Snow tires vs LSD in the snow.

[JohnnyO]

Winter tires all the way.

Changing from No seasons to Blizzaks on our Explorer Sport changed personality from being un-driveable to no longer needing 4x4, well almost. My 4x2 Ranger had 4 studded grips and I did better than most 4x4s with their all seasons.

Had I been aware of how much better winter tires made driving in ice and snow, I'd probably still own a Blazer.

If you're going to get one or the other then I'd say get snow tires. Been running Blizzaks on my wife's cars for ten years and her minivan goes as good in snow as my 4x4 and stops and turns better. Blizzaks are the shiznit but Firestone Winterforce are pretty good too and don't cost a lot. Or whatever generic snow tires your local tire shop has would still be better than all-seasons. Dedicated snow tires are also (usually) made with softer rubber so they grip better in the cold and on ice. Another upside is that your summer tires last longer.

Limited-slips are better, in a way, but if your tires suck then the whole rear end of the truck will want to slide out. With an open rear one wheel will spin but the other will help the vehicle track straight. With a l/s rear, both wheels will spin and break traction and it will want to slide around. You have power going to two wheels, which is better, but it takes a little different driving technique to master.

Hope this helps.

 

[bobbywalter]

bummer...



https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=Geolandar+I/T+G072&partnum=175QR6G072




double bummer i suspect they are quitting them....bastards. they had no info when i called... had i known i would have stashed a set under the house....for 183 each....



bummer i missed it.

 

[sgtsandman]

Food for thought. If you plan to do quite a bit of trail riding in the winter, the BDGs mentioned earlier might be the better way to go. Winter/snow tires are ok on the trail but not as good as an AT.

Of course, the winter/snow tire would be generally better on the road with snow than the BDGs would be.

Pick where you want to compromise.


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[Dirtman]

I don't do much offroading in my little 2wd.

 

[pjtoledo]

I don't do much offroading in my little 2wd.

you could easily fix that with the wrong tires.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

you could easily fix that with the wrong tires.

 

[19Walt93]

In run Wrangler RTS's all year,if I used snows I'd have 4 so the turning and braking would be predictable.A limited slip is great in a straight line but can cause the rear end to slide out when accelerating or on a side hill,fun if you did it on purpose,less fun if it surprises you.

 

[saskbill]

you could easily fix that with the wrong tires.

Or taking LSD in the snow...

 

[sgtsandman]

I don't do much offroading in my little 2wd.

You will be surprised where you can take a RWD truck. Don’t short change yourself or the truck.

Anyway, that being the case, winter tires would probably be your best choice. They will also perform ok in the dirt but not as well as an AT or Mud tire.

Since you plan on only getting two tires, hit a junkyard for some steel rims so you only have to pay for mounting and balancing once. They will get salt and slop on them, so who cares if they look pretty. I did that with my truck and just swap the rims and tires every spring and fall.


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[rusty ol ranger]

You will be surprised where you can take a RWD truck. Don’t short change yourself or the truck.

A 2wd can actually be pretty capable with a good driver and good tires.

A buddy of mine had a stock 1500 GMC 1500 4wd. I went to the ORV park with him with my old 77, he was shocked as hell at the stuff i could make it through. He didnt get thru nothing i couldnt.

Just gotta have a good grasp on when to hammer on it and when to finesse and spend a lil more time picking your line.

 

[Danno1985]

Winter tires man. Check out the Blizzak DM-V2s, they're amazing. First thing I did after I bought my 2010 XLT a couple weeks ago was throw some Blizzaks on it. Go for a tall/narrow size rather than wide. I went with 235/75r15. You'd be surprised at how a set of four modern winter tires will transform a vehicle in snow. Forget the LSD. Limited-slip with crappy tires will make you hate your truck worse because instead of just spinning one tire, which is admittedly embarrassing, the back end of your truck will be stepping out and trying to pull you into the nearest ditch or tree at every turn or slight incline. In my experience, limited slip can be unpredictable if you aren't used to it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Winter tires man. Check out the Blizzak DM-V2s, they're amazing. First thing I did after I bought my 2010 XLT a couple weeks ago was throw some Blizzaks on it. Go for a tall/narrow size rather than wide. I went with 235/75r15. You'd be surprised at how a set of four modern winter tires will transform a vehicle in snow. Forget the LSD. Limited-slip with crappy tires will make you hate your truck worse because instead of just spinning one tire, which is admittedly embarrassing, the back end of your truck will be stepping out and trying to pull you into the nearest ditch or tree at every turn or slight incline. In my experience, limited slip can be unpredictable if you aren't used to it.

The only way it is predictable is if you predict it to be unpredictable.

 

[Dirtman]

the back end of your truck will be stepping out and trying to pull you into the nearest ditch or tree at every turn or slight incline.

My truck already does this with an open diff lol, the rear end always wants to slide to the right. I just bought a set of cheap steel rims and ordered my first set of blizzaks for the rear, ill get fronts when i get more cash.

 

[19Walt93]

I just noted that I said I used RTS tires,I don't they're RSA's.My 04 4x4 came with RTS's and I took them off after the first snow storm because I couldn't steer or stop.The RSA'a on my 11 do well in snow,run quiet on pavement,and are wearing well.

 

[Ranger850]

Car and Driver mag put sno..., winter tires on a Vette and Porsche and drove them around in the snow. It's was interesting. The vette had really wide tires that did not help, but both drove well in the snow