I know it's a little early to be talking about snow. But I would like to get an early start. We had a long drawn out winter last year and I want to be ready for it this year if it happens to be the same type of winter.
I have a stock 88 4x4 Bronco II and would like to know what mods I can do to my truck to make it better for the snow.
I missed driving my truck in the snow last year due to a dead A4LD swap in the snow.
As of now I have stock tires and 4.10 L/S axles.
Anything that people had done to be prepared would help. From traction aids to truck mods.
Thank you for your time!!!

 

It's not too early to think about snow. I've already started looking forward to the snow . In my experience, the most important consideration for winter driving is traction. 4WD helps for going, but not for stopping, so the most important consideration in the traction department is the tires. Make sure the tires are in good shape. If you have the money for a spare set, a dedicated set of snow tires isn't a bad idea. I don't like studded snow tires, but many others do. Especially if you can afford a dedicated set of snow tires, go for it. I like to carry a set of chains to improve the traction of my A/T tires, if I feel that the situation calls for it.
Another important consideration is driver skill and experience. Knowing when to slow down, how much to slow down, increasing following distances, etc. makes a lot of difference when it comes to getting around in the snow.
A stock BII with a good set of tires and a careful skillful driver will do as well as any other street legal wheeled vehicle in the snow.
As an afterthought. I'm assuming you're talking about regular street use during the winter, and not some extreme off-road winter adventure (going out in the backwoods on a road with four feet of powder and normally wouldn't see anything heavier than a snowmobile or two all winter. Sometime I'd lie to gear my truck up and try that )

 

Thanks mrshorty! Any specific tire size or brand that would be better as a snow tire? I am going to get a spare set of snow tires only. I was told that skinny was better than wide.
Yes I am strictly for street use only in the snow. The truck isn't ready for the off road snow. Not for a long time.

 

Don't really have any recommendations for snow tires; I've never bought dedicated snow tires. I've always been satisfied with the way my all-terrains (Chapparal: off brand made by Cooper) performed in the snow. On my car, I've found all seasons acceptable, as long as I have a set of chains/cables to put on in the worst conditions. Maybe someone who uses a dedicated snow tire could make recommendations.
As for the skinny vs wide debate, I guess skinny is a little better, especially if you expect to push a lot of powder. If the roads you see during the winter are mostly well plowed or well traveled, so that you are mostly seeing packed snow/ice, then it is less of a concern.

 

The Skinny recomendation not only reduces snow resistance but makes less of a "sledding" effect on ice. Basicly it is more weight on less surface making it less prone to slide. My year round tires are Baja A/T Widetracks. Pretty much any all terain tire will work. My favorite to date are BF Goodrich All Terrain, but the B2 was purchaced with the afore mentioned tires in brand new condition "less than 300 miles" and have seen this "snow rookie Texan" through one winter safely. So take that for what you will, and good luck with your tire purchace.

 

Thank you very much guys! If anyone else thinks of something that I can't please chime in.

 

Just make sure you have anti-freeze{or as my little girl calls it bananafreeze} in thahat beast.JM.02W

 

I've found "tirerack.com" to be a great source for not only selecting tire sizes, but comparing them. Also, they have user input in that people who have bought a specific tire rate the ahndling, grip in snow and ice, and other categories

 

I run Michelin 225 75 14 M&S (Mud and Snow). The tread looks almost like standard pavement tread, not very 'luggy" and they run quiet, so I cannot believe how well they grip in snow, ice and gooey muds. Plus I've gotten about 45,000 mi out of em so far and have plenty left!

 

I run Michelin 225 75 14 M&S (Mud and Snow) on my 87. The tread looks almost like standard pavement tread, not very 'luggy" and they run quiet, so I cannot believe how well they grip in snow, ice and gooey muds. They are much better at true and balance than other makes I've tried, which helps keep the vibrations down in a very vibration-prone chassis! Plus I've gotten about 45,000 mi out of em so far and have plenty left!

 

I put 235 75 R 15's on the BII's I had and thought that it was the right size tire for that truck. I had the Pirellis' like the ones on my ranger and they were great. I have heard mixed opinions from others that have had them though. When I sold my last BII I had the tires switched over to the cherokee I got. I ended up putting over 30k miles on them and they still had about 75% of the tread left. Only got stuck once with them on and it was deep enough that I had to crawl out the windows to get out.

 

thanks for all the info guys!!!