2WD'ers: How does your truck handle in the snow?

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by Scootin 81 C20

In snow, mine handles great. When there's ice around, my truck handles like an unskilled rider on a unicycle.

Is there anything I can do to help my tires get slightly more traction on ice without going to chains?

You can have them siped by the local tire store. Runs under $10 a tire and makes a huge difference on the ice. No effect on the tires performance on dry pavement but it weakens the tread blocks a little if you do any rock crawling.

[smashingchuck]

You guys that think a posi rear end is going to HELP in the snow are crazy. All they do is make the whole ass end of the truck slide around even more.

I've got some Nokian tires on the burb is it doesn't do to bad in the snow.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

You guys that think a posi rear end is going to HELP in the snow are crazy. All they do is make the whole ass end of the truck slide around even more.

I've got some Nokian tires on the burb is it doesn't do to bad in the snow.

If you don't know how to drive in the snow posi hurts Too much wheel speed will kick the rear end out just like a high powered car will do.

They don't plow the streets around my house more than once every couple years. Three times in the past 20 years according to my next door neighbor. We got over eight feet of snow last year and they plowed once. The roads just turn into compacted ice. Without posi my Blazer couldn't get up the hill leaving my neighborhood without being in 4x4 mode even with aggressive tread siped mud & snow rated tires. Once I put posi into it I rarely needed 4x4 mode anywhere.

[C-10 simplex]

i don't drive my truck in the snow---or the rain if possible!

NOTE: a FWD car is not nessesarily better in the snow.


However, i envision myself in the future getting another 2wd truck and it would become my daily driver replacing my current FWD cavalier daily driver.

And if so, i would consider:

a) these or similar tires for all four corners despite being only 2WD:
http://www.carparts.com/INTERCO-SUPE...3161_10618.car

b) Would consider filling the tires with water instead of air.

c) Would consider interesting and inovative products such as:'
http://www.insta-chain.com/

We don't actually get that much snow here, but the reason why i'm being so hardcore about it is that:

1) Somehow i get gigs where my boss would have a field day if a couldn't make it in----even though they themselves couldn't make it it.

2) It's fun to get thru the snow anyways.

3) i need to get to work pretty bad regardless. Better than sitting at home making no $$$.

[GmtGmt]

here is what we drive in the snow in my friends import galant 36 psi in all 4 tires, mud and snow tires upfront
normal tires on the back and snow chains on the front works superb

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

If you don't know how to drive in the snow posi hurts

I guess I'm just really stupid.

[7281-bowtie]

maybe its just couse i had to drive in the snow and ice for the past couple years for 8 month out of the year, (kinda a pro at it lol ) but my 81 with fatty tires front and rear seem to do pretty good, once i got to a hill and tryed to take off it would spin but finaly got going. and with the 383 it would be pretty easy to spin out if i didnt know how to drive in it.

by the way i lived in oregon at mt hood for the past 21 years.

[C-10 simplex]

P.S. if you really need to get around:

http://www.mattracks.com/html/88_series_model.htm

[piecesparts]

Mine handles great with the posi in the rear.

[powerdriver 1958]

Only two wheel drive I have now is a dually,I hope I never have to find out how good it is in the snow!!Had a 76 3+3 that was horrible in the snow Until the 2500 lbs. overhead camper was on it.Then stopping was a problem.

[slipkorn34]

im good with my posi, traction when i want it and when i feel like it i can kick the back end out, oh and im runnin 275/60 in back 255/70 in front

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

I guess I'm just really stupid.

That was a joke. I know somebody from Michigan knows how to drive in the snow. I understand your point that posi does make it hard to maneuver some times but my point was that it is a necessary evil on very bad road surfaces. Sometimes one tire just can't do the job so you have to deal with the tail happy aspects of a rig with posi.

[silverbullet01]

i just switched my 1986 chevy chevy over from 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton. with floating axles, 10 leafs to a side, and big block 3/4 ton springs. with snow tires on it, and a box full of junk, its pretty good in the snow.

[C-10 simplex]

Correction/Update:

i would, for myself, consider these tires:

http://www.ok4wd.com/index.php/catal...ders_bias_ply/

i would get two for the rear at first, and then when the budget allows and if they fit under the front fenders w/out rubbing when turning, i would get a pair for the front as well even though it's only 2WD.

The thing i like about these tires is you can use a stock rim with them.

At $181 and $159 respectively, they are well within my budget.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

My 4x4 with the hubs unlocked does ok in snow.... Just drive really slow and dont put yourself in a situation and any vehicle will do ok in snow.

[C-10 simplex]

The other thing i like about the gateway buckshots is i feel a narrower tire may work better in the snow as opposed to a wider one---the skinner tire i think can dig a little deeper.


2) Pls discuss the use of water instead of air in a tire to improve traction.

[Curly86]

With a little weight in the back it does fine runnin 31x11.50x15 on the back

[74 C-30]

dually with 1000 pound cement block...does damn good!

[piecesparts]

I once carried some concrete pads in the back of my truck, for winter. I slid sideways and hit a curb and the block moved the inner finder over about 5 inches and I had to replace.

[donut]

Originally Posted by C-10 simplex

The other thing i like about the gateway buckshots is i feel a narrower tire may work better in the snow as opposed to a wider one---the skinner tire i think can dig a little deeper.


2) Pls discuss the use of water instead of air in a tire to improve traction.

My preference is for a skinnier tire (even my 4x4 is 245/75-16). IMO I prefer to "dig" with the narrower tire as opposed to a "flotation" style tire.

2) I believe the water is for weight. I've mainly heard about it being used on tractors.

I'm also a firm believer in studded tires (for my 2wd vehicles) and added weight, within reason. (you have to stop and turn also)

My '73 is running with a 1/2 yd of 3/4" crushed rock, helps offset the added weight of the plow. Even my wife's Trailblazer has a couple hundred pounds of extra weight for traction.
FWIW, I've only owned 3 4wd vehicles in my life, 2 of which are in my driveway now.

[billnorman]

Mine responded well to 3-400 pounds of weight. The added weight works best if added to the absolute rearmost of the bed. Any added weight here is multiplied by the distance it is from the actual rear axle by leverage. Weight added forward of this point is actually less effective. To prove this point, stand on your tailgate and walk toward the cab, see the rear of the truck rise the further you go forward.

[billnorman]

Hope this isn't a double post. I add weight as far to the back end of the truck bed as possible, 3 to 400 pounds helps a lot. If you add weight the further aft it is the more it helps. If you doubt this, start walking on your tailgate and walk forward, see the rear end rise.

[1979,GMC,1ton-addict]

me personaly ive never had a problem on snow considering i live in canada and all we have for seasons and three include snow and one includes my personal fave.......black ice YAY!! no but snow not to bad ice not bad black ice deadly bad recently i crashed my truck into a median on a 4 lane highway cause i caught the black ice wrong...the median took more damage than my truck did lol.....alll inall i love slideing my truck on ice on purpose just for fun but in all my life of driveing 2wd never once have i used weight in the back oh i almost forgat i have two shot leafs on the rear passenger side too......im just a dare devil at heart but my advise buddy is use weight unless ur real ballsy or u really dont value ur truck lol mine is 34 years old so idc if it busts lol have fun and good luck

[pat386]

no snow to be found here!

[misternash2]

Originally Posted by powerdriver 1958

Only two wheel drive I have now is a dually,I hope I never have to find out how good it is in the snow!!Had a 76 3+3 that was horrible in the snow Until the 2500 lbs. overhead camper was on it.Then stopping was a problem.

duallys are 4 wheel drives, even with IFS