Why your SUV sucks in the mountains

[klauss]

people are going deep into wheel and even car quivers. TGR forumz bringing it

Don't forget the TPMS sensor change fee. Actually spent money on a tool on the internets so I could re-program my yota's TPMS sensors every time I change my wheels out.

[El Chupacabra]

Don't forget the TPMS sensor change fee. Actually spent money on a tool on the internets so I could re-program my yota's TPMS sensors every time I change my wheels out.

Ignoring the TPMS warning light = free.

[Norseman]

Yep... sensors from my rig are long gone. The light will burn out eventually.

[GPP33]

people are going deep into wheel and even car quivers. TGR forumz bringing it

Don't forget the TPMS sensor change fee. Actually spent money on a tool on the internets so I could re-program my yota's TPMS sensors every time I change my wheels out.

What Toyota? Our Highlander (2017) remembers both sets. Discount tire programmed the new sensors when we bought snows and it remains happy when I switch them out. Until it gets 3 degrees warmer or colder and the pressure changes by .000005psi and the stupid light comes back on anyway.

[skier666]

Yup, forgot about the sensors...add those to the list. Those things saved me in Telluride this past Summer. I was searching for some late July snow (on more of a dirt road than a 4X4) and found nothing so I got greedy in the SUV. Took a more aggressive road high into a cirque-like basin. Tagged a sharp rock and punctured the sidewall. The TPMS alarm started going off and I fucking gunned it back about a 1/4 mile back to the main dirt road watching the pressure go from 40 to 0. Without them, I'd have to walk to get cell reception etc.

Another point for mountain drives on your SUV...the security bolts on your rims. I suggest you remove them. From the above experience, I was like 'no brainer, I'll just put on the donut and order a new tire.' However, the security bolt requires 'a key attachment' with grooves that aren't too deep. So doing it by hand with a wrench is impossible. I had a guy help me with one of us holding the wrench in place while the other tried to turn and nothing worked. I had to call a tow truck so he could take 2 seconds and use an impact wrench and the bolt came right off. So I guess you could keep a charged impact wrench in your car or remove the bolt. If I was in the middle of nowhere, I'd be screwed. With normal bolts, I'd be fine.

[Havn]

Yup, forgot about the sensors...add those to the list. Those things saved me in Telluride this past Summer. I was searching for some late July snow (on more of a dirt road than a 4X4) and found nothing so I got greedy in the SUV. Took a more aggressive road high into a cirque-like basin. Tagged a sharp rock and punctured the sidewall. The TPMS alarm started going off and I fucking gunned it back about a 1/4 mile back to the main dirt road watching the pressure go from 40 to 0. Without them, I'd have to walk to get cell reception etc.

Another point for mountain drives on your SUV...the security bolts on your rims. I suggest you remove them. From the above experience, I was like 'no brainer, I'll just put on the donut and order a new tire.' However, the security bolt requires 'a key attachment' with grooves that aren't too deep. So doing it by hand with a wrench is impossible. I had a guy help me with one of us holding the wrench in place while the other tried to turn and nothing worked. I had to call a tow truck so he could take 2 seconds and use an impact wrench and the bolt came right off. So I guess you could keep a charged impact wrench in your car or remove the bolt. If I was in the middle of nowhere, I'd be screwed. With normal bolts, I'd be fine.

If it makes sense, you can always try carrying a breaker bar as well to help in loosening the lug off without an impact wrench.

[klauss]

What Toyota? Our Highlander (2017) remembers both sets. Discount tire programmed the new sensors when we bought snows and it remains happy when I switch them out. Until it gets 3 degrees warmer or colder and the pressure changes by .000005psi and the stupid light comes back on anyway.

I have a 2013 sequoia and it only stores 5 codes at a time. I just dealt with the warning the first winter then just decided to buy the tool (ATAQ Quickset) for $40 used and give me the ability to do it myself since the winter wheels were OEM takeoffs from craigslist and actually had the sensors already included - I figured I would utilize them and including the tool may help with re-sell on the wheelset at some point but maybe not.

[Norseman]

Yup, forgot about the sensors...add those to the list. Those things saved me in Telluride this past Summer. I was searching for some late July snow (on more of a dirt road than a 4X4) and found nothing so I got greedy in the SUV. Took a more aggressive road high into a cirque-like basin. Tagged a sharp rock and punctured the sidewall. The TPMS alarm started going off and I fucking gunned it back about a 1/4 mile back to the main dirt road watching the pressure go from 40 to 0. Without them, I'd have to walk to get cell reception etc.
.

Or, like, change to the spare?

[glademaster]

Get 18 inch wheels to put snows on for your F150. Large wheels and low profile tires on a truck scream "I'm a vain douchebag" louder than having 4 lightbars.

The only thing funnier than low-pro snow tires are low-pro mud tires.

[skier666]

Or, like, change to the spare?

It basically allowed me to get to a better zone to change to the spare. Which ended up for the best because the tow truck could not have made it to where I punctured the tire.

[auvgeek]

If it makes sense, you can always try carrying a breaker bar as well to help in loosening the lug off without an impact wrench.

Yeah, I carry a breaker bar and a torque wrench. But I'm a nerd.

[swissiphic]

Just read the o.p. post, nothin' else.

A Corrola ain't gonna get far in northwest british columbia big dump coastal snowfall zones. Even with winter tires and awd, yer gonna get high centered when the plows can't keep up with snowfall on major routes and more likely sideroads...or get stuck on windrows in the middle/sides of roads during storms. Need the clearance of an s.u.v. Extra bonus of a bigger truck is impact protection from moose which is a big hazard in these parts. Small cars get crushed...with a bigger truck at least you have a chance of it just landing on the hood.

[reckless toboggan]

Just read the o.p. post, nothin' else.

A Corrola ain't gonna get far in northwest british columbia big dump coastal snowfall zones. Even with winter tires and awd, yer gonna get high centered when the plows can't keep up with snowfall on major routes and more likely sideroads...or get stuck on windrows in the middle/sides of roads during storms. Need the clearance of an s.u.v. Extra bonus of a bigger truck is impact protection from moose which is a big hazard in these parts. Small cars get crushed...with a bigger truck at least you have a chance of it just landing on the hood.

100%
And sizing up on your winter tires a couple of inches gives a bit more clearance.

[XXX-er]

out on the main highway which up here isn't very main when the plow can't keep up nobody is going anywhere

[KyleLanTheman]

Just read the o.p. post, nothin' else.

A Corrola ain't gonna get far in northwest british columbia big dump coastal snowfall zones. Even with winter tires and awd, yer gonna get high centered when the plows can't keep up with snowfall on major routes and more likely sideroads...or get stuck on windrows in the middle/sides of roads during storms. Need the clearance of an s.u.v. Extra bonus of a bigger truck is impact protection from moose which is a big hazard in these parts. Small cars get crushed...with a bigger truck at least you have a chance of it just landing on the hood.

Moose are no joke. Survived this a little over 3 years ago.

[AK47bp]

Moose are no joke. Survived this a little over 3 years ago.

That should buff right out.

[old goat]

Let's also remember that it doesn't matter how good your tires are or whether you have 4WD or AWD if your wiper blades suck.

[summit]

RIMS: Most SUVs and trucks are fine with 16/17 or maybe 18" wheels. 18/19/20/21 are bling. Check! There are also usually a lot of cheap wheels on ebay and craigslist because people with too much money take off their factory 17/18s to buy bling 21s. Just make sure the bolt pattern is compatible (eg a 4runner/tacoma/tundra/FJ is going to be a 6x5.5 (6x139) and you want a 6.5-7.5" while a Subaru is probably a 5x100 unless you have a Tribeca).

CHANGE YOUR OWN: If you have your own extra set of rims, you can get a floor jack and an electric impact wrench from harbor freight for $50 each which means you can change your tires with minimal effort in a half hour, no making appointments with the tire shop or loading/unloading tires in your car.

DOWNSIZE: If your vehicle has high stock clearance like a 4Runner, or you have a lifted truck, or you don't get massive storms + drive on unplowed roads, downsizing your tire will decrease your cost, increase your actual fuel economy, and lower your center of gravity.

UPSIZE If your vehicle has low stock clearance like a sedan, or your live somewhere with huge storms or you drive on unplowed, then upsizing your tire will increase your clearance, but check your vehicles forum to see how much you can do without rubbing.

Again, narrowing your section width on your tire is a HUGE performance boost! eg stock 265 to 255 or 245, stock 225 to 215!

TPMS if you vehicle gives you live readout of individual wheels in PSI, them maybe thats worth all the $, but otherwise you have one light that only comes on when they are >25% under inflated! That's far past the point where you lose performance, mileage, and experience accelerated and uneven treadwear!!! Be disciplined, buy a digital meter off ebay or amazon for $10, check once a week cold (to optimize pressures) and when you gas (for safety) and you'll get better mileage, performance, and treadlife.

[blackalps]

wow this thread is a shitshow. my 98 4runner, 4x4 not AWD, with Blizzaks is basically unstoppable in snow. I pull subies out of ditches at backcountry trailheads regularly. not to mention the boneheads that thought it was a good idea to try to drive their FWD economy car with all seasons up a snow covered dirt road (cough, Butler Gulch, cough), also the ones most likely to not say thank you and/or have a bad attitude about me trying to help them.

otoh, I did Iceland for 3 months in winter in a Yaris with studded tires with no issues. but then, I was sticking to paved roads. I'm on the verge of swapping my T4R for a FWD with studs, just to save on gas. My gas costs right now going out to the mountains 3-4x a week is ridiculous.

[XXX-er]

yeah but I had one of them 4-runers ^^ they were pretty good dicking around at low speed but scary at highway speed

I was spending big coin doing a lot of highway miles so I traded it for a TDi golf, I ended up spending more for the car payment but saving on the gas/repair bills so it cost exactly the same per month to drive a new car instead of a 10 yr old SUV and the car was way less stressful to drive at hyway speed

where it was all about stability/handling when the shit goes down

[Norseman]

. Just make sure the bolt pattern is compatible (eg a 4runner/tacoma/tundra/FJ is going to be a 6x5.5 (6x139) and you want a 6.5-7.5" while a Subaru is probably a 5x100 unless you have a Tribeca).

Couple nitpicks in an otherwise solid post...

07+ Tundra and Sequoia break from old Yota convention and use 5 x 150mm.

Subaru oddities include the STi at 5 x 114mm (except 2004).

[summit]

^good stuff!

[jamal]

Couple nitpicks in an otherwise solid post...

07+ Tundra and Sequoia break from old Yota convention and use 5 x 150mm.

Subaru oddities include the STi at 5 x 114mm (except 2004).

Legacy, outback, and wrx after 2015 are 5x114 too now. Forester, base impreza, crosstrek still 5x100.

[GPP33]

Another point for mountain drives on your SUV...the security bolts on your rims.

Thanks for the reminder. Forgot to put that damn thing in the car after I switched over to the snows.

[blackalps]

yeah but I had one of them 4-runers ^^ they were pretty good dicking around at low speed but scary at highway speed

I was spending big coin doing a lot of highway miles so I traded it for a TDi golf, I ended up spending more for the car payment but saving on the gas/repair bills so it cost exactly the same per month to drive a new car instead of a 10 yr old SUV and the car was way less stressful to drive at hyway speed

where it was all about stability/handling when the shit goes down

yeah, basically that. I spent a lot of time offroading this summer in UT and CO, it was great for that but now that I'm driving about 2 hours a day on 70, I'd much rather have something lower, better handling at highway speeds, and better mpg.