Snow tires in a 2wd MT taco?

I live in NJ and was considering putting snow tires on my old 04 2WD taco steel wheels and buying newer alloy rims for the street in summer. The plan was then just to swap the wheels according to the season. I was curious if anyone here has done this and if so, have you noticed any improvement in your winter handling or was it just not worth it? Thanks.

 

I would just start with weight in the bed, makes a big difference on my 2wd Nissan. Other than that I’ve heard good things about snow tires.

 

I'm in Maine everything gets winter tires! Good 3" on the ground/roads this morning.

 

Absoulutely worth it IF you have enough weather, not just occasional days. Doing all 4 is important because the tires will help with steering too. Couple hundred # over the rear axle will help some, just make sure it can't shift around.

The biggest thing folks forget who have 4wd is that that's helpful to go. Not to stop. And those winter tires help the stopping a lot.

 

I have at least 4 extra wheels if I plan on a long Interstate drive 300 miles plus.

Snow tires and weight over the axle for the win. If studs are legal in NJ they are great for ice.

If you really must venture out before the snow plows you can not beat chains .

 

The thing is I have driven this truck in NJ since new and never really needed snow tires although it certainly has been dicey at times. I don’t use any bed weight either but I also don’t have many hills to go up and over either. I am wondering if it is worth the cost to most similar drivers as I guess I got used to this truck handling like crap in snow.

We probably don’t get enough snow in NJ to make them worth it but was wondering if anybody else thought similarly or if I am the only crazy person who drives all seasons in the snow with 2wd.

I wholeheartedly agree about 4wd only helping you to start not to stop. Almost all the cars I see spun out on the side of the road in winter are 4wd vehicles driven by folks who don’t know enough not to overdrive them based on the conditions. Studded tires is a good option I had not considered.

 

Myself I live in the hills with my Celica RWD I needed the weight just to get out of my 500' up hill drive way.

You know what your dealing with if you don`t feel the need for snow tires only you know.

I have chained up on the rear axle and taken extra mounted tires and swapped once out to plowed roads out of the hills.

It comes down to what will work for you.

Yes Snow tires and weight do improve winter driving but the best will be experience .

Good luck.

 

You live down here in South Jersey don't you.

 

From a guy who's had several small 2wd trucks in Ohio. Studs & weight & done.

 

It makes a massive difference, make sure to get directional tires to push the wet and slush out better.

I imagine NJ winters to be very wet and sloppy.

Studs are a good idea with the cheaper tires (westlake, uniroyal etc), otherwise the top tier tires (blizzak, xice etc) don't need them and typically out perform studs.

 

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, that's what 99.42% of folks had to drive with. Not to mention that 'all seasons' didn't exist. And in reality, they still don't. They are more of a 3 season, flake ratings or not.