terrible in the snow

[Ukraine Train]

I'm hoping you guys have some ideas. I have an '03 4x4 SR5 with FJ springs and 1/4" shock spacers in the front and new 265/65/18 Falken Rocky Mountain ATS tires. When driving on snow or ice it gets pretty loose. I'm constantly having to correct it. I've driven some beaters in the past that were better than this. The only thing I can think of is when I put in the FJ springs I wasn't able to get an alignment because the control arm bolts are rusted up. The toe and camber measured fine but caster was at the low end. It drives fine on dry or wet roads, except maybe doesn't track quite as it should due to the caster issue. Could the caster make this much of a difference on snow? Or maybe it's the width of the tires being pretty big?

 

[KidVermicious]

Yes, a bad alignment will be worse on slick roads. Wider tires will also be worse in the snow, because they're more likely to float.

 

[MikeInNH]

Alignment could be the problem. The 265 is the standard width for the 4runner. I've been running 265's for on different SUV's for years without any problem driving in snow.

 

[gshadow325]

I'll chime in here since my car has 285 and FJ Springs. It might be the alignment. I have wider tires than you do, and it did great in the snow. My alignment is also spot on.

On another note it could be your tires too. How old are they?

 

[YotaDriver]

It could be that you're just demanding more than even a very capable 4Runner is capable of providing, i.e. the lateral forces (g's) you're generating while turning or braking are overwhelming the coefficient of friction your tires have on snowy roads. Any time that happens, in any vehicle, you'll slide.

Having an alignment that's a bit off could impact this, but if you haven't grown up driving in snowy conditions you might just have unrealistic expectations of how well ANY vehicle will handle.

With that being said, I used to drive a Saab Viggen with four studded Blizzaks on it and it was like an arctic cat - totally unstoppable and unfazed by ice. Awesome.

 

[ebg18t]

It may also have to do with the tire. That tire is relatively popular here since we don't get snow/ice. I know several folks that love them. But based on the lack of siping and the pattern I don't think they would be all that great in snow/ice. Combine that with a low caster alignment I can see how it might be lacking control in the snow.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Definitely sounds like alignment, also if you're driving in 4Hi and your alignment is off, your front wheels might not be staying engaged

 

[KidVermicious]

With that being said, I used to drive a Saab Viggen with four studded Blizzaks on it and it was like an arctic cat - totally unstoppable and unfazed by ice. Awesome.

Blizzaks are the bomb-diggity in winter.

 

[Derek G]

While the alignment (or lack there of) is playing a roll I think one of the biggest problems is the tire itself. I spend a lot of time in the snow and looked at these tires and decided against them after reading the reviews of their winter performance. They have no siping at all and the tread pattern causes them to "float" too much in the fluffy stuff instead of biting into it.

 

[S p a r k y]

I didn't read the whole thing, but I know from first post it's the tires! Hated mine

 

[DBM123]

I'm going to assume that it is the tires, too. I had 265 bfgoodrich rugged terrains on my truck, and they were terrible in the snow/ice, even when new. I bought some cheap no name winter tires and the 4runner is now awesome in the snow.

 

[nevada]

if the camber and toe is in, its not the alignment. the caster being out wont cause that problem.

its very likely the tires, what pressure are you running?
it could be your driving skills/style, as well.

 

[Sungod]

If I am reading your post correctly, absolutely not an alignment problem. Low caster will cause a drift from side to side if you let go of the wheel, but has nothing to do with you breaking loose. If anything lower caster would give you better traction because it will keep your tires flatter. Higher caster will lessen wander if you take your hands off the wheel, but that doesn't sound like your issue. My guess would be the tires. Some just suck in snow and ice and I haven't heard a lot of good things about the Falkens in those conditions.

 

[Tommy4Runner]

I would say the major issue is the wide tires, I know from the past trucks and Suvs with wider tires float on top of the snow and ice not giving as much traction and control as a narrower tire. These 4Runners from my experience (3rd & 4th gen) are one of the most predictable and capable vehicles Ive ever driven in the winter, though my ol 96 Audi A4 all wheel drive with a manual transmission was pretty great in the snow just lacking the ground clearance with heavy snow, it was a fun lil car to drive in the winter though especially considering I picked it up for $950 just with a creased fender!

 

[Ukraine Train]

Well, I grew up driving in snow in crappy RWD/4WD cars so I don't think it's my driving style; I know how to drive in it. I think I need to take care of my alignment issue regardless, but I hope it takes care of this sliding issue. It darts around just driving straight under light throttle. It's not like I'm hitting the gas in turns and expecting it not to step out. Traction from a stop isn't really bad so I'm hoping it's the alignment. The reviews on discount tire for snow are all 8-10, which is why I got these. This is my first winter with the truck so I don't have other tires to compare it to. My old 3rd gen 4Runner was fine. I don't recall what tires it had but they were some sort of A/T.

 

[Ukraine Train]

If fixing the alignment doesn't take care of it, I may look into getting sipes put in. I had this done in my Caprice 9C1 back in the day on all-seasons and it worked great. I drove through the country for work where snow always drifted over the road and it drove like a champ.

 

[KidVermicious]

Siping made a HUGE difference for my KM2s.

 

[ebg18t]

Ukraine - I would chat with DT about what other tire options they might be able to move you into. You said they are new, I have exchanged tires at DT 60 + days after purchase with no questions asked. I really think you will see an improvement with a different tread design.

 

[M1911]

Alignment isn't going to do much. Performance in snow and ice is all about the tires, and that just isn't a snow and ice tire. If you look at the tread of that tire, you don't see any sipes:

A dedicated snow tire like this Nokian will have a lot of sipes (those narrow cuts in the tread blocks):

All season tires just aren't great in the snow. That is why I take mine off in the winter and put on my snow tires.

 

[Ukraine Train]

I hear what you're saying about sipes and snow tires but I've driven a lot of cars in the winter with cheapo, worn, all-seasons that were better than my 4Runner is doing right now.

That's good to know Discount Tire might do an exchange, but I've already had these for six months. Although not many miles.