Driving in the snow

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Ry' N Jen

Banned
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
9,242
Reaction score
13
Location
Slightly North of the 49° th. Parallel... In HongC
We just air down our M/T R's to about 18-22 psi and away we go!
I don't even put it in 4 wheel drive, I cheat and lock the rear end.
The only time I've had problems was when the snow is wet and heavy
and deep, then I've been high centered. But that's off road.
 

martin_metal_88

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
489
Reaction score
0
Location
Quebec,Canada
Snow tire, here in Quebec they are now mandatory in winter. But since you are from New-york, you could get some decent 4 season tire. But try not to keep them during summer or they'll tear off pretty fast. I've been driving for year in snow and with good tire, 4wd is just of no use...99% of the time FWD with a good set of rubber is far enough to get you everywhere you want. You also have to change your driving attitude, you can't take turn the same speed of accelerate the same way, and if you go on a slide, it's totally different to handle.
Don't stick your bumper to a wall ;)
 

NJallDAY

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2012
Messages
717
Reaction score
2
Location
New Jersey
I had a set of nitto terra grapplers on my old ram and they were unstoppable. If i can find a set for a good price thats what im going with. Im riding on a set of kelly thompsons that came with my kj and had no problems the other night. Never needed 4hi even when starting on hills, as everyones been saying, its all about good throttle control
 

dude1116

Full Access Member
Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
3,373
Reaction score
13
Location
Pompton Plains, NJ
We just air down our M/T R's to about 18-22 psi and away we go!
I don't even put it in 4 wheel drive, I cheat and lock the rear end.
The only time I've had problems was when the snow is wet and heavy
and deep, then I've been high centered. But that's off road.

Airing down actually hurts your performance in snow. It makes your tire a wider, softer surface that isn't able to cut through the snow and onto the pavement, where it can get grip, as well as a fully aired up tire.

Curb weight usually helps too.
 

HoosierJeeper

Gold Supporter/Admin
Staff member
Administrator
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
20,874
Reaction score
299
Location
Western WI
I had a set of nitto terra grapplers on my old ram and they were unstoppable. If i can find a set for a good price thats what im going with. Im riding on a set of kelly thompsons that came with my kj and had no problems the other night. Never needed 4hi even when starting on hills, as everyones been saying, its all about good throttle control

Love my Terras....got them on the KJ and LR3.
 

dude1116

Full Access Member
Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
3,373
Reaction score
13
Location
Pompton Plains, NJ
Fortunate for us we don't get much snow here in the city.
And when we do its easier for Jen to just take the day off work and let all the "New" drivers run into each other!

That's usually my take. Stay inside until all the bad drivers crash, then it's safe to go out.
 

tjkj2002

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2006
Messages
10,612
Reaction score
41
Location
Somewhere between being sane and insane!
Airing down actually hurts your performance in snow. It makes your tire a wider, softer surface that isn't able to cut through the snow and onto the pavement, where it can get grip, as well as a fully aired up tire.

Curb weight usually helps too.
That can be debated eitherway.

I run MT/R K's,35x12.50's, and have zero issues in snow/ice but then again my KJ weighs 6000lbs+ and I normally run my tires at 27-28psi.Yep I sure do spin the tires,but for fun mostly and the fact I'm to lazy to get out and lock the front hubs in.Can't just leave my hubs locked in either,no needle bearings in my front axle u-joints as I decided brute strength was better then longevity so I installed CTM's.
 

dude1116

Full Access Member
Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
3,373
Reaction score
13
Location
Pompton Plains, NJ
That can be debated eitherway.

I run MT/R K's,35x12.50's, and have zero issues in snow/ice but then again my KJ weighs 6000lbs+ and I normally run my tires at 27-28psi.Yep I sure do spin the tires,but for fun mostly and the fact I'm to lazy to get out and lock the front hubs in.Can't just leave my hubs locked in either,no needle bearings in my front axle u-joints as I decided brute strength was better then longevity so I installed CTM's.

Spinning tires is fun. Laziness excuse not needed. :cheers:

And I suppose if you have deep cutting M/Ts then it doesn't matter if you're aired down or not.
 

sailorbowman

New Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
20
Reaction score
0
Location
michigan
SRA's work well for my 06 Liberty in the snow, ice, rain or dry. Everything is factory stock.

PICNIC = Problem in chair, not in configuration.
 

martin_metal_88

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
489
Reaction score
0
Location
Quebec,Canada
Yokohama Geolander and Nokian Hakkapeliita 7 are awesome snow tire :) But the nail on the nokain are useless nowaday with all the snow plowing stuff and such -_-
 

jeeper4life

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
761
Reaction score
0
Location
Fort Wayne
My KJ has some cheap falling apart firestone something on it. In the past winters it has done pretty good with those. I have some BFG all terrains for it coming, and I'm pretty excited.

'traction'
 

HoosierJeeper

Gold Supporter/Admin
Staff member
Administrator
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
20,874
Reaction score
299
Location
Western WI
They aren't real good, put anything else on and you'll see why.
 

Luke

Interloper
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
4,201
Reaction score
671
Location
Bancroft, Canada
The tires on my Liberty are Goodyear Wrangler ST, are there bad tires?

in a word YES

It's not that the tire is bad (OK it is) but it has a specific purpose which it fulfills quite nicely. They are on your Jeep to lower the sticker price and get you off the lot. :)

They are the stock tire (and lowest grade at that) for most Liberty's.

Mine were brand new... anything approaching "spirited" driving even on dry pavement, and they will let you down with potentially dramatic results. :disgust:
 

Dave

Administrator
KJ Supporting Member
KK Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
15,567
Reaction score
15
Location
on here
The tires on my Liberty are Goodyear Wrangler ST, are there bad tires?

Not too bad on dry hot sticky summer blacktop pavement when new. Whatever you do, don't get them wet or worse, let snow get under them. They should have a "do not get wet" warning label on them.

Dave
 

jdonovan

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2012
Messages
41
Reaction score
0
Location
New York
Thank you for telling me about these tires, I am going to get rid of them before the next snow.
 

Latest posts

Members online

Top