Question for north east winter drivers

[vinnieloo]

Hey all,
This is my first truck/ 4wd vehicle. I've only had fwd and awd cars before this. I do not have the LSD or eLock differentials. I have the stock 20" Bridgestone Duellers. I have some winter driving questions for people, esp if you have north east experience.
1. How are these tires in the snow?
2. Do you drive in 2wd or leave in 4 auto?
3. Do you add weight to the bed?

Any other tips or info is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Vince

 

[Le_Slacker]

Have not had this one for winter yet, but last time I had a truck......

A lot of my driving was city... I’d put on a set of decent winter tires, and throw enough dog food in the back for 3 months. Would take out a bag as needed.
Around here (south west Ontario) there isn’t all that much snow. We will get big dumps from time to time but for the most part roads are nice and clear. If you rarely leave the city, it’s pretty easy.

For this truck, I have Firestone destination at2 tires, which are winter rated. I have not decided what to do about weight in back yet. Looking at last few winters here, if all is similar, I probably won’t need to.

4wd auto - only would use it in a storm or thick unplowed snow.

 

[CJR28]

1. Not sure how the Bridgestone Duelers are, I think theyre highway tires but I’m sure theyre better that the Goodyear SR-A’s that were on my 17’
2. During a snow storm and before the roads are cleaned up it doesn't hurt to leave it in 4wd auto. If you plan on upgrading to different tires and depending on what you go with, sometimes 2wd is doable.
3. Judging by your avatar you have a Crew with a short bed? You should be ok without weight in the bed being that more of the weight is distributed closer to the axle, but it doesnt hurt to throw a few sandbags in the rear

 

[evanxrs]

Living north of the GTA in Ontario we get a ton of snow. Had those winter tires on a Rav4 for years. They were decent but nothing special.

Advice. Get a AT Tire. BF AT Ko2 or Wranger Duratek. Both are excellent winter tires but also performance is great in warm temps.

Like everyone said, add a couple hundred pounds in the back with those tires.

When it snows i run 4wd u less the roads are little wet and dry. I have duratek wranglers.

Last truck was BF AT ko2 and those were great

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[CJR28]

Living north of the GTA in Ontario we get a ton of snow. Had those winter tires on a Rav4 for years. They were decent but nothing special.

Advice. Get a AT Tire. BF AT Ko2 or Wranger Duratek. Both are excellent winter tires but also performance is great in warm temps.

Like everyone said, add a couple hundred pounds in the back with those tires.

When it snows i run 4wd u less the roads are little wet and dry. I have duratek wranglers.

Last truck was BF AT ko2 and those were great

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I just put the Duratracs in 275/65R20 and so far im happy but I havent had them in the snow yet so we’ll see how they do

 

[Fantastipotamus]

Hey all,
This is my first truck/ 4wd vehicle. I've only had fwd and awd cars before this. I do not have the LSD or eLock differentials. I have the stock 20" Bridgestone Duellers. I have some winter driving questions for people, esp if you have north east experience.
1. How are these tires in the snow?
2. Do you drive in 2wd or leave in 4 auto?
3. Do you add weight to the bed?

Any other tips or info is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Vince

I live in NH, have the Duelers, and here are my thoughts;

1) The Duelers are not great. I bought my truck in October and ordered dedicated snow tires after the first snow in Nov. I went with dedicated snows because I ski, and typically am out driving when roads are at their worst, and I wanted to keep the Duelers for their 3-season mpg vs a tire like the KO2’s, for example. I had those on my old Titan and they were great, but they cost me 3-4mpg.
2) I drive in 2WD until it doesn’t feel safe to do so.. no need to use 4wd auto on dry pavement, ever. Once the snow starts to stick, I usually just use true 4wd... and I slow down.
3) I do not, but this truck would definitely use it. I‘m not sure exactly why, but the 2wd traction on this truck is markedly worse than my Titan. Longer truck, weight distribution.. who knows? So I’m more quick to use 4wd in this truck.

 

[devildodge]

You can use 4wd auto on any road condition. In deep snow you will want to use 4Hi

 

[jkm312]

IF you add weight in the bed, put it in front of the rear axel in the front of the bed. MOST of the added weight will end up on the back axel and not lighten up the front axel. Granted the engine mass is carried on the front axel, but you don't want to harm any of your steering ability.

 

[millerbjm]

I run a dedicated set of winter tires and love the control. True winter tires like the blizzaks offer much better cornering and stopping on cold pavement, ice, and snow. I had a set of snowflake rated AT tires on my 2014 and they were great in snow but not as inspiring on ice and cold dry pavement as a real snow tire. I don't carry extra weight when I have good tires and don't think it is very helpful - in a rear drive car with all season tires yes but with 4 auto and good tires just decreases payload and hurts mpg.

In both cases I would run 4 auto anytime conditions are not ideal. 4 auto runs in 2wd unless you lose traction - I don't notice a mpg hit and this is why 4 auto exists - many folks leave it in 4 auto all the time even in summer. The trx doesn't even have 2wd! I often use 2wd for the fun and to challenge myself and the truck but if I'm trying to get somewhere or have the kids in I'll be in 4 auto.

 

[MFALRAM]

I had the duelers on for the first winter really didn’t care for them I was all over the place. Not good in a rain storm either but some people like them. If there was snow on the road I had to keep it in 4high. I have nitto ridge grapplers now they are pretty good in the snow. But a dedicated snow tire would be the best.

 

[vinnieloo]

Thanks everyone for the insightful replies. I am in upstate NY. They plow pretty well around here but can lag, esp in a big storm. New tires are not in the picture right now but the OEM tires only have 3000 miles so far. I'll try out 4Auto when the weather hits and see how it does. I drive pretty conservatively anyway. The truck has been fine in the rain so far. I ski as well, so I will put these Duellers to the test.

For those that run dedicated winter tires, do you swap over your TPMS each time?

 

[kittyjo]

Just curious I want to visit Vermont this winter and have 35s nitto ridge grapplers brand new do I need to bring tire chains just in case? Extra weight in bed?

 

[User_3336]

Advice. Get a AT Tire. BF AT Ko2 or Wranger Duratek. Both are excellent winter tires but also performance is great in warm temps.

You mean WRANGLER DURATRAC?

 

[millerbjm]

I have my winters mounted on an 2nd set of rims and with a 2nd set of sensors so all I do is swap in fall and spring. Total cost of approx $1,000 but each set only gets 6 months of mileage each year so should last a long time. If having winter tires keeps me from a single fender bender or tow truck call it will more than pay for the expense in my mind.

 

[RamRMK]

I live in northern Vt and had Wrangler Duratracs and now have Nitto Ridge Grapplers. Both are snow rated all terrain tires. The Duratracs were really good until about the 25k mark and they started to wear unevenly even with tire rotations and got very noisy. The Ridge Grapplers wear better, are not as noisy and have great traction. As for chaining and putting weight in the back of the truck- best thing you can do in inclement weather is to slow down and use 4wd. Every first snowfall up here its the idiot olympics with aholes trying to do 70mph still on the interstate with slick roads then causing delays when they inevitably cause an accident during the morning and afternoon commutes.


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[vinnieloo]

I have my winters mounted on an 2nd set of rims and with a 2nd set of sensors so all I do is swap in fall and spring. Total cost of approx $1,000 but each set only gets 6 months of mileage each year so should last a long time. If having winter tires keeps me from a single fender bender or tow truck call it will more than pay for the expense in my mind.

That's what I would do as well. Do you re-pair the TPMS sensors each swap?

 

[iLikeTurtles]

You can get a set of GSi5 toyo winter tires for $550 at factory size on 20" from simpletire.

I dislike these tires im the rain, cannot imagine in snow. I will add sand bags or gravel as well for winter.

 

[millerbjm]

That's what I would do as well. Do you re-pair the TPMS sensors each swap?

They re-pair automatically within a few miles of the switch.

 

[Trippi]

Thanks everyone for the insightful replies. I am in upstate NY. They plow pretty well around here but can lag, esp in a big storm. New tires are not in the picture right now but the OEM tires only have 3000 miles so far. I'll try out 4Auto when the weather hits and see how it does. I drive pretty conservatively anyway. The truck has been fine in the rain so far. I ski as well, so I will put these Duellers to the test.

For those that run dedicated winter tires, do you swap over your TPMS each time?

I am upstate as well...Rochester area. This is my first RAM, I do not have AUTO with the Rebel so will probably throw it in 4WD hi on those snowy days and 4WD LO during blizzards/heavier snow when needed. Plan on keeping the stock tires at least this first winter. My last truck was a 2015 Silverado. I drove the stock tires through the entire lease. Was always in 4WD Auto and changed to HI or LO depending on the conditions...crew cab with no extra weight in the back. I don't think those tires were anything special and did fine every winter...except that one time I ended up in a cornfield on a blizzard day but we won't talk about that. LOL!

 

[devildodge]

I am upstate as well...Rochester area. This is my first RAM, I do not have AUTO with the Rebel so will probably throw it in 4WD hi on those snowy days and 4WD LO during blizzards/heavier snow when needed. Plan on keeping the stock tires at least this first winter. My last truck was a 2015 Silverado. I drove the stock tires through the entire lease. Was always in 4WD Auto and changed to HI or LO depending on the conditions...crew cab with no extra weight in the back. I don't think those tires were anything special and did fine every winter...except that one time I ended up in a cornfield on a blizzard day but we won't talk about that. LOL!

On a good note. You may not have 4wd auto...but if you drive in deep snow often...the REBEL transfer case will treat you much better.