Stock Wranger ATs w/ Kevlar in snow

My wife, dog, and I are heading up from San Diego to Park City over Christmas and I just saw that somebody had posted a question about tire chains so I was wondering if anybody had any experience, good, bad, or otherwise, with the stock OR tires in snow. We go skiing every year so I have some experience driving in snow but it's almost always been in a 2wd, 5.7L Tundra with Nitto all-seasons (which was fun/scary as @#$! some of the time).

 

Before I switched to my snow tires this season I had the stock Goodyear's on my OR and we had an early snowfall and accumulation.
They performed better than I expected to be honest, not as good as dedicated snow tires but not scary either. I was running in 4 wheel drive that day, and just give yourself lots of breaking room as this is where I felt the main difference was.

 

Im not sure but I dont think we can run studded tires in cali and the dealer makes you sign that paper saying you will only use cables on your truck.

 

Thanks for the responses. Glad to hear they are at least somewhat competent. I'll also, hopefully, have a set of Security Chain cables for the rears since Utah looks like it's getting a lot of fresh powder over the next couple of weeks.

 

I have never been so impressed by the performance of stock tires on a manufactured vehicle in snow. Toyota usually drops the ball on this, except with the Trail Teams or TRD Pro models. The Off Road this year seems to have come with some decent ones. I haven't wanted for traction yet.

Do the normal stuff: lots of stopping distance, increase reactionary gap, put some weight in the bed and keep it in 4x4. You're good to go.

If you're heading into a high mountain corridor I would bring a set of rear chains for security. You cannot put chains on the front of the Tacoma.

 

The stock tires work well in snow and icy conditions for me two weekends ago up in Angeles crest highway above the 6000 ft elevation. Was very surprised with them! I'd carry a set of chains for sure.

 

I used them in the dump of snow wisconsin got last week. I wasn't blown away with their traction, but they did the job and I felt safe driving. Just allow more room than you think you need for stopping and try and keep your momentum going forward.

 

Yup, leave lots of room! I remember my ABS and traction control working really hard for at least 30 miles that night. Had to put my AT into sport/manual mode also to use engine braking through the twisties up in the icy windy road.

 

I'd give them a B+ in snow for AT tires. Quite impressed.

 

The part along your route that's most likely to have hairy roads are the passes in central Utah (Fillmore area). Ive had more than a few white knuckle drives through that area. I-80 from SLC to Park City is usually dug out from major snow storms in short order. You'll be fine w/ stock tires.

 

in some of the mountain passes up there the cops won't let you proceed unless you install chains, 4wd or not.

 

Not aware of any such roads between SD and Utah.

 

I live in one of the snowiest citys in the U.S. and im not a big fan of these tires on my TRD OFF ROAD , i live in a hilly area and id give them maybe a 3 from 1 to 10. On my last taco i had a set of Michelin ltx at2 and they were amazing. When they were new thay had about 15/32nds of tread on them. The good years have about 9/32nds new which is quite a bit less than my previous Michelin tires. If i had the extra coin id replace em tomorrow !

 

I probably saw them in Colorado, but they are along parts of the Interstate. You will see snow chain pullouts.

 

Only use cables? Cable what?

 

They did okay for me. In anything icy I broke out the chains though. Real ones, not cable.

 

Concur the stock tires on TRD OR may be the best thing about this truck

 

IDK, I think I'd replace mine with the MTR w/ Kevlar instead.

 

No had those and they suck on pavement especially wet pavement. Duratracs were better all around than the MTR

Most don't like the stock tires because they don't "look cool"

 

I took the ats out on some icey NF roads last year, had to chain up 'cos truck didn't do so well with them. Been looking for an alternative.