Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

[83bj60]

... I haven't had as much pleasure driving on snow and ice as since I got my first four while drive back in '87

Boy that full time four wheel drive beast on its studded Hakkas is such a joy to drive in the snow and ice, what a step up from the old BJ60

I can see now that it's definitely going to improve my winter spirits and may even make me want to see more snow!!!

I second Martin White's first snow impressions of the HDJ81: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!...

Chris

 

[lshobie]

The awd 80 series is awsome, the tires last a veyr long time as well I noticed.

 

[83bj60]

The awd 80 series is awsome, the tires last a very long time as well I noticed.

Yes, IIRC, the previous Hakkas I had (LT 10 IIRC) lasted me about 50,000km (they were worn out and had little traction on the fifth winter, though!).

The ones I am running now are the Hakkas SUVs, a more intelligent tread pattern IMO (V-shaped for excellent slush evacuation, many lugs and quite a good number of sipes with plenty of studs (110 studs per tire). They were used only one winter, IIRC (not really sure). Anyway, after reballancing them (I thought one of them had gotten out of round!) They behave perfectly well on pavement as well as on snow and ice.

At the touch the surface is not as grippy as that of the Blizzaks, so we'll see how they behave at -35. We've had -15 in the past couple of days around here, and at that temperature they behave very well suited to the HDJ81.

OTOH, if Of course, if I had money to experiment with, I'd have gotten myself some Blizzaks and 16 inch x 6 rims... I'll let my friend Pierre make the endurance test on these. If he can make them last 50,000 km I'll be happy, as he's generally very conservative like I am so I should expect the same durability.

We'll see...
Chris

 

[Martin White]

Agreed, since my last post, even more snow experience. These trucks are absolutely incredible. Barely a slip no matter what I do. I've even tried to get stuck, no luck. Truly a testimony to these incredible 80 series trucks.

 

[83bj60]

Agreed, since my last post, even more snow experience. These trucks are absolutely incredible. Barely a slip no matter what I do. I've even tried to get stuck, no luck. Truly a testimony to these incredible 80 series trucks.

I have since driven in several different snow conditions with the truck and the Hakkas - and this is my conclusion so far:

1 - excellent control on slippery surfaces. The vehicles if it slips, does so very evenly. No understeer or oversteer: the slippage is very gradual and even. That's the advantage of AWD!

2 - one is able to drive with much less stress. The behaviour of the vehicle is very predictable on dry hard snow, on wet snow and on slush. I have not tried any excessive driving on pure ice, we haven't had any.

3 - everybody else is driving much slower all of a sudden and you're passing a lot of traffic. I almost passed one of those white cop cars on a 'do not pass double line', realized there were flashers on the top just in time, because I was coming in fast... The poor cop was driving... a Jeep or a Jimmy

4 - the downside is that you're having so much fun that... You're going to burn more fuel

Chris