Winter driving observations from a first-time 4Runner owner

[the_fornicator]

Yah.

I like to picture it as a sort shrinking circle.

You start out with a 100 percent circle which means 100 percent traction. Add a turn in and it shrinks to maybe 50 percent of its original size. Add brakes and it goes down to 25 percent. Once you get to 0, you lose traction. It's a balance that you must learn with experience for each particular vehicle and drive system. Inclement weather automatically decreases that circle to 75 percent, 50 percent, etc. You compensate by reducing speed and gaining some percentage of your circle back.

The type of surface I am most afraid of is black ice. To me that is automatically 0-1 percent. Not much you can do but hold on for dear life or if you're lucky enough to be able to have studded tires.

Studded tires actually do sweet f**k all. People think they're spikes in the ground, but all they really do is add a layer of additional friction. That extra layer may increase your traction (I'm making up numbers here) 8%. So, if you're sliding on black ice, an additional 8% traction won't do anything.

I've slid through intersections going 30kmph with studded tires before. With black ice, short of tire chains, your best bet is to pray for a little bit of luck.

 

[Y2Ksport]

Set your tire pressure at 32psi cold for the winter, it will help the crappy stock tires grip up in the winter a bit.

Had my 2020 now for about a month and noticed the tires are aired to 50psi even though the door jamb states something like 32psi . Is this normal from the factory? Seems very high.

 

[4Rman]

Had my 2020 now for about a month and noticed the tires are aired to 50psi even though the door jamb states something like 32psi . Is this normal from the factory? Seems very high.

I had a VW CC in 2010 that came with 50psi to save the tires from flat spotting. May be Toyota is starting to do this as well since so many 4Rs shake on test drives(in my experience- I have had three new ones).

As far as Winter driving, the Dunlop stock tires are worse than the Bridgestones. Been driving in snow for a long time in Minnesota, if there was one CRITICAL thing for winter driving, it is giving yourself extra stopping distance. 4Rs take longer to stop no matter what tires you use - sure winter tires will stop quicker relatively speaking.

I am not going to get snow tires because I hate the idea of swapping tires and wheels. I have TRD silver wheels with GY ultraterrains but have not yet driven in snow. These do have the 3Peak Snow Flake/mountain symbol. Traction B/Temperature B rating matches the stock ratings. I believe the temp. B rating also means the tire rubber is more pliable in the winter cold temps. so you don't feel every seam in the pavement. SLOWWWW DOWN and LEAVE extra DISTANCE for stopping, you should be fine.

 

[IanB]

Had my 2020 now for about a month and noticed the tires are aired to 50psi even though the door jamb states something like 32psi . Is this normal from the factory? Seems very high.

I'm guessing this was done at the dealer, not at the factory. If you're running stock tires, stick to the doorjam's recommendations.

 

[spartacus]

driving on the stock TRD ORP tires this week in all the snow and ice we've had in the Front Range has been really great. Extremely sure footed. But I'm coming from a 3rd gen with dead suspension and a ton of play in the steering.

I drove both this storm and I feel that my 3rd Gen handles the snow and ice real well in fact better, mainly because of the geolander AT tires.The 5th gen is good but seems a little loose because of the stock tires but the 3rd Gen seems more entuned to the snow it's got a lot of practice in the last 2 decades.

 

[Y2Ksport]

I'm guessing this was done at the dealer, not at the factory. If you're running stock tires, stick to the doorjam's recommendations.

Thanks. Will have to air them down. As 4Rman mentioned, it's probably done to keep from flat spotting as vehicles may sit on lots for awhile.

 

[blackened_offroad]

I drove both this storm and I feel that my 3rd Gen handles the snow and ice real well in fact better, mainly because of the geolander AT tires.The 5th gen is good but seems a little loose because of the stock tires but the 3rd Gen seems more entuned to the snow it's got a lot of practice in the last 2 decades.

yeah that sounds like all tires and nothing to do with the different generations. My 3rd gen was a beast in snow with Blizzaks last year. but at the moment, the steering gear and various bushings are so bad that I don't think even blizzaks would help.

 

[Y2Ksport]

I had a VW CC in 2010 that came with 50psi to save the tires from flat spotting. May be Toyota is starting to do this as well since so many 4Rs shake on test drives(in my experience- I have had three new ones).

As far as Winter driving, the Dunlop stock tires are worse than the Bridgestones. Been driving in snow for a long time in Minnesota, if there was one CRITICAL thing for winter driving, it is giving yourself extra stopping distance. 4Rs take longer to stop no matter what tires you use - sure winter tires will stop quicker relatively speaking.

I am not going to get snow tires because I hate the idea of swapping tires and wheels. I have TRD silver wheels with GY ultraterrains but have not yet driven in snow. These do have the 3Peak Snow Flake/mountain symbol. Traction B/Temperature B rating matches the stock ratings. I believe the temp. B rating also means the tire rubber is more pliable in the winter cold temps. so you don't feel every seam in the pavement. SLOWWWW DOWN and LEAVE extra DISTANCE for stopping, you should be fine.

I'm in MN as well and agree with your advice on slowing down. It's amazing the amount of people that don't understand that concept. Probably why we have so many accidents at the 1st sight of snowfall.

I currently have the factory Dueler's but may switch them out depending on how they handle the 1st significant snow fall we get. I used to get dedicated snows but have gotten tired of switching back and forth and have gone with a good set of all-seasons on my last 3 vehicles.

 

[IanB]

I'm in MN as well and agree with your advice on slowing down. It's amazing the amount of people that don't understand that concept. Probably why we have so many accidents at the 1st sight of snowfall.

I currently have the factory Dueler's but may switch them out depending on how they handle the 1st significant snow fall we get. I used to get dedicated snows but have gotten tired of switching back and forth and have gone with a good set of all-seasons on my last 3 vehicles.

Goodyear Duratracs, BFG KO2's, or Falken Wildpeak AT3W's seem to be the go-to for severe winter rated AT tires. Being that you live where there's plenty of winter weather, I'd recommend getting something that can handle itself in the snow and ice.

 

[Flighht2k]

I drove both this storm and I feel that my 3rd Gen handles the snow and ice real well in fact better, mainly because of the geolander AT tires.The 5th gen is good but seems a little loose because of the stock tires but the 3rd Gen seems more entuned to the snow it's got a lot of practice in the last 2 decades.

Your truck doesn’t need practice. It’s an inanimate object.

 

[blackened_offroad]

naw man, it's, like, in TUUUUUNE with the SNOOOOOW, man. It's been meditating and can FEEEEEEL the snow's AAAAURA, maaaaan

 

[spartacus]

Your truck doesn’t need practice. It’s an inanimate object.

Thank you for your astute observation. But that inanimate object is a machine that takes input from an animate and reacts according to input. Machines have quirks that the operators come to understand in order to get the desired action from it. I do admire your sense of humor.:smashputer:

 

[3xpert]

So, winter came a smidge early this year in SE Wisco and I've been waiting for this day to give the 4Runner a first drive on a snowy day. When I went to clear the driveway this morning, it was a slushy, snotty mess. Figured it was a good opportunity to see if the Tire Rack reviews of the stock Dunlop AT2 on my '19 ORP matched real-world conditions. So many negative comments elsewhere on the Interwebz on them as well, but you just never know.

Short story is the 4Runner handled nicely. The factory tires didn't perform any worse than any other tire I've had, honestly. I left the vehicle in 2WD for the entire trip into work this morning and never felt that I was at a loss for traction or safety. I could certainly feel the vehicle breaking loose from a traffic light stop if I forced the issue (which I did a couple of times, just to see what its limits were). But normal stops and starts weren't a problem. Now, granted it's the first snow, 32F degrees, and the roads aren't frozen yet. So there's no ice. But I think the snotty slushy stuff is probably just as hazardous.

Cornering at a normal cautious rate didn't present any problems, nor did normal cautious braking. I did get a little aggressive with the brakes a couple of times to find that limit, and there wasn't any kind of reaction from the ABS or veering off path. So far, so good.

The weight distribution of the 4Runner is a lot nicer than my previous Ram 1500. Of course, with a Hemi, if you think accelerated thoughts you're going to spin the rear wheels. An F150 ahead of me in traffic broke loose nearly every time he started out. Didn't experience that once with the 4Runner. I feel quite safe in it so far, but will be careful not to let my guard down.

I'll report back in a couple of months when the deep freeze really starts to set in up here on the frozen tundra. When streets freeze and rubber gets hard, things may change.

~Chris

I live in SE Wisconsin, have a 2017 TRD Off Road,
Have BFG 265/70 KO2 C load, Never had any problem driving thru snow.
Mostly slush when I left work.

 

[spartacus]

yeah that sounds like all tires and nothing to do with the different generations. My 3rd gen was a beast in snow with Blizzaks last year. but at the moment, the steering gear and various bushings are so bad that I don't think even blizzaks would help.

I think tires are a big part of it but maintenance is a big part of it also.

 

[blackened_offroad]

I think tires are a big part of it but maintenance is a big part of it also.

lol. my point is that it has nothing to do with it being 3rd gen or 5th gen. your example is all tires.

 

[spartacus]

3rd Gen reacts better in snow then my 5th gen

lol. my point is that it has nothing to do with it being 3rd gen or 5th gen. your example is all tires.

My point , "in my personal experience the 3rd Gen reacts better to snow ice.

 

[blackened_offroad]

My point , "in my personal experience the 3rd Gen reacts better to snow ice.

right, because it "practiced" and is "in tune with the snow". which means literally nothing.

 

[spartacus]

right, because it "practiced" and is "in tune with the snow". which means literally nothing.

that was Humor obviously not a fact. My 3rd Gen drives better in snow and icy conditions, my 5th gen abs is constantly engaging it's heavier it slides easily in corners even when in 4hi. And going down inclines slides before it stops. thats a fact.

 

[Giskarded]

I have owned 2 4th gen and 1 3rd gen before buying this 5th gen in 2014.

With my current setup, I find the 5th gen to be the least confidence inspiring in the snow from all of the earlier iterations I owned.

Bought the 5th gen new and immediately replaced tires with Cooper ATP P rated. Then got a lift which due to poor communication ended up being on the high end (highest setting on 6112s in front and 2.5 inch raised due to springs in the back).

I do not know if its the Cooper ATPs (32K on the truck, 30K on the tires) or maybe the lift but this truck just loves to slide. Granted my previous 4runners all ran the typical Michelin LTX tires which and both the 4th gens had full time 4WD but they felt more sure footed than this 5th gen ever has (even with brand new tires).

Lately, I just prefer to drive my 1 year old Model 3 awd.
Considering getting the car lift adjusted to something more reasonable and buying a new set of Falken AT3W...

 

[JP421]

I have owned 2 4th gen and 1 3rd gen before buying this 5th gen in 2014.

With my current setup, I find the 5th gen to be the least confidence inspiring in the snow from all of the earlier iterations I owned.

Bought the 5th gen new and immediately replaced tires with Cooper ATP P rated. Then got a lift which due to poor communication ended up being on the high end (highest setting on 6112s in front and 2.5 inch raised due to springs in the back).

I do not know if its the Cooper ATPs (32K on the truck, 30K on the tires) or maybe the lift but this truck just loves to slide. Granted my previous 4runners all ran the typical Michelin LTX tires which and both the 4th gens had full time 4WD but they felt more sure footed than this 5th gen ever has (even with brand new tires).

Lately, I just prefer to drive my 1 year old Model 3 awd.
Considering getting the car lift adjusted to something more reasonable and buying a new set of Falken AT3W...

Get real winter tires. Nokian's, Xice's or Blizzaks.