Not very happy with snow performance

I don't think traction control was an option on Tacomas back then.

 

Those tires look iffy at best. I would opt for new rubber!

 

Yes, your tires look they are near end of life.

For your infrequent snowfalls, I wouldn't suggest a tire specific for snow conditions. Although, I would suggest a set of tires rated for Mud and Snow, M/S rating. Consider a set of Michelin Defenders. Agreed they are not the best tire for off-road or for snow, but they are a good tire for typical drivers and typical driving conditions.

If you find yourself in a climate where snow is common, then spend time playing in a snow covered parking lot. Learn how to manage the situation with starting, stopping, turning, sliding.....how to recover, how to control....... do donuts.....play. Do this in 2WD and 4WD. You will discover the truck has different handling between 2WD and 4WD.

Slipping and sliding is part of driving in snow, slush......winter driving.

 

I have the Cooper AT3's and I can't get stuck in snow even if I try. We got 10" here last night with well over 1' drifts and it digs and goes through like nothing. Highly recommend them. I get we have different trucks, but these tires are great and should treat you just as well. Also has done great on ice.

 

My '97 Taco has 31/10.5R15 BFG AT KO2s, RTT, manual 5spd. Never had any issues in snow, slush, packed snow etc since 1997. My 19yr old son has been driving this truck for 3 years now, and this was his first year getting to drive in this white stuff. After a trip up to our local forest two weeks ago and then this past week, a few laps around the High School parking lot, up and down some local steep residential hills and such he was good to go. After this, he just need experience with tailgaters and how to distance himself from that kind of A-Hole drivers.

For the most part he can get around just fine in 2wd, even in moderate hills. Use momentum to get started and control the spin. It is easier to reduce wheel spin in a manual, as you can start in a taller gear off the line, as well as slip the clutch just enough yet still make forward travel.

 

Sure blame the truck for some worn out crap tire you have on it.

 

Sure there was, but you get a different quality depending on whose ass is in the driver's seat.

 

I actually don't know.

 

ABS yes. Traction control, not really. In OP's case, no.

VSC was apparently an option on some 2004 models, but is very rare.

 

My wife and I drove the '97 until I purchased my '17. Still trying to get used some of the added safety features on the new truck that the old truck never had.

I do NOT like anti lock brakes. I grew up driving vehicles with manual brakes and with that, I got a real feel for what the tires are doing and how to stop properly. I am so used to having full control over my brakes that on my '17 can seem unpredictable at what it will do, and when.

However, the traction control is interesting and I am gaining more support for it, but still turn it off immediately when not on pavement.

 

I had issues with at first with ABS. I learned to drive on winter roads with RWD, bias ply tires, no ABS, no traction control.......

It is a mindset thing. The hardest thing to get over is "pumping" the brakes when stopping. Now, I've learned to brake as I normally would on winter roads, if/when the ABS fires, then I need to resist the urge to release a little brake pedal pressure. Just hold the pedal pressure and let the ABS work. It took a while for me to break my training for brake "pumping". The ABS system can "pump" the brake many times quicker and with more control than I can.

 

I have aggressive traction control in my Golf R and when it rains it feels like I'm hydroplaning even when I'm not because it decides not to let me have full control of steering anymore due to its independent 4 wheel braking and 4motion AWD... it ends up making me go straight on curvy highways... not safe. I hated ABS in my 99 Ranger but it's seemed to work well on my R and 3rd gen 4Runner.

But I agree, I'd rather have the control, even if it means splitting the brake pedal into a clover

 

I think we are dating ourselves now.
Probably pumped ethyl at some point as well.

 

Those tires don't seem to have much tread. Nothing is more important the the tires in snow.

 

Who's Ethyl?

 

My mom.

 

Traction control on 1st gens was available in the form of an optional 4wd drivetrain

 

As a first time snow driver in Texas, yeah it is easy to lose control on ice. However any vehicle will have trouble on hills and at that point its just about keeping momentum and also good tires. Pick yourself up some BFG K02s.

 

Snow and ice are worlds apart to drive on

if an ice storm I find a way to stay home if the roads aren’t treated

if snow put it in 4x and biz as usual

 

Weight

Driver experience

Air Temperature

Then Tires

With my Celica weight behind the drivers seats about 200 pounds I went in and out my driveway all that Winter .

Regular Street tires