I need a 4x4!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 5
From: Almost Heaven
Bill, I'm in the same boat as you. I have a '92 F-150 that is only 2WD here in northern Minnesota but I loaded the bed up with 6, 60 pound sandbags, 360 pounds... and put some Firestone WinterForce tires on the back and I rarely slide around like I used to at the beginning of this winter, when I had no weight in the bed whatsoever. Even at icy intersections, I can easily come to a complete stop without sliding in my truck. And my ABS don't even work! I just ease on the gas real slowly when it is icy and I can get going from a dead stop with no problem. I have made it through half of this winter without getting stuck once, but I am still making the 2x4 to 4x4 conversion this summer. I plan on getting a plow for my truck, for next winter as by then I will have 4x4, and the ability to pull people out.
I have so much pride in my truck that sometimes it feels like a slap when Ole' Betsy can't get the job doen.. Witch, truth be known, is only because I am an inexperienced winter driver.
Just seems that all the times I've been stuck by simply having four wheel drive I would have been able to move.
My truck handles mud without much effort. Really it does. But this snow and ice stuff is something else.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,360
Likes: 822
From: Mi'kma'ki
Some people still fail at what they think makes a good tire. Some get it right when talking the difference between a mud tire and a all season/ or just a good winter tire. A tire can be as wide as you wish and still be better than the smaller tire, how this is so is the sipes. Mud tires dont have them, all they have are some big lugs/blocks while and all season and/or a snow/winter tire has blocks too but smaller in size but the whole difference is the sipes that are made into the rubber. So small tire are NOT the better tire and I dont care how much snow you want to talk about. Has anyone ever took alittle air out of the tire when they got stuck in snow, lol well what that does is make the tire/s wider to get the bigger bite.
i welcome you to try first hand a more narrow tire than your used too.go ahead and use the exact same tire,just narrow and fully inflated to max psi for winter driving.
all your doubts will be washed away and all will become clear.you'll enjoy the increase in fuel economy as well.
there's a reason duallies suck in snow compared to SRW.it's not because we get better traction.
don't take these comments personally,as your far from alone in your misunderstanding of tire width and traction.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 1
From: Northern MN
Hey Bud. You know, one time I was stopped at an intersection. I was taking a right turn. When the light turned green I began to turn right. It was a very slight incline. I had no weight in my bed at the time. I hit ice and COULD NOT MOVE. AT ALL. I put the truck in reverse and was finally able to back up. Fortunately nobody was behind me and I was able to coast back and turn around to head home. I was so dissapointed with my truck that day.
I have so much pride in my truck that sometimes it feels like a slap when Ole' Betsy can't get the job doen.. Witch, truth be known, is only because I am an inexperienced winter driver.
Just seems that all the times I've been stuck by simply having four wheel drive I would have been able to move.
My truck handles mud without much effort. Really it does. But this snow and ice stuff is something else.
I have so much pride in my truck that sometimes it feels like a slap when Ole' Betsy can't get the job doen.. Witch, truth be known, is only because I am an inexperienced winter driver.
Just seems that all the times I've been stuck by simply having four wheel drive I would have been able to move.
My truck handles mud without much effort. Really it does. But this snow and ice stuff is something else.
You could always buy a winter beater for $500 and store Ole' Betsy away for the season! I'm just going to keep driving my truck until winter is over and then I can convert it to 4WD.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
your mistaking mud with snow.
i welcome you to try first hand a more narrow tire than your used too.go ahead and use the exact same tire,just narrow and fully inflated to max psi for winter driving.
all your doubts will be washed away and all will become clear.you'll enjoy the increase in fuel economy as well.
there's a reason duallies suck in snow compared to SRW.it's not because we get better traction.
don't take these comments personally,as your far from alone in your misunderstanding of tire width and traction.
i welcome you to try first hand a more narrow tire than your used too.go ahead and use the exact same tire,just narrow and fully inflated to max psi for winter driving.
all your doubts will be washed away and all will become clear.you'll enjoy the increase in fuel economy as well.
there's a reason duallies suck in snow compared to SRW.it's not because we get better traction.
don't take these comments personally,as your far from alone in your misunderstanding of tire width and traction.
Throw 600lbs plus in that Duallie and it will go just fine...
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
your mistaking mud with snow.
i welcome you to try first hand a more narrow tire than your used too.go ahead and use the exact same tire,just narrow and fully inflated to max psi for winter driving.
all your doubts will be washed away and all will become clear.you'll enjoy the increase in fuel economy as well.
there's a reason duallies suck in snow compared to SRW.it's not because we get better traction.
don't take these comments personally,as your far from alone in your misunderstanding of tire width and traction.
i welcome you to try first hand a more narrow tire than your used too.go ahead and use the exact same tire,just narrow and fully inflated to max psi for winter driving.
all your doubts will be washed away and all will become clear.you'll enjoy the increase in fuel economy as well.
there's a reason duallies suck in snow compared to SRW.it's not because we get better traction.
don't take these comments personally,as your far from alone in your misunderstanding of tire width and traction.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 0
From: southwest michigan
If you make a list of every surface you could drive on, the ones where a larger contact area provides greater traction will greatly outnumber the ones where a small contact patch works better.
You don't think that industrial equipment use tracks for the fun of it do you?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 635
Likes: 0
What's below the "surface" matters too. Generally sand is bottomless making a hard, skinny tire useless. 6 inches of new snow with frozen dirt or pavement underneath makes the skinnier tire perhaps the better choice. I think pure ice is in a class by itself. Studs may be the best choice regardless of width.
Funny story: Several years ago we needed a huge (960?) 4X4 Cat come dig out my warehouse lot 'cause the snowbanks were 12-15 feet deep (and high). I heard it rumbling down our long driveway which had the sightest decline in it. As it passed our windows I saw all four tires were locked up and he went skidding all the way down and slammed into the snow bank and was promptly STUCK. He used the bucket and wiggled out but that huge, heavy 4x4 machine with 5' tires was useless in the snow. Looks like tire compound and tread design were the missing factors this day.
Funny story: Several years ago we needed a huge (960?) 4X4 Cat come dig out my warehouse lot 'cause the snowbanks were 12-15 feet deep (and high). I heard it rumbling down our long driveway which had the sightest decline in it. As it passed our windows I saw all four tires were locked up and he went skidding all the way down and slammed into the snow bank and was promptly STUCK. He used the bucket and wiggled out but that huge, heavy 4x4 machine with 5' tires was useless in the snow. Looks like tire compound and tread design were the missing factors this day.
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