Really frustrated with snow traction...

M

mattb2003

New member
Well, I went up into the Colorado Mountains this week and had my first real chance to test out the 4Runner in the snow. I have to say that I'm more than disappointed to say the least. I don't remember my old 4Runner being this bad (used to have a 2006 v6 and now have an '07). Going straight, everything is fine, but around every turn, I feel like the back end is going to slip out, and a few times, it even did and the traction control had to kick in. I wasn't even driving fast. I had FWD sedans passing me (I was going about 20mph) and they didn't seem to have any trouble. We just picked up our 4Runner at the end of October and it has brand new Michelin Cross Terrains on it. I really don't know what to do, but feel more confident driving my 1994 Corolla in the snow. I read a few threads online about some who've had the same problem, but didn't find a resolution.

Anyway, just needed to vent. I really thought it would perform better than this, but maybe I was expecting a little too much out of it!
 
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It's all about tires. That's why I run dedicated snow tires in the winter, and keep my CrossTerrains for the summer. The solution is simple: buy a second set of wheels and put snow tires on them.
 
M1911 said:
It's all about tires. That's why I run dedicated snow tires in the winter, and keep my CrossTerrains for the summer. The solution is simple: buy a second set of wheels and put snow tires on them.
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Just out of curiosity, do you have 16", 17" or 18" tires? We have the 17's, and would be willing to check out dedicated snow tires if necessary, just thought the All Seasons would be good enough since they seemed to work really well on the '06...
 
mattb2003 said:
Just out of curiosity, do you have 16", 17" or 18" tires? We have the 17's, and would be willing to check out dedicated snow tires if necessary, just thought the All Seasons would be good enough since they seemed to work really well on the '06...
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What tires are you running and how much tread is left?

I also assume you have a 4wd model.

Bad tires or low tread have a huge effect on winter driving.
 
wow im suprised to hear that, i had cross terrains and they did really good in the snow. but thanks to my GF she ruined the ft two and i had to buy 4 new tires because the CT's were discontinued.
 
I've never been fond of michellin other than they last a long time. THey should be better than that. I'd go with another tire next time.
 
Vantage85 said:
What tires are you running and how much tread is left?

I also assume you have a 4wd model.

Bad tires or low tread have a huge effect on winter driving.
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Running Michelin Cross Terrains. They were new as of October 30th. They have less than 5,000 miles on them...
 
06 SR5 4wd w/ stock dunlops. I'm in Central Jersey and have tried getting stuck several times in since I bought it in May 09 .I've never gotten stuck or had any sort of trouble in the snow. just put it in 4wd lock the diff, hit the gas, and go. Its probably your tires.
 
i have the same tires on an 08 limited and have had absolutely no problems in the snow. have been in a ft plus at times and never felt it trying to go anywhere...well, until the ice, that was a different story, but that's ice and nothing short of studs works well there
 
mattb2003 said:
Just out of curiosity, do you have 16", 17" or 18" tires? We have the 17's, and would be willing to check out dedicated snow tires if necessary, just thought the All Seasons would be good enough since they seemed to work really well on the '06...
Click to expand...
I have 17" wheels for both all season and snows.

No, all seasons are not as good as snow tires. Never have been. Watch this comparison video of all seasons versus snow tires: All-Season vs. Winter / Snow Tires
 
I'm running Michelin LTX AT2's. I haven't had anything stop me yet. Not that we get feet of snow here in NC, but mine does great.
 
I have the OEM Cross terrains on my 08 with 56K on them.

I want to get more of a A/T tire which is what I am used to having. Those Cross Terrains work well on the road but when you get in the really deep snow off the beaten path the tread fills up really quick and they don't work well. Which is expected with the style of tire.

Is your alignment off a bit or possibly a caliper sticking a bit which makes it want to walk out on you. It takes a little pushing to get my truck to walk out even with the mileage on my tires, that is why I ask.

I do HATE the stability control though, just when you are about to have some fun...BEEP BEEP BEEP. I really wish you could shut that off without locking the diff.

I have also run into a couple instances where all the electronics have hindered what I wanted to do. Once I was about to go through some deeper snow with drifts. Well the traction control started realizing that the wheels were slipping, then it started searching for traction, hence slowing down and loosing the momentum I needed to get through the drifts and almost got me stuck. This was on unplowed roads and my first time messing with the truck in the deeper snow. I ended up having to shut off the traction control and locking the diff then I barely made it out!

I also got in a situation where my back wheels were in deep snow, front tires on the icy road. With everything on I was stuck, the truck wouldn't spin the tires at all and I could put it to the floor without any movement, rpms stayed low because of the computers doing its thing. Again I had to shut everything off and then the truck pulled itself out with ease.

I just wish at times the truck would ease off the electronics a bit and let me do what I think is right.
 
Just to clarify, the problem isn't with deep snow (haven't had a chance to take it into any yet), it's more of either packed snow or slush that I'm having the problem. When turning, even at slow speeds, it just feels like the back end wants to slip, so I slow down even more, otherwise, the back end will whip around and the traction control kicks in.

I thought that maybe I was just in slick stuff, but considering my corolla doesn't have the same problem of the back kicking out makes me think there's either something up with the tires or with the balance of the 4Runner. When I had my '06, it felt like it was stuck to the ground, but for some reason, this one feels different. Wish I would have remembered which tires came with it...
 
mattb2003 said:
Just to clarify, the problem isn't with deep snow (haven't had a chance to take it into any yet), it's more of either packed snow or slush that I'm having the problem. When turning, even at slow speeds, it just feels like the back end wants to slip, so I slow down even more, otherwise, the back end will whip around and the traction control kicks in.

I thought that maybe I was just in slick stuff, but considering my corolla doesn't have the same problem of the back kicking out makes me think there's either something up with the tires or with the balance of the 4Runner. When I had my '06, it felt like it was stuck to the ground, but for some reason, this one feels different. Wish I would have remembered which tires came with it...
Click to expand...

I really think you have a caliper(s) sticking or your alignment is off, it just doesn't sound right especially if you have newer tires. Sorry but that is all I have for you....
 
I'm surpised no one has mentioned these things yet but... make sure you engage your center diff and let some air out of the tires when it snows. I would say take them down to 28-30psi and they'll glide accross the snow.
 
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