TJ sucks in the snow—are these tires not meant for the snow?

Descending order of preference for driving in snow (assuming adequate ground clearance for depth) from among select vehicles previously or currently owned:

Grandma’s Subaru Wagon (non-Outback)
Grand Wagoneer
ZJ
XJ
TJ Rubicon
First Gen Bronco
BMW e34 Wagon
Honda Civic Hatchback
Plymouth Volaré
Datsun 510
MGB-GT
Opel GT
Any Motorcycle
 
Rubicon88 said:
One of my favorite vehicles ever was the 78-79 Bronco.

No no...im talking the Grand Wagoneer that died in 1991. The last carburetor mfg vehicle in NA...
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Both of these are some of my favorites - the Grand Waggy was actually on my prospect list but after checking a few out, I realized that they were a tad too small for what I needed. I really wanted the 4-door convenience but the cargo area was a deal breaker. I had lusted after one after my parent's family friend had one all over Upstate and Western NY - the thing was a snow-killing monster!

I was looking at a Bronco for a while, as well as a K5 and even a few 'Burbs, but I have a penchant for pain. Finding parts is too easy for those and I much prefer to spend countless hours and 3x the money on Dodge parts, hench my third RamCharger :)
 
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For snow, installing front and rear Detroit Truetrac limited slip differentials will move the TJ right up into the front-runners of the pack. AWD cars and Jeeps like the Grand Cherokee optionally have something akin to f/r LSDs which is what really helps them in such conditions.
 
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Jerry Bransford said:
For snow, installing front and rear Detroit Truetrac limited slip differentials will move the TJ right up into the front-runners of the pack. AWD cars and Jeeps like the Grand Cherokee optionally have something akin to f/r LSDs which is what really helps them in such conditions.
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Thanks Jerry, Value your tire input as well ?? What I have vs ???????????
WITHOUT, going "FULL TIME DESIGNATED SNOW TIRE"
 
My duratracs handled like a beast today. 4 Hi handled the snow covered highway perfectly this morning
IMG_6735.JPG
 
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OHFIVETJ said:
What I expected was: A "Jeep" / 4X4 / tires with a lot of very big, deep tread / 6 speed, & lot's of ground clearance to be a bad ass beast in the snow / better, much better, then my AWD Benz sedan ...........it certainly looks like it should be better............I guess I expected too much :rolleyes:
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Big blocky deep, wide tread is a mud tire.

Snow tire is lots of little sipes that grip on snow with a soft rubber compound and should be narrower to increase pressure.
1608249031933.png
 
Take it from the people who live in states that get alot of snow...TJ's suck on slick roads. They will plow through alot of snow on a trail but driving any distance on say a highway at 70 mph I'd rather be in my wife's Ford Fusion. The light weight and short wheelbase make it a nightmare.
 
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RS1983 said:
Take it from the people who live in states that get alot of snow...TJ's suck on slick roads. They will plow through alot of snow on a trail but driving any distance on say a highway at 70 mph I'd rather be in my wife's Ford Fusion. The light weight and short wheelbase make it a nightmare.
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My question is... IF the roads are slick; WHY would anyone drive at 70 mph no matter if it has AWD, traction control, limited slips front and rear or?
Sounds like someone is just asking for trouble... I would rather drive slower and get there later and safe.....
I believe I have enough experience driving in snow after living in New York for 20 years to post what I said above.
 
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Artisan said:
Descending order of preference for driving in snow (assuming adequate ground clearance for depth) from among select vehicles previously or currently owned:

Grandma’s Subaru Wagon (non-Outback)
Grand Wagoneer
ZJ
XJ
TJ Rubicon
First Gen Bronco
BMW e34 Wagon
Honda Civic Hatchback
Plymouth Volaré
Datsun 510
MGB-GT
Opel GT
Any Motorcycle
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MGB-GT's are great in the snow. Much better than the roadsters! I've had 2 and used them year round.

Great for ski trips. (y)

img009.jpg
 
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A few things to ponder on:
Three Peak Snow Rating only requires a 10% improved braking distance
Subarus always have stock sized non-flotation tires
Municipal plow trucks are always RWD
More weight over the primary drive tires never hurt anybody
 
pc1p said:
Can't take credit for that one - here's mine though:
View attachment 211336

Here it is on 35"s - I'm actually going back to 35"s since it's a bit too tall on 37"s for the family to comfortably get in and out of, plus this will be used as a tow rig for the TJ when the time comes. That said, she's got lockers front and rear and will be wheeled as well :)

View attachment 211337
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Back in the late 80’s and into the early 90’s, my Wife was doing road inspections for the same County that I was a heavy equipment operator for. During the winter season, she would drive around and make sure that the roads that needed to be plowed were cleared of vehicles that were in the way.
In the wise wisdom of middle management, they assigned her a Dodge Aries, front wd. She of course rolled her eyes and gave them that WTF look. They said that it was all they could spare. She drove to the closest mtn. maintenance yard and put chains on. Before she left the yard, she ask the yard supervisor to follow her in his Cummins plow truck. She found the nearest unplowed road and promptly got the Aries stuck, and the plow truck picked her up.
The next day they assigned her a Ram Charger. She drove to the same yard and some of my coworkers installed chains on both axles and tossed in six 50# bags of ice melter in the back. It was unstoppable. She drove ahead of the plows so they had a clear shot at clearing the roads. I was either in a motor grader plowing a different area or in the valley doing flood control work.
 
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The amount of people that say they don’t drive their jeeps in the winter is kinda depressing.

I was driving around today in the storm for a few hours before plows got out, plenty of grip on my 50k mile old ko2s.

Few tips,

learn to left foot brake if you’re rolling around in 4hi and find yourself understeering

Use 4hi for better braking control, kinda acts like abs.

Deep snow will suck you in if the other tires aren’t in it, roll offhrottle and turn out of it.

You don’t have computer aids figure out how to drive before you speed up.
 
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my tj is my DD, last year I had to drive on the hwy at 70mph (Northern Wisconsin), yes I only did that when the road was pretty much clean. Any snow and I think my grandma could have beat me to work with her heavy Oldsmobile. With a short wheelbase if you start to go around, plan on what you are going to do after the spin. I have jumped a couple curbs here and there. Just watch your speed, look way ahead, stay off the $*#@%* phone, and remember you butt is almost on the rear wheel. So when the backend is coming around, it’s your butt not a backseat and a 4 foot trunk. I learned to drive in the Wisconsin winter so it is not a big deal around here.
Used to have a Grand Cherokee drove that like I stole it, though. 😝 lol, long wheel is the kicker.
 
I've never driven my TJ in the snow but my previous jeeps all were good to better than good snow vehicles. I've owned a CJ5, two CJ7's and a YJ. The YJ was the best on both deep snow and packed snow/ice conditions. Once you understand how the short wheelbase reacts to slick conditions it gets easier and then second nature.

I used to live in North Idaho and Eastern WA where it wasn't uncommon to get 4-5 feet of snow and have snow on the roads 5 months out of the year in areas.
 
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My V8 QuadraDrive II WJ Overland with a 2" OME lift and GY Wrangler Silent Armor tires was the best winter driver I ever had.
 
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TheBoogieman said:
My job requires me to drive in any amount of snow (or ice) or lose my job...
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Unless you're self-employed, every state has regulations that prevent unreasonable requests for work, plus the OSHA General Duty Clause would also be applicable here :)
 
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