2wd in snow.

[Ozwynn]

he's right, don't be a little girl about driving in the snow. Man up and drive on it.

 

[fratermus]

It's snow dude, not a freaking beach.

I understand that snow != beach. It does not follow that all techniques useful on a beach are counterproductive on snow.

A quick google search on this matter (link) suggests there is no consensus opinion on airing down in snow.

In my last vehicle, a small FWD sedan, airing down to 15psi or so on ice/snow noticeably reduced wheelspin tendency on takeoff. There seemed to be improved stability while underway but that was more subjective. Perhaps the lower pressure compensated for decreased sidewall flex when the tires were very cold. I don't know. I am going to try it on the 2WD Ranger if it snows here anytime soon.

Airing down will have a negative impact on traction.

I have been reading for firm evidence in this matter and haven't found it.

Same with over-inflation. Proper air pressure will create proper contact which will create optimum traction.

Yes, by definition "proper air pressure will create proper contact which will create optimum traction." It's a tautological statement.

The issue at hand is: what is the proper air pressure for driving a 2WD Ranger with street tires in snow?"

Just drive in it. As long as you aren't a little girl (no offense to the originator of the thread in regards to either gender or stature) about it, you will be fine.

I am capable of driving in it. I have driven in snow before, I have owned 4wd before, I have drifted in icey parking lots before to see how a given vehicle behaves. I have not had that opportunity yet in this truck. Closest I've come is light rain that brings oil to the surface. More wheelspin with unladen bed, considerably less with a fiberglass topper and cargo platform.

I had two points:

1. (stated) I have not driven my 2WD Ranger in snow before. It's not new, but it's new to me. I don't know how it will react.

2. (unstated) Make a post supportive to the OP since her post was IMMEDIATELY replied to with a 'yer hawt!' type post. No wonder more females don't participate when they are treated that way and when "like a little girl" is used to connote timidity or lack of ability.

Over time I have learned to watch for your replies as examples of helpfulness and complete , reasonable, and evidence-based information. I do not think your reply above was up to your usual high standards.

 

[Ozwynn]

the "yer hawt" response is what the OP was looking for. read her other posts if you don't believe me............


man up, be light on the throttle....... use your brakes to control wheel spin....

 

[kimcrwbr1]

I have tried both ways proper pressure and under pressure and the best in my opinion is use chains if necessary! Follow at a safe distance down shift and use the E brake to stop.

 

[Mark_88]

As long as the brakes are not grabbing or otherwise overly sensitive, they will do fine...just avoid (and this IS the key to safe stopping) hammering on the brake pedal when you have to stop suddenly...and as many have said, slow down and leave space so you don't have to hammer the brakes...

But taking the truck into an open parking lot covered with snow is a great learning experience...if you have the chance...

When I first got my license I was living near Lake Simcoe...a veritable ice fishing paradise (or was) and there were many places (boat launch ramps) where you could drive right onto the lake...when it was sufficiently frozen...and drive for hours on ice if you wanted to...the only problem was pressure cracks...and some of them were 2' high...watch out for them...hard to see when the sun is shining on the ice...

Not saying I'm prepared for every situation, but staying slow and keeping your distance goes a long way...

 

[Gotta_gofast]

Snow behaves like water on the road. When your tires are not directly in contact with pavement because there is snow in between, the tire is trying to "sipe" the snow from in between the tread, much like how your tire tries to prevent hydroplaning. Airing down your tires will induce more of the vehicle's weight on the sides of the tires tread (near the sidewalls) and will in turn force snow to build up underneath the middle of the tire (where there is less pressure). Since the idea is to remove the snow from the tread contacting the surface, airind down your tires is counterproductive to what your tread is designed to do. It behaves very different than sand or mud. Should you choose to drive in the snow with mud tires, you'll be surprised how terrible they can be compared to a SNOW rated tire.

 

[tony314]

Ahhhhh the old which is better, 2wd or 4x4 debate that no one ever wins lol. My truck is 2 wd till I turn on 4x4 so. Proper tires and driving go a long way in snow regardless if it is 4x4 or 2wd. Granted, I'd still prefer my 4x4 over a non 4x4, but that is me. I just see 4x4 as that extra measure of help for snow or offroad that 2wd just can not give me when needed.

 

[Jimbo45]

Those of you that think a 2wd will go through the same conditions as a 4wd are one of the following:
1) on crack
2) in denial
3) never driven a 4wd
4) on crack (yes, I said it twice)

I got my previous 2wd ranger stuck on an almost flat, large gravel driveway once.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

I got my previous 2wd ranger stuck on an almost flat, large gravel driveway once.

How much did you have to drink?

 

[97ranger xlt]

dont lock em up lol

back in the day in Canada long before abs etc we used controlled brake lockups to actually improve braking action..
if there was a few inches of new snow over an already hardpacked snow surface, by locking up the front brakes it built up snow in front of the tires and made you stop faster believe it nor not.

main thing is knowing your vehicle and how it acts in different snow/road conditions. easiest and safest way to practice that is in a deserted parking lot.

oh and ak907girl looked like she was doing just fine in 2wd.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

She was doing fine because there was only like 5 inches on the road. lol,

 

[Ozwynn]

Those of you that think a 2wd will go through the same conditions as a 4wd are one of the following:
1) on crack
2) in denial
3) never driven a 4wd
4) on crack (yes, I said it twice)

I got my previous 2wd ranger stuck on an almost flat, large gravel driveway once.

then you suck at driving a 2wd ......... although this is my first winter with out a 4wd

 

[kemo]

then you suck at driving a 2wd ......... although this is my first winter with out a 4wd

You clearly don't live where they don't have snow plows.

I love the 2wd is better than 4wd debates in general... typically the people touting "2wd is better" are those who couldn't afford 4wd in the beginning.

Reminds me of all those people who complain about trucks not having the availability of a stick anymore. Get over it... those transmissions are usually garbage anyways, and they come in the lowest end, bare basic version of the truck anyways!

 

[Ozwynn]

I didn't say it was better, just that its not a problem if you know how to drive your 2wd ......


anybody that thinks a 2wd can't off road needs to talk to TireIron.




and we may have snow plows here, but they don't run unless there is a foot of snow on the ground (except on the Highways) or the next day. Even when I did have 4wds I didn't use it except to get in and out of my driveway.... 4wd burns too much gas. I did grow up in Coast Range in Oregon and the plows did not plow our road (or our 1/2 mile driveway for that matter) so we just learned to make do wether it was in a FWD Suzuki swift or a rwd chrysler newport (my step brother's car) or a 76 2wd F100 (my first truck)








anyways....... My CC is a 2wd because 4wd Crew cab duallys in an OBS and a diesel are almost non existent.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

I have a rear locker, and one of the best rated AT tires for snow (General AT2). I can get around in 2wd in city streets and light snow. But anything real deep or hilly country roads forget about it. Just select 4x4 and truck up it. I pull out sooooo many 2wd trucks stuck IN THE ROAD haha usually at the base of a hill or buried in a drift. $10 here, $20 there all them tips add up.