Wow, these 4 runners kick butt in snow

[Mudlovr]

I was snarled in the DC gridlock for 5 hours last night, caused by about 9 inches of snow dumping from 4PM on. What didn't suck about it was how capable my 4 runner was. Every other kind of vehicle imagineable was stuck or sliding on even the small hills - but I cruised right up every one (at least as soon as all the stuck cars were pushed out of the way). This was my first real snow experience with the 4 runner, and the only reason I made it home was because I was driving it and not my Accord.

One side question - I have Michelin all terrains on the truck now and they did great, how would mud terrain tires do in snow?

 

[LodeRunner]

Yep, I was in it last night as well, although not in my 4Runner. With the early rain/sleet mix we got, the wet snow that fell on top of that made it really slick. Lots of misery for many. Luckily I wasn't far from home in my work car... Today's a 4Runner day.

 

[DocMT]

One side question - I have Michelin all terrains on the truck now and they did great, how would mud terrain tires do in snow?

In my experience, mud terrains aren't all that great in the snow. I think all terrains are usually better in snow, but of course true snow tires are much better still.

I just run all terrains all winter long and traction is never a problem for my 4Runner. If anything, I'm just more careful stopping because the all terrains won't give you as much stopping power as a true snow tire.

 

[Hawkdog21]

In my experience, mud terrains aren't all that great in the snow. I think all terrains are usually better in snow, but of course true snow tires are much better still.

I just run all terrains all winter long and traction is never a problem for my 4Runner. If anything, I'm just more careful stopping because the all terrains won't give you as much stopping power as a true snow tire.

This is correct. I have found A/Ts to be much better. Snow is much different than say mud, you dont want to dig through the snow like you do mud, you want to float on top and have a large foot print, so you want a larger surface area.

 

[cfranck1]

you want to float on top and have a large foot print, so you want a larger surface area.

Hope your not talking about snow traction??
You never want a wide tire for snow traction, you always want a skinny tire. Skinny tire means more PSI down on to the ground.

Just look a Formula 1 tire versus a WRC snow tire. (Pics)

 

[DocMT]

You never want a wide tire for snow traction, you always want a skinny tire. Skinny tire means more PSI down on to the ground.

Never say never. If you want your tires to bite down to the pavement below, then you want a skinny tire. If you want your tires to float on top of the snow (because it's too deep to reach any traction below), then you want a wide tire.

Just look at the Arctic truck pics on the forum or the link below:

http://www.arctictrucks-experience.com/?PageID=3882

 

[cfranck1]

Never say never. If you want your tires to bite down to the pavement below, then you want a skinny tire. If you want your tires to float on top of the snow (because it's too deep to reach any traction below), then you want a wide tire.

Just look at the Arctic truck pics on the forum or the link below:

< Arctic Trucks

I'm sorry there are instances that I over looked. I was aiming at street traction.
Those Arctic trucks are in a league of their own!

But not to continue to hijack the thread. The Runner is great in the snow. I love the Grabber AT2s more then the BFG A/T I had before.

 

[brian2sun]

This is a confusing and debatable topic. But in general, a wider tire is better in deep snow (especially on the trail) so they don't dig down and high-center your truck. A skinny tire is better in med-deep snow on road because it will dig better and get down the the pavement faster.

Mud tires will generally give you more traction than A/Ts in deeper snow because they clear out much better while A/Ts tend to get caked. But.. if it's ice or packed snow, mud tires suck and will just polish the snow, while an A/T will get more traction than a mud in this situation mostly due to having (more and better) siping.

 

[DocMT]

Mud tires will generally give you more traction than A/Ts in deeper snow because they clear out much better while A/Ts tend to get caked.

You don't want the tread to clear out on snow. That's why siping is so important on snow tires. And that's generally how snow tires work.

I've had my share of M/T over the years and none of them every work as well as A/T on snow. That's just my own experience, others may not feel the same.

 

[brian2sun]

You don't want the tread to clear out on snow.

Tell that to my driveway! I simply need digging power to make it up. When I've had A/Ts in the past, they would cake up and tires would just spin. M/Ts will dig down to the pavement and I'll slowly move upward. Siping doesn't do anything for you in deep snow - only on packed snow and ice. And it works wonderfully for that.

Hills make a big difference too. My access road to my house is about a 30% grade. One you have gravity going against you, caked tires will cause me to roll/slide backwards and then I'm screwed. The large lugs on my M/Ts hold the truck in place better and works like little hands digging down to get traction.

 

[DocMT]

Tell that to my driveway! I simply need digging power to make it up. When I've had A/Ts in the past, they would cake up and tires would just spin. M/Ts will dig down to the pavement and I'll slowly move upward. Siping doesn't do anything for you in deep snow - only on packed snow and ice. And it works wonderfully for that.

Hills make a big difference too. My access road to my house is about a 30% grade. One you have gravity going against you, caked tires will cause me to roll/slide backwards and then I'm screwed. The large lugs on my M/Ts hold the truck in place better and works like little hands digging down to get traction.

I've always been told that snow sticks to snow. So you want your tread to retain snow for better traction on snow. That could be wrong, but that's always what I've been told!

 

[larrylegend]

My opinion is that it is all depending on the type of snow you are driving in. I agree with the deep snow needs a wide tire line of thinking. However, I have also read that the best traction is snow on snow and that is why snow tires have so much siping. The siping helps the snow pack into the tire, which in turn gives better traction than just rubber.

 

[DocMT]

....I have also read that the best traction is snow on snow and that is why snow tires have so much siping. The siping helps the snow pack into the tire, which in turn gives better traction than just rubber.

Yes! That's what I was trying to say, but you just said it better than me! :bigok:

 

[brian2sun]

I've always been told that snow sticks to snow. So you want your tread to retain snow for better traction on snow. That could be wrong, but that's always what I've been told!

My opinion is that it is all depending on the type of snow you are driving in. I agree with the deep snow needs a wide tire line of thinking. However, I have also read that the best traction is snow on snow and that is why snow tires have so much siping. The siping helps the snow pack into the tire, which in turn gives better traction than just rubber.

It's not a right or wrong, that's why I said in my 1st post that this is a confusing and debatable topic, and in general... blah, blah. It most certainly has to do with outside temp, type of snow (dry and light or heavy and wet), hills or flat, trail or pavement,etc.. There are just so many variables. That's true about siping in light snow on a flat road, the snow packs in there and will help you with "snow on snow action". But that all goes out the window on steep hills that you just need raw force and digging power to muscle up. I've found it's sorta pointless to discuss these things with people across the country because one's particular environment and conditions plays a bigger role than anything else.

 

[IanB]

This is correct. I have found A/Ts to be much better. Snow is much different than say mud, you dont want to dig through the snow like you do mud, you want to float on top and have a large foot print, so you want a larger surface area.

The siping is for packed snow/ice, it allows the treadblock to "squirm" and grab better, as opposed to breaking free and spinning easier. "Snow tires" are for winter conditions, not for pushing through deep snow, the sipes won't help you in the deep stuff the same way MT's will. What's better depends entirely on what you're driving on.

 

[Hawkdog21]

Never say never. If you want your tires to bite down to the pavement below, then you want a skinny tire. If you want your tires to float on top of the snow (because it's too deep to reach any traction below), then you want a wide tire.

Just look at the Arctic truck pics on the forum or the link below:

http://www.arctictrucks-experience.com/?PageID=3882

exactly, and that was exactly what I was referring to