Are my tires good eonugh for the snow/ice

hey guys, I recently purchased a new Tacoma 4dr 4x4 TRD sport and i plan on taking it up to the mountains in a month or 2, the tires that came with the vehicle are Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684 II. Im not sure if there gonna be good enough for the snow and ice I might be comming across. or do I need to buy some chains. Does any one know if these are rated for ice and snow.

 

That's a big negative... In 4X4 you'll be able to move and travel at low speeds but tracking down the road won't be an option. Haha those tires on snow just sit on top and slide around. They say they are an all-season tire but I'd hesitate to travel much in inclement weather at any type of speed. No tire really does much on ice without studs or chains. You'd want a soft rubber compound for ice and lots of "tread edges" What mountains? Wouldn't hurt to have a set of chains I guess if you're going to run those tires.

 

Depends on what you are doing in the mountains. If you are staying on main roads fequently plowed and driven. You will be fine with stock tire. I was. But get chains incase (probably wont need them). If you plan on being up there awhile or doing night driving you might want to get some ATs.

 

This too ^

It's manageable just not ideal with stock tires. I have always been a tire guy so I'm a little biased. I ran my stock dunlops last winter and just sucked it up and was very careful. It's hard to buy a new set of tires a month after you buy a brand new truck...

 

If you go through chain control in California, they might check and see if you have chains in case the road conditions change to R3 ahead. Even when you have 4wd and snow rated tires, you are still required to CATTY chains. They don't want you to go just so far, have the road deteriorate, and then have you stuck.

 

I hated those tires, but drove through two Canadian winters on those. I would never buy them again, but could not justify buying a new set at the time since they had enough thread left. They are tires, they are round so they will do the job at the end of the day, but there are much better tires for winter out there (Probably most of them).

 

Im gonna be in Big Bear, CA. im sure it wont be bad on the roads but last year when I went up in the little regular cab tacoma there was people sliding into the walls left and right. (mostly because people in socal dont know how to drive when its not sunny and dry). I had some A/T tires and chains at that point so it wasnt a consern but my old chains dont fit the new tires.

 

Ya well we dont see much of anything resembling snow in southern California so I wanna make sure i dont slid into a wall in my new baby

 

If you just going up for the weekend. Pick up some chains and 200 to 300 pounds of sand bags from homedepo for 12 bucks and you will be fine. Remember it might not even snow while your there and then it would suck to have spent 1,000 on tires you didnt need. (unless you just want new tires)

 

Im gonna wait till the snow starts falling till i go, Ya im trying to avoid any purchases. sandbags are a good ides though, thanks

 

where did you get the bumper guard from, I like that its low profilefits with the whole bumper

 

Sandbags are a good idea. I lived in Saranac Lake, NY (frequently the coldest place in the lower 48) for 4 years and drove my 2000 Jeep Cherokee with about 200lbs of sand in the back and rarely even considered putting it into 4x4.

I'd say sand is the best bang for your buck, plus you can always sacrifice a bag and put some under your tires if you slide off on ice. I had to do that once .

 

In that case ill do that for sure

 

I had those same tires on my Sport. They are M&S rated and are acceptable in CA during chain controls. They would grip okay in 2 to 3 inches of fresh snow but when I dropped the PSI down and they were noticably better.

The M/T's are like being in a snow cat. Nothing has stopped them yet!

 

I used Traction Grit Tube sand. I like that better than beach sand because it was much more course which was better if you needed to use it for getting unstuck. That and it came in a long tube which fit better in the back of my Jeep.

 

Its an Avid bar. Im selling it. My allpro apex bumper is on the way!

 

x2

 

I found the Bridgestone Dueler H/T tire horrible in snow. Stopping the truck was really scary!

 

Here are the rules for snow chains/cables etc. in CA.

Road Information - Winter Driving Tips - Chain Controls

Before driving, check with the Caltrans Highway Information Network (CHIN) 800.427.7623

TYPES OF CHAIN CONTROLS:
During the winter months, motorists may encounter traction chain controls in the mountain areas within California. When chain controls are established, signs will be posted along the road indicating the type of requirement. There are three requirements in California.

Requirement One (R1): Chains, traction devices or snow tires are required on the drive axle of all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles.

Requirement Two (R2): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels.
(NOTE: Four wheel/all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.)

Requirement Three (R3): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

When conditions got to R3, we just shut down the roadway so you will likely not see that.

Ray

 

you will be fine just take your time and the chain law in Ca. is a joke I have never had to use them and wolf creek where I worked would average 350 in of snow a year.Mt tires are crap in winter weather unless you only drive in deep snow!!Plowed roads they are sliding all over the place.