East Coast Blizzard makes me wonder

[tojomatic]

You could try the 'illegal' route (not technically, though your insurance co. will not like you), and disable ABS (just pull the fuse).

During the winter months, I drive without ABS to give me a more exact feel on the brake pedal. The feel of the response directly correlates with the conditions your are dealing with thus giving you accurate response information. ABS 'takes over' so to speak, which is how I understand ABS systems, and which is what I do not like about ABS sytems. Though much research has shown that ABS works real well for 99% of people, most people don't know how to use ABS correctly (which is not what I am insinuating in your situation, esp. since you lived in AK).

I don't want my truck taking over at all--I want full control.

Excellent point. Do you brake better post abs deactivation? Thanks for all the input. I'll stop looking for Cadilla Escalades now

 

[Sand Cruiser]

I'm running Dunlop Grandtreks (not the best tires I'm sure) at 38 PSI. About how low should I deflate them for driving to work in the snow tomorrow? I was thinking of going down to 25 PSI and seeing how she rides.

 

[DMX84]

I have to agree with yahtzee. the revos are far superior. Drove the 100 on stock tires on icy roads in oregon. Felt kinda slippy and unshure. Next month put a set of revos on. Spent a week up in the Mammoth area, snow and rain every day. Really bad roads, and the revos made driving in those conditions a dream.

I’m betting that that wasn’t the first snow storm they seen.


When I bought my 100, it came with Kumho tires, not a tire I would purchase normally, however the LC drove very well in snow all the way from Boulder CO to Albuquerque.

Everyone mentions putting the new tires on during the winter. I’ve always done the same thing with great results, even the non Revo dueler AT and the Kumho’s did good during the first winter. So IMO any new tire will do well when new.. It’s after the next summer’s wear that will tell the tale.
I’m sure some of you have had the Revo’s for a few seasons now, how do they do? I plan on getting a set of “Revo’s” if the LTXs’ don’t do well in the snow, and use the LTX as a summer set. For mileage, the Michelins are hard to beat. I easily put 30k a year on a set.
DMX

 

[macneill]

Hmmm... I would have to say it's the tires too.

I never had a problem with my stock LTXs. The MTRs on the other hand are not very good in the snow.

 

[spressomon]

Hmmm... I would have to say it's the tires too.

I never had a problem with my stock LTXs. The MTRs on the other hand are not very good in the snow.

Weird...my LTX's were terrible in snow and/or ice (about 50% tread when I got the LC). And my M/TR's are very good in our snow out here...although less so on ice or if ice covered road with snow on top...

 

[lowenbrau]

FIrst off, I hate ABS.

Second, a lot of good drivers don't know how to use it. There's no gracefull way. If it starts buzzing, MASH THE PEDAL! Try it in a parking lot. The damn thing will cause many people to lift so there is nearly no braking force going to the tires with traction while it buzzes away to try to get the skidding wheel spinning again.

I hate ABS

 

[OGBeno]

FIrst off, I hate ABS.

Second, a lot of good drivers don't know how to use it. There's no gracefull way. If it starts buzzing, MASH THE PEDAL! Try it in a parking lot. The damn thing will cause many people to lift so there is nearly no braking force going to the tires with traction while it buzzes away to try to get the skidding wheel spinning again.

I hate ABS

Yup. Exactly.

My girlfriend did not know how to use ABS and thought she had significant brake problems with her 1998 Saab 900 S. I tried it out and stopped on a dime. Then I realized the pulsating in the brake pedal was freaking her out as a sign of brake failure as opposed to correct ABS operation.

She almost had me do an entire brake job--luckily, I just taught her how to deal with ABS and she's been happy ever since.

-o-

 

[sethos1]

I’m betting that that wasn’t the first snow storm they seen.
DMX

Bought the truck with the LTXs on it, they had plenty of tread left, but not knowing their history, you could be right abought the rubber getting hard. Makes sense.
Gotta love new tires.

 

[OGBeno]

Excellent point. Do you brake better post abs deactivation? Thanks for all the input. I'll stop looking for Cadilla Escalades now

Yes, indeed I do--the feel and touch on the brake pedal correspond, now, directly to what's happening at the brake shoes contacting the rotor. There is no sensor override.

It took me a week or so to get used to it, but once you do, it's tough justifying going back to ABS in winter months. I don't mind it 8 months out of the year and in fact I do put the fuse back in April-November.

But the major problem with this method is your insurance co. If you get in an accident without your ABS working, and they find this out, there is a good probability you will be found at fault in the accident as well as them not covering your claims. Major problem. I've alleviated this by telling them that during the winter months ABS is disabled in my vehicle (I feed them some BS line about work purposes, etc.) and they charge me a bit more for four months out of the year.

FYI: I'm also driving an 80 and not a 100 series. Too rich for my blood!!

 

[VA Runner]

Here is a shot of the winter storm, early this morning... kids in front of the LC. It was great in the snow, about 10 inches here in Herndon, VA. I was the first one out of the neighborhood, blasted straight up the hill, 4-H with the center diff locked. My Michelin LTX's have 50K miles on them.. no problem. I also did a few donuts in the cul-de-sac, the kids enjoyed it!

My neighbor up the street has an '06 LC, but didn't see it out of the garage all day.

 

[Cruiserhead05]

Bah!!!!

You shoulda had the 4runner out. Much better.

 

[macneill]

Here is a shot of the winter storm, early this morning... kids in front of the LC. It was great in the snow, about 10 inches here in Herndon, VA. I was the first one out of the neighborhood, blasted straight up the hill, 4-H with the center diff locked. My Michelin LTX's have 50K miles on them.. no problem. I also did a few donuts in the cul-de-sac, the kids enjoyed it!

My neighbor up the street has an '06 LC, but didn't see it out of the garage all day.

You can do donuts?! ;p

 

[yahtzee]

Here is a shot of the winter storm, early this morning... kids in front of the LC. It was great in the snow, about 10 inches here in Herndon, VA. I was the first one out of the neighborhood, blasted straight up the hill, 4-H with the center diff locked. My Michelin LTX's have 50K miles on them.. no problem. I also did a few donuts in the cul-de-sac, the kids enjoyed it!

My neighbor up the street has an '06 LC, but didn't see it out of the garage all day.

Yeah, I took my LC out but didnt have too much fun. Roads were clear and dry by noon down here in Glen Allen. This is my 04 as well as my lab, Jack.

 

[SINCITY100]

Ah, yes... ABS...

Its true that ABS will shorten your stopping distances on MOST road surfaces/conditions ..but mainly under a PANIC stop situation...

ABS was designed with the "average Joe" driver in mind who, again, under a PANIC stop would not be able to ( or for that matter, know HOW to) modulate the brake pedal properly to keep the tires from locking up and skidding, thus increasing the stopping distance of the vehicle

I must admit that even though I consider myself an above average driver (who doesnt, right ? ) ABS has saved my a$$ more than a time or two, but under some very specific scenarios..

The most impressive was when a liquid (I think it was transmission fluid) was on the roadway, but it was on the right portion, so only the RH tires were travelling over it. Cars quickly stopped in front of me , and I had to hammer the brakes..HARD !! The ABS engaged all of the tires, but in different amounts, and prevented the tires WITH traction (LH) from grabbing too hard, throwing me into a 180 spin! I was the ONLY vehicle that stopped dead straight, and the only one not involved in a multi-car accident... BTW, my 94 Camry was the only vehicle that DID have ABS in that incident.

This is where I think ABS shines.. on wet, Partially slippery, or Icy roads ..

Now for the downsides..

ABS assumes that the surface you are traveling over is pavement or packed dirt, snow .etc..or with a fairly low DEPTH to it. Thats great if there is a bottom to the surface.. but if you hammer your brakes on a DEEP bottomed surface ( I.E.... 6" + of gravel, snow, sand..etc..) Then the ABS will not allow you to lock-up and "DIG IN" (which actually slows you down faster)...It instead wants those tires to keep rolling , which unfortunately makes the tires float on top and dramatically INCREASES your stopping distance!!

I am not sure what caused your 100 to seemingly be inable to stop the other day, I think the guys in here are on the right track with tire selection..

BUT..

Just keep the road SURFACE you will be driving on in mind, when deciding whether or not to disable the ABS..It really can save your life under many "unexpected" stituations.


Peace !

 

[Gohawks63]

I posted in another thread here a while back of me driving over 2 hours in a 12" snowstorm that hit the northern Illinois suburbs back in January.

I had absolutely no issues stopping at speeds much higher than 10mph, and I'm running the stock Dunlops on the 18" wheels.

My biggest problem during this drive was getting around the other vehicles that were clogging the streets and causing huge traffic jams in the mostly two lane roads I was traveling.

I crossed through drifts and banks created by plows that were above the bumper and my LC plowed through. When I got home, I had at least a foot of snow on my driveway that is pretty steep. The LC never hesitated as I pulled in my garage, and I never had to lock the diff during the whole ride home.

Unless there was quite a bit of ice under the snow, I can't think of another reason why this would have occurred.

 

[LXPearl]

To my surprise, I had great traction and stopping power with my 01 LC on Dunlop OEM tires in snow (up to 8 inches) or ice. Not so with my 04 Sienna AWD which at low speeds in snow would "correct" my attempts to turn a corner by straightening the wheels. The LC seems to have a different function in low speeds with limited implementation of the ABS. It is supposed to have an off road feature in its ABS.

Once traction is lost on all 4 wheels there is little that can be done to recover. ABS attempts to allow a wheel to turn then brake again, but if the wheels are in a skid, they may not get enough traction to start turning again. It may be easier to give a little gas and attempt to steer around an object, allowing the TRAC and VSC to kick in. But attempting to stop a 4 wheel skid on ice... pray.

The best way to get to know the vehicle is to get on an empty lot in ice or snow and practice a variety of maneuvers until comfortable with how it responds. Then do the same on hills, etc. My overall impression of the LC/LX is that they are extremely capable in snow and ice to the point of being uneventful - but then that could lead to overestimation of the capabilities of the 100.

While 4x4s have great traction advantages over 4x2s accelerating in snow and ice, braking is the great equalizer. I have found the ABS in the 100 to be less irritating than some other vehicles I have driven, so I have not been tempted to disconnect the ABS in it.

 

[SINCITY100]

Once traction is lost on all 4 wheels there is little that can be done to recover. ABS attempts to allow a wheel to turn then brake again, but if the wheels are in a skid, they may not get enough traction to start turning again. It may be easier to give a little gas and attempt to steer around an object, allowing the TRAC and VSC to kick in. But attempting to stop a 4 wheel skid on ice... pray.

The best way to get to know the vehicle is to get on an empty lot in ice or snow and practice a variety of maneuvers until comfortable with how it responds. Then do the same on hills, etc. My overall impression of the LC/LX is that they are extremely capable in snow and ice to the point of being uneventful - but then that could lead to overestimation of the capabilities of the 100.

While 4x4s have great traction advantages over 4x2s accelerating in snow and ice, braking is the great equalizer. I have found the ABS in the 100 to be less irritating than some other vehicles I have driven, so I have not been tempted to disconnect the ABS in it.

Very good point LX !

I had mentioned in a (much) earlier thread about testing the VSC and knowing what to EXPECT when it actually kicks in during "real world" driving , It is great advice to do the same with ABS under CONTROLLED conditions..Dont wait untill the unexpected happens !!

If you know exactly how your vehicle responds to both the driver`s (your) input AND the on-board electronic...ummm can I call it... "intervention" ? ..then you can more easily determine a correction or method to keep your 100 under control

You should never wait until the "unfortunate situation" arises to find out how a 6000 lb projectile responds to both steering and braking input .


Plus, think of it this way....It is WAY more fun to toss that 100 around on ice, snow or other slippery surfaces when YOU choose to, not when some poor sap pulls out (oblivious) in front of you in a Geo Metro, then both of you are hoping you can stop in time to avoid making him a statistic !

Sometimes I think driving a bit crazy (when appropriate) actually teaches you to be a better driver..I have "tested" my 100 under some very demanding conditions , I will even slam on my brakes while driving down a snowy, wet or icy road just to see how my LC responds to the surface...But I am learning how this rig acts and how to react to its dynamics, I think thats a good thing..And did I mention...ITS FUN ?!

Peace !

 

[Glockenspiel]

Here is a shot of the winter storm, early this morning... kids in front of the LC. It was great in the snow, about 10 inches here in Herndon, VA.

Nice. I had to drive from Ashburn (13 inches) to Quantico (9 inches) on Sunday morning before the roads were clear. No problems with my BFG A/T's running high PSI. I left the center differential unlocked the entire way to take advantage of the VSC and TRAC. I'd take a good look at your tire pressure next time.

 

[Desmond]

My cruiser same with crappyass remould ATS Trailmaster tires >=( 275/65R16 anyways even with such BS tires, i manage to deal with the occaisional dump of snow, and the 2inches of solid ice that managed to form in our back lane. ABS did its job nicely when going down the lane, i almost hit a neighbour blasting up the hill in his Trooper =/

 

[tojomatic]

Okay, finally got the pressure checked when cold as recommended and found the tires were uniform 30lbs. The max pressure fo the Forteras is 44psi. 30 does sound low, but what does Toyota recommend anyhow. Should I max em out at 44?? Somewhere in between seems rational. Does higher pressure equate to better stopping? Maybe that's what my probelm was.

Toj