 Sliding

Hey Joe,

Thanks for your help! As you can tell, I have an obsession about winter tires and traction. I've lived in snow country all my life. A brand of snow tire that I use on my Volvo XC 70 is called Nokian. I get awesome traction with these tires on road in snow. Nokian has a snow tire called Hakkapeliita Sport Utility 5. This tire is from Finland. They test them in the artic circle. A local dealer will have them in 3 weeks. So, I might get some and sell the Blizacks.

Otherwise, maybe I'll check out the Bridgestone Revo's...like u recommended.

All the best!

I have Hakka 5's and am happy with them. They provide great snow traction with good dry road handling. I am wondering, though why your Blizzaks are not performing well. They should outperform any other snow tire due to the special microcell compound in the outer half of the tread.

Have the tire dealer check the Blizzaks, maybe there is something wrong with the tread. Also, make sure they are mounted in the right direction, maybe that would account for some of the ill snow handling.