Poor 100 snow+ice handling. (1 Viewer)

[arbetrader]

Cool thread! From a long time ago

I haven't done much snow driving this year (a day or two) however I live in an area that doesn't get a lot of sun, and overnight, when the frost settles, it makes for some very slippery driving conditions down some of the roads where I live. There's one corner I always have fun in my 99 LX (limited slip rear). In icy conditions around a corner, it will over-rotate and yes, the back will slide out, and over-turn. I have not found this to be true in the snow, but only on icy roads. I will report back once we have more snow. I did take it up skiing last month, and the duratracs stuck like glue in the snow (quite of bit of fresh).

 

[eleblanc]

EDIT: deleted answer to OP,......old thread........

 

[Topmounter]

My 62 was better in the snow than my 100... but that was because the underpowered I-6 motor limited any stylistic antics My 100 is better on ice though due to the Full-time 4WD, ABS, A-TRAC and VSC (or at least it is more confidence inspiring since my 62 needed the hubs locked and 4WD engaged before it turned into a tractor).

 

[jmd93]

I love driving our 01 lx470 in snow. With pirelli scorpian ice and snows it is pretty, good, i do see the rear end go out a decent amount of the time, but thats mainly due to my driving i believe and not my car

 

[hkeller]

I've got a 2000 and it rocks in the snow. When we bought it, we had a big snow that year. There is a steep hill near our house. I went out, got half way up the hill, stopped and floored it. I crawled right to the top. I tried the same thing in my 1996 Grand Cherokee and it got stuck and sat there for a week. The LX had stock tires on it. The Jeep had off road tires.

 

[uHu]

The single important factor is the tires. Most standard vehicles are ok on snow or ice with good winter tires. Of course it helps with traction control and 4wd, but it's the tires AND the driver that makes a car good when the road gets slippery.

 

[Pskhaat]

To all the recent posts: Please remember this is something special IMO to the 98 & 99 without modulating/correcting brake action, please read the linked post talking about rear brake bias during nominal braking.

The tires are a given assumption, a constant we can remove from this equation. Given a 1997 LC80 and 1998 LC100 with identical tires, which is more likely to break?

Good tires are a given, but interested if anyone else in icy conditions with a 1998 | 1999 would care to test the rear breakout during light braking?

 

[uHu]

There is the issue of the brakes being rear-biased during light breaking. But all these cars have ABS, which should take care of that problem.
I can see that if you have tires which are not at all suited for snow or ice (includes most A/T and M/T), you could have a situation in a curve where the light breaking starts an unwanted skidding. But then again, that's the first rule for wintery driving: Either turn or brake, not both.

But in any case: Controlled testing is good.

 

[1loudLX]

Turn & brake then add throttle and turn the other way.

 

[tabraha]

I had one of those moments two years ago going through the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Snow and ice, family loaded with brother in law behind in a Tacoma. I'd seen some super slick looking spots so was pretty focused on the task at hand. I came up on a curve headed downhill, traffic in front disappeared in the curve. Right as the last car was going out of sight I saw the brake lights come on and thought it may have twitched but wasn't sure. I jammed the brakes one good time while I was straight to scrub some speed ( I'm already a pretty cautious driver so I was in good shape speed-wise).

Sure enough as I entered the curve the other cars were wadded up so I hit the four-ways to warn my BIL behind me and downshifted. When I did the back end broke loose just a bit on the ice that had bitten everyone else but we had scrubbed enough speed so that once I slid onto some of the grit I could brake and stop just short of everyone. The groan of the ABS is sometimes a welcome noise. My BIL got the message from the flashers and had no drama but got to see a good show! 1999 LX btw, I was pleased with how predictable the vehicle was, at least when I was not on the main ice and able to give some input.

I believe I had Revo's at the time and I've enjoyed them and the Cooper STT's in the snow. The 100 just has a nice balance and has always been a great vehicle for us in the worst of conditions.

 

[Topmounter]

Turn & brake then add throttle, turn the other way and yell YEE-HAW!!!

 

[cpcc]

Winter tires maintain composure in colder temps. Studs or reg tires harden in colder weather. Poor analogy;however, marbles on a glass table once your tire's channels are packed with snow.
I use 16 inch snows on the LX in the winter. Also suit up my LS with Blizzaks in the winter. This simple change makes these two drive like a Russian Benz with chains all the way around, something out of a scene from Rocky 4.

 

[1loudLX]

Yup, I use snows on the LS to drive back and forth to the mountains every day, tires are key.

 

[arbetrader]

Okay I've had a chance to test my rig in the snow and ice to quite an extent over the last few days. All in varying conditions; from black ice, to compact snow, and anywhere from 6"-22" of fresh snow. I can tell you that unless I am driving in very deep snow (over 20"), or really have marginal traction, I WILL NOT be using my center diff lock. The reason for this is that the vehicle does kick the back end out. It's quite amusing actually, and I was having fun with it. This could be due to the limited slip rear diff to some extent, however when it was unlocked, I had no problem with any sliding at all. The truck stuck to the road like glue. Again, in very very deep snow, I could plow better with the center diff locked.

I have Duratracs, and they are like flypaper on snowy pavement; I pretty much have to go to 3/4 throttle to even break traction in 12" of snow. Seriously; if you live in a snowy climate, they're sweet.

 

[arbetrader]

Okay I've had a chance to test my rig in the snow and ice to quite an extent over the last few days. All in varying conditions; from black ice, to compact snow, and anywhere from 6"-22" of fresh snow. I can tell you that unless I am driving in very deep snow (over 20"), or really have marginal traction, I WILL NOT be using my center diff lock. The reason for this is that the vehicle does kick the back end out. It's quite amusing actually, and I was having fun with it. This could be due to the limited slip rear diff to some extent, however when it was unlocked, I had no problem with any sliding at all. The truck stuck to the road like glue. Again, in very very deep snow, I could plow better with the center diff locked.

I have Duratracs, and they are like flypaper on snowy pavement; I pretty much have to go to 3/4 throttle to even break traction in 12" of snow. Seriously; if you live in a snowy climate, they're sweet.

Has nobody else noticed this phenomenon in snow, center diff locked vs unlocked?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Has nobody else noticed this phenomenon in snow, center diff locked vs unlocked?

Absolutely. UN-locked means no binding between front and rear axles while turning. With the CDL locked something has to "give" while turning just like on pavement.

You want to be amazed? See how a 2000+ does with VSC and TRAC and CDL unlocked on the ice. Amazing! Blows lockers away!

 

[arbetrader]

Yeah, that's true; a response of mine in this thread illustrates my findings in this, atrac vs lockers in snow and ice.

Thanks for te reply re: cdl locked vs unlocked in snow... I'm still trying to wrap my head around that though...

 

[Musky]

I would have thought by locking the center differential that it would put more power to the front wheels in turn making it harder for the rear to kick out?

So if I'm driving on some serious snow packed roads or in horrible conditions I still don't want to lock my center?

Is there ever a time you would lock your center while "On Road" driving?

 

[LCHardriver_02]

^^ Snow Plows have not gone through?

 

[bkgee]

I would have thought by locking the center differential that it would put more power to the front wheels in turn making it harder for the rear to kick out?

So if I'm driving on some serious snow packed roads or in horrible conditions I still don't want to lock my center?

Is there ever a time you would lock your center while "On Road" driving?

Under normal conditions (ie, regular forward motion regardless of environmental conditions) I don't think so. However, pulling out of a ditch (yourself or someone else), CDL might be beneficial...