Snow Driving ?'s

SnowLizard

SnowLizard

New member
ok, I admit, I don't know anything when it comes to snow driving... and I wanted to know tips from others.

tips on tires? --- more lugs with lines (sips) that can 'flex' and self clean
which mode? 4wd/awd/4low/4low+lock... offers the best control



I have my 99 ltd 4runner with elocker...

things I have experienced...

icy asphalt road was really 'controllable' with AWD
snow dirt road, best in 4lo and slow, if slipping up a grade, back up and use momentum and skinny pedal, try not to 50% but 'feather' the pedal to keep momentum, avoid 'slippery spots'
4lo and locker, not easy to control in snow, likes to fish... maybe I was doing it wrong.

so far from my 3 times driving in snow, things I've noticed
'not slip tires'
go slow
momentum can be good, AND BAD...
stay in control
it's lots of fun.
 
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First off, snow driving can be a ton of fun!

For tires, well, you will get about five different opinions about what's best. A dedicated snow tire like blizzak's are awesome in cold weather environments, this is because the rubber compound is super soft and you can practically see them melt off on the asphalt if you drive on a 80 degree day. I prefer Duratracs, they are a great all around tire, BFG's A/T, are good as well but certain sizes are not rated for snow, meaning they don't carry the mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall Edit(Duratracs could be the same, I haven't noticed any without the symbol but it might be the same as BFG) my problem with BFG is the poor traction in wet roads, and in Oregon we get WET roads!!.

The main thing to worry about snow/ice just plain winter driving is not the ability to get moving but rather the ability to stop! So a good practice is to find a good empty parking lot and drive like a madman just to get the feel of how the rig will handle and experiment with down shifting the transmission to help in the slowing down part, basically this helps to keep the wheels moving instead of sliding with the brake.
 
Lockers are not the best option on ice. It's all about tires. Hard to beat BFG AT tires as an all around option. Best option is two sets of tires. The best tire is what works best in your region.
 
MyHigh said:
First off, snow driving can be a ton of fun!

For tires, well, you will get about five different opinions about what's best. A dedicated snow tire like blizzak's are awesome in cold weather environments, this is because the rubber compound is super soft and you can practically see them melt off on the asphalt if you drive on a 80 degree day. I prefer Duratracs, they are a great all around tire, BFG's A/T, are good as well but certain sizes are not rated for snow, meaning they don't carry the mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall Edit(Duratracs could be the same, I haven't noticed any without the symbol but it might be the same as BFG) my problem with BFG is the poor traction in wet roads, and in Oregon we get WET roads!!.

The main thing to worry about snow/ice just plain winter driving is not the ability to get moving but rather the ability to stop! So a good practice is to find a good empty parking lot and drive like a madman just to get the feel of how the rig will handle and experiment with down shifting the transmission to help in the slowing down part, basically this helps to keep the wheels moving instead of sliding with the brake.
Click to expand...

Yeah I hate the snow/rain trade-off. My tires are great in snow but SUCK in wet weather. I only visit the snow but live in the rain as well. I spun out once with my current no-name M+S tires on a rainy day but I'm gonna buy new ones soon.

5-speeds are much easier to drive in snow that autos in my opinion. I also like to be in control of the speed of the engine.
 
Check out Nokian tires. That's what I'll be running when I make the move to CO. Commonly viewed as the gold standard of snow tires. From what I've read, rubber compound is equally important as siping. All terrain tires in general aren't nearly as soft as true snow tires. So when the weather gets cold, A/T's will turn into bricks, whereas true snow tires will be at optimum operating temperature.
 
knowing that I won't be in snow often.. live in az sun... I think the All Terrains will be best for when I occasionally snow drive.

so lockers are no good for snow driving... I agree.
what trans mode is best? AWD/4hi/4lo ?

I really liked 4lo yesterday offroad in snow. but the week before on icy roads AWD was amazing.
 
SnowLizard said:
knowing that I won't be in snow often.. live in az sun... I think the All Terrains will be best for when I occasionally snow drive.



so lockers are no good for snow driving... I agree.

what trans mode is best? AWD/4hi/4lo ?



I really liked 4lo yesterday offroad in snow. but the week before on icy roads AWD was amazing.
Click to expand...


You have kinda answered your own question. AWD mode for on-road slippery conditions. 4H for off-road, 4L for slow slippery conditions, 4L/locked for extreme situations.
 
SnowLizard said:
knowing that I won't be in snow often.. live in az sun... I think the All Terrains will be best for when I occasionally snow drive.

so lockers are no good for snow driving... I agree.
what trans mode is best? AWD/4hi/4lo ?

I really liked 4lo yesterday offroad in snow. but the week before on icy roads AWD was amazing.
Click to expand...

You'll be fine with ATs. Lots of people run ATs year round. I grew up in the Rockies and my whole family runs AT/MTs year round, hell I've never even had a "snow tire" and it's winter 9+ months of the year. Go slow and you'll be fine. AWD onroad, offroad is 4Hi/Lo depending on the situation. Remember you can air down too, and not just 20psi (that's not airing down).
 
Yeah the good thing about airing down, well one of the good things is, it makes the always looming curbs not so bad when you hit them. Oh, that brings up a good point, if you are headed toward a curb and no way of getting out, make sure you let off the brakes so that your tires will roll over the curb instead of impacting the curb, also try and point the front wells so that it's a direct hit or the best you can.
 
Cool thanks!

I'm usually running 20psi when of road, how low can I go safely without popping a bead on stock rims? I've read 10 is the danger zone and lower your asking to pop a bead.

Little off topic for normal off roading on dirt, what psi should be ran Vs snow wheeling? And if there is a difference why?
 
Was mentioned earlier but the key thing to remember while driving in the snow is that you have the same amount of brakes as everyone else.

Controlling momentum is key. Been living in upstate NY for about 30 years now and we get plenty of opportunity to prove our snow driving prowess....

AWD best if you have to steer...... And you typically do.......
 
Lockers are not the best option on ice.
1c.jpg
 
I have summer tires and wheels, and winter tires and wheels.
My winter tires are studded. Without them I would not be able to get in and out of where I live and work. Steep hills often covered with ice. So steep that ODOT wont maintain them, so we have to.
Up hill I can mostly use 4H, but if needed 4 low
coming down hill into the park, if real icy, Ill use 4low or 4 high but in low gear.
currently the snow has been melting a bit, only have about 2 feet on the ground, roads are icy in early morning, slushy in the afternoon. When I get to the hiway Ill stick with 4h until I get down to about 2500 feet, by then I usually am hitting good roads. When I do , Ill kick it back to 2wd.

like others have said " its the stopping" that can be the trick, that's where I feel the studded tires have helped me too. I did practice some sudden stops in an icy parking lot, to get a feel for how the truck would do. then got to the point I was breaking hard enough for the ABS to kick in.
 
The only rule you need to remember is "Drive like you don't have brakes." The biggest issue with people on ice or snow is using their brakes. and NOT using common sense.

Here's a link to my road that I drive when it snows and I drive down hill in 4L 2nd or 3rd NO BRAKES when there's snow on the road. I have Toyo AT's passenger rated. No need for snow tires on this side of the cascades where I live.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/199194-views-3rd-gen-3.html#post2207449

Here's a link to the same road with ice. This was just the other weekend. It was shut down because of an accident but if I had to drive down it, I would have put chains on, 4L NO BRAKES! Ice is bad.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/212118-pictures-3rg-gens-saving-day-3.html#post2227819

I grew up in Rockland County NY and we never used chains because they salted and sanded all the time. We also had dedicated winter studded tires.

Respect the elements and know your limits.
 
RPS99SHO said:
You have kinda answered your own question. AWD mode for on-road slippery conditions. 4H for off-road, 4L for slow slippery conditions, 4L/locked for extreme situations.
Click to expand...

Now I may come out of this sounding like a real idiot, but I just bought a 3rd gen 4runner today, and we've got snow coming this week (northeast). I'm just trying to get an idea for what 4wd modes I should use for certain conditions. What mode are you talking about when you say "AWD mode"? Cause AWD mode to me sounds like 4H, but then you say 4H is for off-road.

Again, apologies for the ignorance here, just looking for clarification.
 
i should've specified, i've got an '02 SR5. it has the 4wd button. so as far as i'm concerned, AWD would be the same as 4HI right?
 
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