4x4 on icy mountain roads - traction control on or off?

[ColdCase]

I've never sled on ice. I can say on snow the skinny sled moves better because it has to push less snow. Less resistance to the forward force. The length helps applies force to keep the sled from slipping sideways. I Kind of like a ship in the water. On ice you want more lbs per inch.

Not exactly, I've done a bunch of driving on snow and ice as well as mud, gotta get to work regardless.

There are a lot of variables but in general

What makes ice slippery is the water layer that builds up between the tire and ice due to pressure. On ice, the widest tire possible with softest compound works best as less water forms and there is a better chance to catch a bump or crack or imperfection to hang on to.

For snow, nothing sticks to snow like more snow, you want a tire that fills with snow and retains it in the tread (think sipes), opposite what you want for mud. Show will provide more traction near the surface (ground), so you don't want to float over, a narrow tire that can dig in is best up to you run into ground clearance issues. In that case its best to float

For mud you want aggressive lugs that can dig down to solid earth and throw of the mud, don't want the tread filling in. Stay out of mud holes if you don't have ground clearance.

For long tire life you want a hard compound, for a quiet ride you want little tread.

So life is a compromise. For the street, I just buy a set of blizzacks for winter and a highway tread for summer. I don't think they may a blizzack truck tire, so I don't drive the truck in bad weather.

Otherwise slow and steady, 4x4 can give you a sense of confidence, until you can't stop and slide through that intersection...

 

[dan1911]

Not exactly, I've done a bunch of driving on snow and ice as well as mud, gotta get to work regardless.

There are a lot of variables but in general

What makes ice slippery is the water layer that builds up between the tire and ice due to pressure. On ice, the widest tire possible with softest compound works best as less water forms and there is a better chance to catch a bump or crack or imperfection to hang on to.

For snow, nothing sticks to snow like more snow, you want a tire that fills with snow and retains it in the tread (think sipes), opposite what you want for mud. Show will provide more traction near the surface, so you don't want to float over, a narrow tire that can dig in is best up to you run into ground clearance issues. In that case its best to float

For mud you want aggressive lugs that can dig down to solid earth and throw of the mud, don't want the tread filling in. Stay out of mud holes if you don't have ground clearance.

For long tire life you want a hard compound, for a quiet ride you want little tread.

So life is a compromise. For the street, I just buy a set of blizzacks for winter and a highway tread for summer. I don't think they may a blizzack truck tire, so I don't drive the truck in bad weather.

Otherwise slow and steady, 4x4 can give you a sense of confidence, until you can't stop and slide through that intersection...

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+DM-V1

 

[barr0208]

cooper atw works for my truck on ice and you don't have to remove them in summer they are a true 4season tire mine are 275/60/20

 

[jasonw]

I use Hankook Dynapro ATm tires. Good compromise.

I didn't see anyone recommend any chains yet (hopefully I just didn't miss it). For chains when it gets really rough, I use these. Make sure and use their sizing chart to find the right size for your tires. The ones I linked here are for my size, 275/65R20.

They were recommended by a forum member here and on other forums as well. I call them "light chains" as they aren't true hard-core chains, but meant for occasional use. As far as chains go, easy to put on, and they work quite well.

 

[Ratket]

Those are referred to as "Cables". Just an FYI- when someone says cables that's what they are referring to. A lot of newer trucks have to run that style to clear the calipers and sensors around the back side of the tires/wheels.

 

[BlkZrx]

Yes, some manufacturers warranties are voided running chains..

Sent from my LG-K540 using Tapatalk

 

[Jebb]

Not exactly, I've done a bunch of driving on snow and ice as well as mud, gotta get to work regardless.

There are a lot of variables but in general

What makes ice slippery is the water layer that builds up between the tire and ice due to pressure. On ice, the widest tire possible with softest compound works best as less water forms and there is a better chance to catch a bump or crack or imperfection to hang on to.

For snow, nothing sticks to snow like more snow, you want a tire that fills with snow and retains it in the tread (think sipes), opposite what you want for mud. Show will provide more traction near the surface (ground), so you don't want to float over, a narrow tire that can dig in is best up to you run into ground clearance issues. In that case its best to float

For mud you want aggressive lugs that can dig down to solid earth and throw of the mud, don't want the tread filling in. Stay out of mud holes if you don't have ground clearance.

For long tire life you want a hard compound, for a quiet ride you want little tread...

Yep, tread pattern, width, rubber compound, etc., all have conflicting requirements for year-round use.

The BEST choice is a dedicated set of summer and winter tires. Problem with that (in my case) is I would need BOTH on the same day! The mountain roads can be 30 degrees and ice covered UP the hill - but 70 degrees and dry DOWN the hill. Those hot dry roads would tear up Blizzaks in no time.

So, "chains" (yes, SCC Z8 cables) is my planned solution. My truck came with BFG KO2 tires which should be a good choice year-round with the chains added when needed.

 

[CrispyBacon]

https://www.torquenews.com/3768/bes...ntrol-if-you-are-icy-roads-your-2017-ram-1500

DODGE RAM FORUM - Ram Forums & Owners Club! - Ram Truck Forum

Look what I found....

 

[dan1911]

https://www.torquenews.com/3768/bes...ntrol-if-you-are-icy-roads-your-2017-ram-1500

DODGE RAM FORUM - Ram Forums & Owners Club! - Ram Truck Forum

Look what I found....

lol that's hilarious


Sent via telepathy

 

[lilliwhite]

Try driving it through a few inches of slush and try to give it MO....It will apply the brakes unless you have traction control off and in tow haul mode. That was hairy...really need to accelerate at the time. Think I know more than the damn truck, been driving in winter longer than they been messing with all the PCM crap

 

[Random_Walk]

My personal opinion is your best bet is a good set of snow tires and weight in the bed (~300 lb).

Then leave it in 2WD until you need it. 4WD helps you go, does nothing to improve stopping and if the steer tires are spinning good luck steering.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I drive icy mountain roads.... and I currently have 400 lbs in the bed, and do exactly the above except, curiously, the snow tire bit. All-season tires do just fine out here where I live.

 

[Ken226]

I live on the west side of the North Cascade Range in nothern Washington state.
Some of my favorite long range rifle shooting spots are snowed in 9 months out of the year. I get to do plenty of sketchy backroad mountain and snow driving.

Many of those roads are beyond driveable and extremely dangerous part of the year.

There are two seperate features involved with your traction control button.

Traction control, which works somewhat like a LSD, by applying brakes to the spinning wheel and transfers power the the wheel with traction.

Electronic Stability Control, which uses data fron the steering angle sensor, and brakes individual wheels to prevent loss of stability. ESC prevents both wheels on the same axle from spinning simultaneously, in order to prevent the rear, or front, of the truck from sliding laterally.


If you drive on the same type of mountain roads that i do, definitely leave traction and ESC on. Where i drive, sliding off the road would involve a thousand+ foot drop down ice filled canyons.

The only time i disable traction control and ESC is when in mud, where you need centrifugal force from spinning to clean mud out of the MT tires lugs.

As was mentioned before, tires and weight are a huge component. A few hundred pounds over the rear axle and good snow tires can be worth their weight in gold in the right circumstance.

 

[TRCM]

TC can never be turned 100% off. The off button is a lie. If you push and hold the TC off, you will get a message saying its off, off. but try and spin the tires, it will reduce the throttle response.

This is true, but it is not as bad as you imply. I can turn mine off by holding it for 15 seconds or so, and I can spin the tires at will....as long as engine rpm stays below 3000 rpm....at that point, it again starts cutting fuel & spark to the engine to limit wheel spin.

I tested in snow & ice to see what the differences were. Sucks if you really need wheel speed to clean the tires tho, as in with sticky mud or clay.

So a lot of useful and useless info so far -
You are going to venture into the mountains and may encounter snow/ice?
1) go to the dealer and see if they recommend chains or cables for your truck.
2) once u get the chains or cables - go home and put them on at least once so you understand how to do it, and since u are in your driveway there is no stress and you can take ur time and you will now know what to expect when u actually need to put chains on and can execute the procedure with ease.
3) if in the event you do need to put ur chains/cables on- Do no Exceed 35mph!!!"
The reason is the chains and cables are not meant to travel any faster and you run the risk of them coming appart- If they come appart they can and most likely will seriously **** ur truck up.
3) chains and cables enforcement vary by state to state- check with ur dot/hwy regs to know when chains/cables are required.
4) A good set of all terrains will do you well in Snowy/Icey conditions.
In all honesty if the state decides that the weather is bad enough for 4x4 with chains is required they usually just close the road.
5) when you know u are gonna travel in bad weather to a remote area- keep a "go bag" in the truck, you know some emergency supplies, a little food/drink/sleeping bag- just best to plan for the worst.
- if you are not familiar with driving in inclimate weather conditions best advise is to just slow down- Easy on the gas and Easy on the brake, if ur truck has " Auto 4x4" Trigger it once u feel a little questionable about the road surface. if it is only 4x4 like lever or knob - Make sure u only trigger it once the road is not dry pavement. You want the tires to be able to slip and give a bit while in 4x4 HI-
Comon sense goes a long way-
This is just my advise for you and some may agree or disagree.

No need to go to the dealer....read your owners manual...that's what they are printed/made for.

Agree with everything else 100%. I have always carried a complete change of clothes and blanket/sleeping bag as well as some basic supplies when I travel, winter or summer.