How does your Tacoma perform in snow?

I have lock stock and barrel 2012 Tacoma SR5 4x4 4cyl 5-speed transmission with original Dunlop Grand Trek AT20 All Season tires. We've had a lot of snow here on Lake Erie this year with drifts as high as 4ft. So far this is the first test I've had since November 2011 when I bought my truck new on how it performs in snow. I'm pretty impressed to say the least. I haven't done anything crazy per say, but driving on un-plowed roads with 6" or more of snow it has performed above my expectations. I have no weight in the bed other than snow. How does your Tacoma perform in the snow?

 

good as long as your in 4wd. if theres an inch of snow on the road, i just put it in 4wd. helps alot with braking also.

 

Same as you -- no problems at all. I was pleasantly surprised especially with the stock tires.

 

How does 4wd help with braking?

 

I was actually pleasantly surprised how good my taco does in the snow, especially with mudders. When I got it my buddy told me how horrible the first Gen he used to have was due to the light weight, said it was probably the worst winter vehicle he ever had. I dunno if its the lack of power from the 2.7 with around 300k miles on it or what but I find it pretty controllable.

 

The way it's biased in 2WD it'll be pulsing ABS on the front wheels (i.e. they're skidding) before the rear ones can bite anywhere near as much. This keeps the truck controllable because the rear end isn't sliding out.

In 4WD the front brakes slow the rear wheels through the driveline, effectively allowing you to modulate at the limit of all your available traction and reducing your stopping distance. Unfortunately if you panic and jab the brakes hard enough you could potentially lose lateral control in a four wheel skid.

Gotta judge which is best for the situation. I usually use 2WD in ice so I can feel when it's slippery through wheelspin, unless it's black ice so bad that any wheelspin = ditch.

Rule of thumb, if my Tacoma can't go through it with MS2s, then only the snowmobiles (or other Tacomas with beefier tires) should be out. The worst so far was about a month ago when we had some truly nasty drifting going on. I was trying to get home and it seemed every road I got to was blocked with police and wreckers. I had to cut north somewhere and I finally found one where no one was stuck, but for a mile and a half on that road I was digging through uncharted territory in 2nd gear. That was a little spooky but it never gave indications of being beyond its abilities.

 

Changing to Michelin MS2s fixed my issues with hyper-ABS and it is great in the snow. Stock Tires Are Crap.

 

x100. It's now a rarity to actually need 4WD, which is a pleasant change

 

When I had mine you pretty needed 4wd for flurries with the stock tires on the Sport. It was awesome in the snow once I put Duratracs on. Went almost anywhere in 2wd with those things I really only used the 4wd in the snow just to get use out of it and not out of necessity.

 

My 2010 was the same setup - did great in the snow.

I agree that the tires are the weak link, but I wasn't going to swap out brand new tires for the 1-2 times a year the snow was bad.

 

The stock tires were not that great on my 2009 4 banger. But driving skill does come into play as well.

 

ive had 5 subarus before i bought my truck and ill say I'm impressed.

 

I am impressed as well! So glad I got the 4x4, it is like cheating!

 

My 2011 reg cab is awesome in the snow. I don't mind the at20 tires that came stock. Got 67k out of them and had to replace them for inspection so I couldn't complain

 

1st gen prerunner here, was out in the snow this afternoon up here in VA, about 5" new stuff, pretty easy to maneuver with tires aired down and extra weight in the bed, I live in the country, back roads with lots of hills, took a trip to town for a second gym workout of the day (figured tomorrow might just be a no go), 25MPH and no problems...just got to be smart when you are out in it...however, I draw the line when the roads are glazed ice, I stay home....

 

No issues with the recent snow and ice in the Southeast. Put on Hankook Dynapro ATMs a month ago. 2 and 4WD Handled really well, much better than the stock Dunlops.

 

The truck is great,2009 Tacoma 4 banger/5 sp. Tires suck,Michelin X ice.No good in deep snow.


later tig1

 

i just got to test this due to our Southern Snowpacalypse. my driveway was a 2" deep sheet of ice this morning and my little taco just walked right out like it wasn't even there. about 10 miles to town on consistent black ice and it never complained once. very pleased.

 

My truck loves to play in the snow/ice, but hates driving normal on it. 96 2wd on some cheap-ass Fuzions. He's had two chances to be a Snowta this year. Going around corners, the tires spin, and sometimes I might get sideways without trying. But I enjoy it, so I don't mind. I just throw some shingles in the back and have at it.

 

Cruising the streets in 1-2" of snow was no problem even in 2wd the whole time. 4wd is just a nice safety net, in case. Also on factory Dunlops.