If you don't off-road, but you live in a place that snows..

The real key is topography. 2wd doesn't cut it on snowy mountain roads.

 

I've got four of these on my 2wd now. New in June I think it was? Anyhow, they'll still have plenty of bite for this winter. I went with the 225/75s on the stock 15" 5 lug steelies. In mud they grab like rails, so we'll see how they do in the fluff.

 

4x4 doesn't help you stop or turn, it helps to get you moving. There are countless situations in VT where a RWD truck leaves you spinning your tires, rear end kicking out sideways as it tries to push the heavy front end and the crown in the road gives gravity something to do and pull your no traction rear end to the lowside. All of this happening while in traffic, yay!

Can it be done? Sure! I see plenty of RWD trucks around here but it isn't the norm. Most people choose to flick the magic 4x4 switch to get going and then go back to 2wd once up to speed. Most also run a dedicated winter tire. The tread pattern and softer rubber compound are yet another wonderful tool to find traction when the road is snow on top of ice with some slush mixed in due to the salt brine they spread. Think driving on tiny marbles on top of a smooth sheet of glass. I prefer a tire dedicated to ice traction since snow is rather predictable to drive on. Ice is full of surprises.

Am I exaggerating a little to make a point? Yep! But still I would never buy a 2wd truck for where I live. 4x4 and dedicated winter tires are a no brainer for me up in dem here parts. Makes me happy happy!

Fun fact. Subaru is the unofficial car of VT. They are EVERYWHERE and for good reason. The AWD system has equal length axles and a drive shaft headed right down the center of the car. This makes for balanced power delivery and the AWD system removes all the guesswork of when you might need to use it.

Another vehicle you see everywhere up here in VT? 4x4 Tacomas woot!

 

How does 4x4 not help you turn if it is driving the front tires in the direction you are steering versus ploughing ?

 

I live in WI, so in south east WI you need 4X4 only a few times a year but up north you need 4X4 every week or so in winter and in the U P maybe every few days...

 

Is this also why the dogs usually run in front of the sleigh as opposed to behind it?

 

Dang it I knew someone would call me out! It is a common saying around here. Tires only have so much traction and too often people think hitting the gas in 4x4 while headed down the highway will help them make the turn when in fact they exceeded the traction they had by asking the tire to both turn and provide power.

So basically it is common in these here parts to advise anyone lacking 4x4 winter driving experience not to think it will enhance their turning or stopping abilities. Just think it will help get you moving. Use caution and slow speed for the rest.

To everyone else just crank the wheel and BRAAP BRAA...clickclickclick. Dang traction control!

 

4x4 does help you turn in low traction situations. It also helps you slow down, especially if you have a manual transmission and downshift as you slow down. Stopping is entirely on the brakes, but you need to slow before stopping...and of course there's no substitute for appropriate tires.

 

That's good to hear. I like the fact that they have a much better tread wear rating than a typical snow tire. So if I go more than a couple of days with them on, I won't feel like I'm chewing them up like I do with a snow tire. They have a deep snow rating nearly as good as the snows I was looking at. They certainly look the part....very aggressive tread design.

 

Where I live, you can usually get by with rear wheel drive and all season tires most of the time, at least if you know what you're doing anyway. One exception was my 2wd Mazda B2500 (Ranger), that thing was useless even with weight in the bed until I put a set of four Blizzaks on it, totally transformed it from a liability in any sort of snow to something you could drive with confidence. It was like a rally car in the snow, perfectly controlled drifts. Only thing that I ever had that was better in heavy snow was my 89 full size 4wd Bronco, even with BFG All Terrains it would plow through a foot plus of unplowed snow like it wasn't even there.

My TRD Sport has 4wd, not sure how the stock Bridgestone Duelers will handle the snow though, but it can hardly be worse than the Crown Victoria I've been driving, which wasn't too bad even on all season high performance tires. If they suck I'm going to get a set of 4 steelies and some snow and ice tires. Then the thing should be awesome in the slippery stuff.

 

Funny you say that because this last winter I pulled 2 different prius's, 1 Honda civic, and 1 minivan out of either snow banks or road medians with my taco and tow chain. 4x4 matters

 

Usually have snow cover from mid-December 'til mid to late April. Main roads will be plowed to pavement (maybe), secondaries will frequently be packed, dry snow. I'll generally just use 2wd, but there are times 4wd is indispensible. Crap, sometimes I need it just to get out of my driveway. If you happen to live on a dirt road, 4wd is mighty handy in Spring mud season...

 

Turn off the traction control

 

You can downshift the auto

 

as in , you can downshift the auto to slow down on snow without using the brakes

 

y

31 years of driving in all kinds of weather...including countless times in snows of 1 to 2 feet and more. For the last 20+ years I've commuted 50+ miles to work. Not once have I ever been in accident. I think I can handle myself just fine. I was not giving bad advice....I was just explaining what I do....not what others should do.

God damn....there's always one of you jackwagons in every crowd.

 

Yes , and only on Fridays and if you have a DCLB FTMFW

 

Even when I had a standard I always felt I could get a better feel for road conditions by using the brakes if it looked slippery. If ABS triggers then I really know things are dicey.

 

I just gotta say Tacoma World is THE best forum I have ever been on. The best place for knowledge, good advice, bad advice, laughter and merciless harassment all at the same time.