Locked breaks

Hey everyone. I was driving my ‘24 Tacoma after it snowed and I was about to approach a STOP intersection and feel I have left enough space to start breaking and then all of a sudden it was like my breaks locked on me and my truck started sliding. I couldn’t do anything and felt helpless despite trying to pump the brakes. I was fortunate to not get into any accidents. People were looking at me like why isn’t this person stopping at the stop sign. I literally went through it and then eventually after a minute of not having any control, I was able to use the brakes again. Is it because it was possible black ice? Is this a response from snow? Because if it is, that’s scary and high risk of getting into an accident. I was not speeding at all. Going maybe 27-30mph... I literally am fortunate I didn’t get tboned or worse, yet alone have my kids with me. Thoughts? Still going to go to Toyota to get it checked.

 

Rear brakes probably got snow in them, maybe a rock (hope not) ... mechanical lock. If you have a garage at home get it in, apply heat to melt out and evaporate water to prevent "rust locking".

Do not forget that anti-lock brakes work by you holding pedal down and letting the system decide which wheel to release to manage control.

 

ABS sucks badly on snow covered ice.

It's far FAR worse then an experienced driver in a vehicle with no ABS but the knowledge to rhythm or cadence brake.

 

Would it be beneficial to invest in snow tires for the truck to prevent a scare like this again?

 

Just bought the truck, so I didn’t think I needed to invest in new snow tires since these tires haven’t been broken into for a while… advise?

 

Thank you! Will look into that.

 

Thank you!

 

Yes, REAL snow tires on steelies [just swap over come winter] and a couple hundred pounds of weight above the rear axle will transform the truck completely in snow. Real made for snow tires are so much better it's unreal. Downside is that they wear very quickly on bare pavement in the off winter season as the compounds are designed for the cold and snow.

 

not enough information to make that determination.

where are you located, how much snow are you dealing with, and what conditions?

snow tires only work when there's snow on the road.

in my midwest area, that means they only work while the snow is falling. the day after it's fallen, they salt the roads so heavy, i collect the extra for my driveway, and the road itself is entirely dry. which means to get the best use out of snow tires, i need to change them before the snow falls, then change back to my standard tires once the road is dry...

 

In CO.

 

in colorado, i believe you can run snow tires and chains. i would if i could.

 

About 45 years ago in Seattle you could run stud-tires in winter. Now you cannot, as far as I know.

 

Yes. The factory Tacoma tires are garbage except on dry pavement. Been this way for the past two decades if not longer. Every Toyota is hobbled by shitty factory tires. On this forum the factory tires get nicknamed "Rugged Fail", "Dunflop", etc.

Were you in 4WD? The ABS calibration is slightly different in 4WD, more suited for slippery surfaces. Stopping distance is reduced by about 15% as well in 4WD just from the front and rear axles being locked together.