I've been driving my 4th Gen 4Runner for 5years. I run Toyo Open Country MT's 255/75/17 with new Bilstein shocks and struts. No other mods
My 2008 LC runs the Open Country Toyo MT's 275/65/18 and they do great in snow/mud, horrible on ice.
I'm a conservation officer working the Canadian border in Idaho/Wa. I run a dedicated studded snow tire in the winter on my patrol truck and would consider a studded tire on the LC 200 as well, since running chains on the front are not recommended. I have a winch on the front of my rig, carry small size maxtrax, a shovel, and have a police/ham radio to use if the SHTF and I'm unable to get unstuck.