Snow Chains: Who Runs Them?

Yeah I was leaning to winters for quite some time until recently. I'm mostly unbothered by winter driving, but always worried about that moment you hit a big patch of ice on a turn going downhill... Only thing you can do is drive slow and react slow

 

My issue is everyone thinks they are amazing drivers, but we all make mistakes, so a winter tire leaves room for operator error. I like the heads up it gives you instead of instant ABS action. Tacomas behave odd in the winter, especially with empty beds.

If you do go with winters, go 245/75R16, they are cheaper and skinnier. Not a massive difference, but I like knowing I have pizza cutters for snow and ice.

 

Pick the tire that suits where you drive. I'm in central BC, max overnight we get is 6"-8" of snow. (ok rarely we'll get 12"). Snow traction is less an issue. Ice traction is the greater concern. Bluzzaks or Michelin X-Ice on the wife's car.

I'm in the bush, I hate putting chains on but will do so if absolutely needed. I carry a good set of v-bar chains.

 

Thanks. What do you mean by: "I like the heads up it gives you instead of instant ABS action."

Plan was to definitely add some weight in the back - with sand and eventually a topper. Was already on the 245 route so agree with you there. And yeah winter driving is all about humility and patience. I remember driving up 91 once to go skiing in Vermont with ice covered roads. I was driving a rental jeep with all-seasons. Got passed my multiple vehicles that I passed later in the ditch...

 

My experience with 'odd winter behavior' was my GMC Jimmy (Chevy Blazer) with bald tires in lake effect Indiana winters. Hopefully the Tacoma will beat that... Or at least be as good as my Outback with M+S

 

My truck will "shift" or "step out" slightly when on black ice, whereas when I drive customers trucks with OEM tires, its instant ABS/traction interaction. So with winters, its you driving, with all seasons the truck takes over.

 

Years ago in Colorado for short drives in town, I'd put chains on the rear tires of an RX-7. Back then, the town would lightly plow and throw down sand at intersections. It was a pain putting chains on a low car! As long as the snow wasn't too deep to push through, it was like the RX-7 had four-wheel drive and was kind of fun.

 

When you get stuck, you're pretty stuck

 

I once made a pair of studded tires using some junk yard tires, inner tubes, carriage bolts, and a drill. I mounted them on my 2wd Datsun pickup and took it out to a frozen lake. Mounted on the rear, I had traction to get moving, but I could not steer for shit. Mounted on the front, I could steer, but it took forever to get up to speed. I settled on mounting one on the front and one on the rear being the best compromise. A complete set of 4 would have been ideal.

I also experimented with them in a ditch. They were great for digging holes in the frozen earth and when I got back on the road they made cool sparks.

 

I use a diamond pattern European design chain on mine when necessary. Similar to these https://www.tirechainsrus.com/cgi-t...3f0&ss_parm=A490c24ee025ff5fa72111663f2a19262

They are lower clearance then regular chains but provide more traction than cables. Plus they are a whole lot easier to put on. I have lived on the West coast most of my life where it snows, then melts, freezes, then snows again and the cycle continues. I’ve run 3 peak tires with success, but tire selection alone is not going to get me up or down a steep section of logging road where the snow has turned to ice. Especially if it’s exposed to sunlight and the sub-zero winds that are typical here. I know you have a 3rd gen. But I would at least consider these.

 

I bought these ones in an anticipation I may use it for my travels from lower 48 to Alaska in January. I ended up not using it at all. I did test them prior to the trip and they seem to work fine.

 

I'll comment...I expect he's indicating a potential to snap an axle. It's the same reason ATRAC cuts out above 3mph with the rear locker engaged. It's a legit warning ... personally, I've NEVER used the rear locker on snow and ice, with or without chains; ATRAC does the job for me. The only time I've used the rear locker is deep mud, and it was effective. My 2¢ FWIW.

 

I agree the locker isn't particularly useful in snow as long as you have A-TRAC/MTS. I think the same about mud though. The locker shines in higher traction situations where you are trying to prevent wheel spin while climbing over obstacles, e.g. rock crawling.

On the other hand, if I had a 2wd TRD Off Road, I would likely find the rear locker to be quite useful in snow and mud.

 

I've never used Nokian all seasons but I run the R3 SUV on both my SUV and my Tacoma and I've not had any issues at all with feathering or cupping. Out here in NorCal, YMMV. I much prefer them to my old Blizzaks.

Side note, I can't imagine living in CO and not running a dedicated winter tire. If you mount them on some cheap steelies you can change them yourself in 45 minutes in your driveway and experience substantially better winter performance with next to no downsides. It's really silly not to, honestly.

 

R3 is a winter, I was addressing the all weather and all season tires, like the "WR" or their all terrains.

 

To get the best performance of any tires/chains putting more weight over the rear axle is a BIG help.

Home Depot/Tractor Supply type places sell these 60-70lb sand/grit bags.They have a plastic liner so the sand doesn't get wet and freeze into a block. 4 of them fit side by side in the Tacoma bed.

 

Ok, just reporting my experience. The time I used it in deep mud I was already stuck and starting to mire in...engaged the locker and crept my way out ... in effect the locker and ATRAC worked as advertised ... I should add Stitch is MT ... so i don't have the multi-mode drive for you stuff.

 

I don’t doubt your experience.