So I got sideways in my 4r today!

[eskimochaos]

So anyways, I was driving about 1hr ago on my way to the gym. It was getting dark and dark enough that if a car didnt have their lights on, you wouldnt see them. Lo and behold I pull out to make a left hand turn after making a complete stop and there is a little saab without the lights on. I realize this halfway through the intersection of my residential neighborhood corner and decide that breaking is not a good option because I feel its too late for the driver to react in time. So I get on the gas, dont floor it. It feels like my 4R just does a massive tail whip around the corner, wheels started screeching and the VSC light came on. Now in actuality, i really dont know what happened. It felt like my back end was starting to fish tail however.

I have no idea if VSC did its job. I have never ever been in a situation like that in a car and frankly was freaked the **** out.

In the end, I was fine, the car straightened itself out beautifully perhaps thanks to VSC but IDK because again I have never experienced anything like that.

Has anyone really experienced anything like that?

How well does VSC do its job? Does it take control after it is too late?

Looking back on the intersection, I realize why the tires came loose, it was shitty stamped concrete to make it look nice...it has nowhere near the traction of pavement imo and that is the reason why my tires came loose.

Anyways just wondering your experiences with VSC and how well it actually works on dry roads.

Thanks!

P.S. I finally find out what has been causing that sound like there is a rock in your tire...****ing massive screw....gonna have to take it to the tire shop tomorrow.

 

[jwa898]

I'm glad to hear everything turned out alright.

 

[Uneek]

I had VSC intervened on a few on occassions. But each time it doesn't seem like it's intervention are consistent. I made a quick lane change once (last second exit on an off-ramp) probably hitting a patch of ice. I was doing about 35mph give or take. I never felt I would lose control or the back end sliding, but it beeped and I didn't feel a thing though.

Another time, doing about 15mph or so in straight line or a very slight bend/curve, probably hit another patch of ice as well. The back end did slide slightly (no more than 6") and I felt one of the brakes on the rear wheels apply and straighten it out. All of which from the time I felt the slide to it straighten out was under two or three seconds.

This happened a couple times when I go around the corner from my ski cabin this past winter, I'm probably going about 10mph. I already know that at the speed and the corner being slick I would slide/fish tail. In 2WD, the tail slid more, maybe enough to put me 45* from my intended line and a little less severe when I was in 4WD. I felt the slide and it's probably been a good second or two and then VSC intervenes and it feels like if someone just give the tail a good hard kick in the right direction setting the truck straight on the intended line. At the slow speed I was going, I would've been able to react and probably correct the slide. But VSC is definitely faster at intervening and makes driving a slick surface less worrying.

Under any condition, I don't condone experimenting with VSC in traffic, around people, or other property. Although it's good to learn and know how the 4Runner will react under various conditions. Aside from the time on the off-ramp, the other VSC intervening incidents there was NO one around me.

Stay safe and enjoy your 4Runner.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

My experiences have been the VSC holds the back end better than you described.

I postulate your PS might be the key. Which tire has the nail? If it's a back one the pressure could get down without it visually looking bad. If 3 were at 35 and one at 28 or 29 then the quick manuevering could get ahead of the VSC. I suggest 35 and 28/29psi rather than lower; if lower than that you should have a low-pressure light. I suspect it would've less scary if all the tires were equal.

The ill effects one low tire can cause is amazing, just ask a Ford Exploder owner...

IMHO...
:cheers:

 

[AmbideXtrous]

I had a situation a couple weekends ago while on my way to the local offroad park. I was running late going a little fast on country roads either paying to much attention or not enough to my GPS nav when i came up over a rise that ended in a hard country dogleg turn to the left. I slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel to the left to avoid ending up in a field. The VSC beeped and corrected my trajectory as the rear end came around. It kept me in control flawlessly and I made it through the turn.

 

[eskimochaos]

My experiences have been the VSC holds the back end better than you described.

I postulate your PS might be the key. Which tire has the nail? If it's a back one the pressure could get down without it visually looking bad. If 3 were at 35 and one at 28 or 29 then the quick manuevering could get ahead of the VSC. I suggest 35 and 28/29psi rather than lower; if lower than that you should have a low-pressure light. I suspect it would've less scary if all the tires were equal.

The ill effects one low tire can cause is amazing, just ask a Ford Exploder owner...

IMHO...
:cheers:

Thanks for the replies guys!

Funny you say that, the tire with the nail in it is the back rear one, so in a hard left turn under hard acceleration I guess that would be under the most "strain". My tire light didnt come on until this morning probably because I finally noticed the nail in the gym parking lot after the turn. I didnt know what it was because there was a black washer around it I tried to pry it out with a scrwdriver. So this morning the light came on getting out of the driveway, went out and looked...tire wasnt flat but you can tell it was low on air. Drove to work just fine, will have them fix it after work.

I cant wait to get rid of these shitty dunlops although I will say my mom's landcruiser has the Grandtrek AT23's our's are AT20's...they lasted 55k on her car.....she also got 55k out of her brake pads lol

 

[CJ3Flyr]

...I cant wait to get rid of these shitty dunlops although I will say my mom's landcruiser has the Grandtrek AT23's our's are AT20's...they lasted 55k on her car.....she also got 55k out of her brake pads lol

Off topic a bit but...

Were the LC's AT23s quiet? Did the stick well between 30k and 55k? Just curious 'cause this may be the only positive thing I have seen about Dunflops in a long time
:cheers:

 

[eskimochaos]

Off topic a bit but...

Were the LC's AT23s quiet? Did the stick well between 30k and 55k? Just curious 'cause this may be the only positive thing I have seen about Dunflops in a long time
:cheers:

i honestly cant comment, there didnt seem to be an excess of interior noise in the car on the road/highway they are the only tires that the landcruiser has ever had because they replaced them with the same ones

My mom and dad liked them due to the fact they held up for 55k in 3 years but that is all highway with a very light right foot of my mom.

i can tell you during the last 10k, they would constantly screech around corners regardless of speed (yes we checked psi).

I think my mom stretched them that extra 10k just do to the fact we had no time to get them changed.

hope this helps

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Thanks.
:cheers:

 

[eskimochaos]

A moderator informed me that someone was offended by my comments in the original post. I am sorry and was simply venting some frustration. I have since removed those comments and asked the moderator to let the member know that I am sorry.

Sorry if I offended anyone!

-eskimo