First big winter storm

I decided to avoid the issue as much as possible and went to town today to get stocked up. Still had to drive over 3 miles of non plowed gravel roads before making it to pavement. No problems with my BFG All-Terrain TAs.
Of course, the 250-300 pounds of firewood in the bed might have helped, too. I'm more worried about the ice then i am the snow...

 

reported

 

70 degrees and clear here in Peoria. Az.

 

I bought 300 lbs of Mason's sand for $4 a 50 lb bag. Should help a bit!

 

I tried them one year by waiting a storm to put the snows on. Big mistake. They are OK in summer and will use them that way till they wear out. My only regret is, the spare is a not so rugged trail too.

 

Absolutely go with the sand. It's there when the snow melts and you can use the sand for traction. Plus, you have a bed you can actually put things in. Snow in the bed ? I never got that. How do you carry anything without shoveling it out...then wait for the next storm even if you have to drive in snow before hand ? Plus , weight helps handling in all conditons. It would get old for me shoveling it in and out as needed. Then, have it freeze after a rain and you can have 500 lbs. of ice for the rest of the winter....no thanks.

 

I have the stock dungflops on mine and I have been getting around here in Montana marvelously this winter. Sure I can tell that they are sub par tires and they spin from time to time, but the real rule 1 is don't be an idiot and it'll be fine.

 

The Tacoma is great for what it is, but even with good tires in 4 hi it can be squirrley in snow because of its weight. It's fun though. My old Dakota 4x4 comparitivley speaking was as heavy as a tank and performed better in snow.

 

I stay off major roads during & after the first big snow. We have to many idiots here.

 

My Taco is rock solid in snow. So good, I drive in and out of my snow covered mountain road in 2 wd with 270 lbs of cap and sand in the back and snow tires.

Generally speaking, unless they are snow tires, it's tough to have any tire that is that good in winter. Any tire that you drive year round is compromised in winter driving. Even with tread that looks good on an AT tire, the rubber is so hard, it doesn't flex enough to clear the treads or grip well on hard slippery surfaces. You would be surprised to know that some tests have shown that some of the better winter tires with softer rubber, actually stop and corner better on cold dry pavement then the Tires with the hard rubber on non winter tires.

 

You make some good points about using snow. My cap should be in next week so I won't be need to be shoveling to use the bed. Never used snow as weight before as I've always had a cap. The bed is going to get snow on top of the tube sand anyway and then I might end up with too much weight. Plus it will be easier to get rid of the snow without the sand. Think I'll just let the snow stay in the bed. Not planning on putting any extra in.

 

I'll apologize in advance for any plates you see that originate from S of Kentucky.

Those on the Northern side, well, I understand. There's lots of them here now too.

 

Understand, albeit engine braking is a minimal part of the whole braking scheme.

My point was more to 'grip', which is what the tires provide, and that applies to both engine and system braking.

If braking ability exceeds the ability of the grip of the tires, you just keep moving. Much less likely to be a problem with proper winter tires. And of course those same tires will enhance the 4wd 'going' function as well.

 

I have friends in Huntersville and a cousin in Concord.

When I visited this spring, I couldn't believe the amount of vehicles off the road because of rain. They all said it was normal.

Can't imagine how people down there handle snow.

 

I do the same every snow storm. Most avoid the curvy mountain roads and they get plowed last. Doesn't bother me with dedicated snows and 4WD, and it keeps other people away from me.

 

The idea of engine braking in 4 wd is the biggest reason I often shift to 4 wd going done snow covered hills when I did not going up. Engine brake too aggressively with only rwd and you can swing the rear end out.

 

Wow small world. And Yeah people suck at driving here. I had to help a dude in a minivan today get up a steep hill cause he was just spinning tires like crazy. Like if you car can't handle the snow it's not worth it. I just gave him a quick to to the top

 

Went out and bought a hitch mount D ring and tow straps just in case my prerunner gets stuck haha. But 300 lbs of sand, fresh snow tires and sensible driving made my prerunner handle great in the snow!

 

what do you have for snows. They look like they have exc tread.

 

Blizzaks 265/70/17

Had them on my car before and they work great!