Any Tips for Driving Tacos in Snow?

I roll with 350# in the back. Slow down. Still slide a little, nothing I can't handle.

 

As stated, tires make probably the biggest difference in how well a vehicle handles in the snow. But what many folks don't realize is that the width of those tires can make a huge difference too. Most folks assume that a big, wide, nasty looking tire will be great in the snow. That's only partially true. A wider tire will want to float up and over the snow. Trust me, other than trying to cross an open snowy field, that's the last thing you want. Truth be told, narrower tires are much better for most on road winter driving situations because they concentrate the weight of the vehicle on a smaller footprint. As proof, take a look at a World Rally Car (WRC) out fitted for a race on snow / ice. All that horsepower (and all wheel drive) goes through skinny tires.

I actually went down from the stock 265 all season tires on my 4x4 Tacoma to 225 ice & snow tires for the winter. Much better! (Looks kind of dorky though.)

 

Common sense, give yourself plenty of distance you and the car in front of you. Have a light foot, you won’t do or go anywhere with a heavy foot in snow. Pay attention to the other idiots on the road.

 

Interesting. I would have thought it made no difference, learned something new!

 

I think 4 wheel ABS kind of kicks that pretty well into the can though. I doubt that old Jeep had ABS.

 

This thread makes me wish I lived some place warm....how to drive taco in sunny 75 degree weather...with dogs and headed to the beach

 

You get engine braking to the front with 4x4 too though.

Next time it’s snowing out, stay in 2WD and brake. Then go to 2WD and throw it in neutral and then brake and see which is more stable.

 

Be careful, last night on the national news there was a 2nd gen DC that ended up against a utility pole or a tree, the B pillar on the driver's side got pushed in pretty good. Think it was in Massachusetts, hopefully the occupants are ok.

 

If you live in Tennessee or anywhere near, go out for milk and bread at least 3 days before a predicted snow event or you will find empty shelves and then stay the hell home no matter how little it is, or you stand a good chance of being creamed.

 

I'll have to try it, but I still think ABS trumps engine braking. The hardest thing for folks like me - who learned to pump the brakes in a panic stop on a low friction surface - is to unlearn that and simply imbed the brake pedal in the floor.

 

I didn’t say it didn’t trump it. ABS is another feature; you’ll still have ABS. But this is like someone saying that good tires help with braking and someone else saying that ABS trumps good tires. Well, ok, but we were talking about something in addition to ABS. Does that make sense?

 

Yea, I guess I can buy that. Without ABS, I'll buy it any day of the week. In fact without ABS, and with locked front, rear and center diffs, I'll really buy it!

 

With ABS, when you put your truck in 4x4, you are more stable while braking. Without ABS, when you put your truck in 4x4, you are more stable while braking.

Engine braking does a lot, especially on descents. I still remember being in an “oh shit” moment, when I was trying to creep down an iced covered road to get to my house. Every time I tried to move (in my 2015, with ABS), I just started sliding to the right towards a parked car, instead of being able to turn or control brake.

I put it in 4x4 low and was able to creep down the iced road instead of just sliding the second I tried to start moving.

 

Here. Watch this.

https://youtu.be/y-gEXP6hECA

Turns out, I was wrong. 4x4 actually trumps ABS. That was surprising to me. As I expected though, ABS on, 4x4 trumps 2WD.

 

T

This has to be the most important so far! How could I have forgotten that, it’s the same for North Carolina.

 

Team O'neil showing us the truths again

 

Tire chains turned my 5-lug RC into a snowmobile last year, even with All-Season tires!

 

LOL - I want to say "drive it like you stole it". I live in Canada where there is not much time put into snow removal. Wait 10 minutes and it will change. My $0.02 is slow and steady wins the race.

 

I guess my other question is will 4x4 start binding if I'm driving around switch backs etc?