Why Does My 5.0 Awd Xlt Suck In The Snow????

[OLDJIMMYBONES]

also this whole time i have a subs/sub box @250lb and 4 50lb bags of sand @200lb, so thats an extra 450lb in the trunk

 

[Willard]

That could definitely make a difference....especially with stopping. These truck really don't need anymore weight in the rear for traction, unlike pickups. I think the body is plenty weight.

 

[OLDJIMMYBONES]

That could definitely make a difference....especially with stopping. These truck really don't need anymore weight in the rear for traction, unlike pickups. I think the body is plenty weight.

your prob right. i only got the the sand back there because i got it for the ram but havent put it in there yet

 

[MustangP51]

1st its 1000 times better in heavy snow than and 1ich of icy snow
2nd if im very(very,very,very,very) easy on the brake its fine stopping
3rd the fish tailing and not traction im thinkin maby has to do with the engine(not the actual engine, but a little too much power at bad time) but if i even tap the gas my wheels are spinning, and my friend driving becide me sais my wheels were spinning out a lottt

In my opinion my AWD Explorer does better in the snow and sand, then my 4x4 Expedition. The traction control does an excellent job keeping the wheels from spinning, but you are correct the torque out of the 5.0 will break the wheels loose in heartbeat by adding even a little more pressure then you should on the accelerator peddle.

 

[Ritsui]

they guy was telling me these were amazing in the snow, to get them.

Not that Tire Rack reviews are 'everything', but 100's of user reviews beat any salesperson any day of the week.

i just got these thursday

Many manufacturers have a "trial" period where they allow returns after 30 days or so for any reason if you don't like them. I got that with my Revos from Tire Rack.

Keep in mind, you should still buy your tires for your primary driving conditions. I find the Revos to be very good in snow/ice/sand, but they are far from being a great "highway/touring" tire.

 

[snoborder42]

Keep in mind, you should still buy your tires for your primary driving conditions. I find the Revos to be very good in snow/ice/sand, but they are far from being a great "highway/touring" tire.

I second this motion...

If you do end up getting new tires, seriously consider the Bridgestone Dueler Revos... I have only had them about 2 months and am throughly impressed with them. I haven't even needed 4wd with them. I've driven on pretty much every kind of road surface (except mud) with them and have never even considered using the 4wd because they have so much grip in 2wd.

The only downside that I've noticed with them is that they seem to ride a bit stiffer than my old tires and my gas mileage seems to have dropped off just a bit, about 1 mpg, but I haven't had a chance to take a long freeway trip with them yet so I don't know how that will be effected...

 

[parad1mg]

i'm with the tires... i've got the norm michelin ltx m/x worn down to 4/32"s on my AWD and it handles great on snow and ice. you do get a little bit of wheel spin when you accelerate to hard. never had any problems with braking performance ever since i switched to powerslots and flushed the brake fluid.. basically, it stops and steers and drives the way i want it to

 

[ExploringNC]

Do you have All Wheel Drive or are you talking about the 4WD Auto? What gear do you have and is it Limited Slip?

 

[NYMount21]

I agree with techieman33, our trucks (the 5.0's) are almost overpowered for these conditions. I feel like they have too much torque and just turn the tires and try to put to much power into gripping the road......so yea i hate the way my mountaineer does in the snow. A side note: Tried driving w/ the toyos on in the snow in NH once......almost my last drive ever haha

 

[gijoecam]

EEW!!! That tread pattern is about as aggressive as a bunny on a tranquilizer. No wonder he's sucking in the snow.

Ditto. Those tires are going to be like driving on greased snot in the snow. They're probably fine in the dry and wet, but in the snow, they'll bald-up like there's no tomorrow.

I had Michelin LTX M/S's on mine until two weeks ago. I got just shy of 100,000 miles on them, and was still driving on them this winter. They were down to about 3/32, and I wouldn't have swapped them if it hadn't been wintertime around here. When they were new, they were excellent in the snow and slush.

I'm currently running Michelin LTX AT2's on it... I finally had a chance to go play last night for the first time... They grip extremely well in the snow and slush. They get a little squirrelly on the highway at about 55 when plowing through the slushy lanes, but they're WAY better than the nearly bald ones were!

Oh, and I wouldn't wish a set of Goodyear Wrangler RTS's on my worst enemy... They're great on the freeway, but garbage in any other conditions. I had 'em on my F-150 and my Ranger... NEVER AGAIN!! They wouldn't hook in the least little bit of rain, let alone slush or snow.

-Joe

 

[alohamonte]

tires

I had the RTS in the 235 prior, and I ran chains whenever I had to go through the snow. They'd break loose in casual driving (corners at 10 mph) in wet pavement. Dangerous tires.

 

[daffy]

I've got Revo's on mine now, they were good for about 30k, then not so much. They haven't even made it to their 50k mark yet, and I'm at the treadwear indicators.

I'd suggest: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=All-Terrain+T%2FA+KO

 

[A Wise Guy]

I'll take my '98 5.0 AWD with Wrangler ATS's any day of the week over my '06 4.6 Auto 4X4 with Michelins and traction control. Tires make a huge difference.

 

[WhitePearl2000]

Yep, got to have the right tires . I always wondered why peeps would get a AWD or 4x4 SUV and put ' regular ' tires on the vehicle . Seems like you defeat the whole purpose to nothing of loosing the comfort and security of AWD in snow.

For the record I have Cooper ATR's 265 70 r16's ... its snowing today too in Pa , not much , about 6 inches ..... no problems .... :

 

[Joe Dirt]

I have the Cooper HTS's and I love them in the snow, but driving in MI for years now, I can handle snow as well. I don't expect the truck to do everything... And there are situations where no matter what you have on your truck, it is going to be slippery and you need to just take it easy. However, you need to at least have a semi-agressive tread. I still wouldn't put an agressive tread, because overall, heavy snow etc. is only about 2% of the total driving I do, and I don't need an uncomfortable, super-loud ride when it's 80+ degrees in the summer.

 

[Happster]

Having issues with my 06 Eddie Bauer AWD v8 getting squirrelly on me in slippery conditions. It almost feels as though it's pulling itself into a fishtail, even when I'm not on the gas much. Lousy tires, but that wouldn't seem to explain the pulling and floating into a fishtail. I'm thinking maybe one CV joint is bad in the front? Took it into a lot and all tires seem to spin, sporadically in AWD and positively in 4WD. But something is very wrong. My 2001 EB any ideas for troubleshooting or what may be wrong would be greatly appreciated. was also all wheel drive it was awesome in the snow.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

Your description of it sucking is crap tires, and not knowing how to drive in snow. I have no issue what so ever driving my '96 AWD in the snow, I have Hankook tires, it get grip all the time. Yes you can get it to break loose, but you have to try. But then again no vehicle is 100% perfect in the snow.

 

[Happster]

thanks for the punk reply. I've been driving in the snow since you were spanking the monkey to the TV guide. I was actually hoping to hear from someone who knows the A-4WD system. Any HELPFUL people out there?

 

[1996BLKBauer]

thanks for the punk reply. I've been driving in the snow since you were spanking the monkey to the TV guide. I was actually hoping to hear from someone who knows the A-4WD system. Any HELPFUL people out there?

I wasn't trying to be a "punk", but some people simply don't know how to drive in the snow, I grew up in it my whole life, from go carts, to ATVs, to now my Explorer, that's great you know how to drive in snow, just be easier on the gas is all I can recommend, sorry if I cam off as a "punk". Like I said though, I have no issue with my Explorer. All I can tell you from experiences is that the split is favored to the rear, because you can do some sick donuts if you get on it.

The floating effect seriously sounds like a tire issue. but it could be something with the torque converter or something allowing the drive line to continue spinning even though you are off the gas. Have you tried tapping the brakes to see if it helps you catch?

 

[jremington59]

Are you sure the AWD is working right. I run Uniroyal Laredo's and I have never fishtailed. I'm with Joe. I don't want the humming in the summertime. And for the record my AWD will outdo my 4wd in any snow.