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Jeep skids in smallest amount of snow

18K views 147 replies 84 participants last post by  jengelha 
#1 ·
I have wrangler duratracs on my jk right now. (315/75/16). Yesterday there was slight flurries.. Barely staying on the road and I skidded making a turn and changing lanes.
Is this just my driving? I wasn't speeding or anything.
 
#4 ·
Jeeps are not good for winter driving. Anyone who buys one thinking it's the best for winter driving will be sorely disappointed. Almost any other 4WD or AWD vehicle will be better for winter driving. I bought my JKUR because I belong to a Jeep Safari club and I use it off road all the time in conditions it was intended to be used. If it wasn't for that, I would never own a Wrangler or any FCA vehicle. If all you ever do is drive on pavement, anything is better than a Wrangler.
 
#10 ·
I can tell you that all the threads on here about snow tires and poor winter driving in the Jeep, such as the comment from AlaskaErik above, had me a little concerned. But this weekend, driving my 2015 JKUR in the 12-16" of snow (over 8" in 3 hours alone) that we got, has me wondering what all of these people are talking about. I just slipped it into 4WD High and was comfortably handling everything, both rural dirt roads and urban roads/intersections, while everyone else on the road seemed to be really struggling. Maybe I'll feel different with a different kind of snow later in the season (this storm was obviously deep and wet, but I wasn't struggling on plowed roads either when I went out the next morning).

As with anything, it must depend on where you're coming from. Prior to this, I had a FWD Escape, which the jeep just blows away. Prior to that, I drove a series of F150s over about a decade - this jeep was handling the conditions at least as well as those did.
 
#13 ·
This reminds me of one time we had one of the seasonal ice storms in Austin years ago when they had first built a big elevated road interchange. There was a gigantic wreck with dozens of cars and the news reporter was interviewing the guy who had caused it, and he said something like, "I just don't know what happened. They say you're supposed to slow down on ice. I was only going 50 and the speed limit is 60." When they say "slow down" they don't mean 10mph below the limit, they mean 10mph above zero.

If I had to guess, the OP is driving way too fast for snow. Being a long time Texan, I have very limited experience in snow, but around here the rare light snow requires a very slow driving experience. 1/2 the speed limit would be extremely fast. I understand it's very different in places where you get >1ft of snow and it packs and there are plows and all that. When you have less than a half inch of snow then it behaves very much like ice under your tires.
 
#14 ·
I am way more confident in the JKU. Other car is a Corvette with all tires (more of a joke since I wouldn't drive it in the winter to begin with) and my other Jeep that I was driving for all winter for the last four years and thankfully is parked next to the Vette for winter was a 2008Jeep SRT with about 750HP. Tires I am running on it are 275/315 Continental Extreme Contact DWS which did ok, but again wide tire not so good with boost and that much power. JKU did better than my Ford E350 dually work truck with a knapheide box.
 
#15 ·
Jeeps are unbelievable in snow of any amount. I hope AlaskaEric was just trying to get some airtime on a thread. My opinion? Tires are two wide and driving habits. The slimmer the tire the more you can "cut" through the snow as opposed to riding on top of it with a wide track. Plus, with a small amount of snow, it could be immediate ice after coming in contact with frozen ground. Until an inch or so gets on there for "traction", it's the same.as driving on ice. Take it slow, especially the first couple of storms to get you "snow legs" back after the summer.
 
#22 ·
Hmm lemme guess what time of year Mr Alaska actually spends there...

Before we bicker too much, PLEASE consider a couple of other key points:

- Toronto is on the good side of the Lakes; better micro-climate
- Roads this time of year are still warm - snow WILL make them slick
- Snow this time of year is typically wet - the roads WILL be slick!
- In snow, you need a good 5+ years of experience driving cars of all drive styles, in order to fully grasp what happens out there at various speeds. There aren't really any shortcuts
- Although not yet too icy, if there is an ice storm you are NOT supposed to be out there at all. If you see people spinning on "clear roads" park it! If you can't walk around without slipping and falling on your ass, don't drive! Park it and wait for the salt trucks, or else put chains on and take the risk.
 
#24 ·
Just my opinion, the worse time for any vehicle is right after the snow starts!. If the road surface is below freezing and it starts to lay on the road, it's bad. I live in Northeast Pa, and I can tell you, I'd rather drive in 8" of snow, 4-wheel Hi, than 2 wheel when it first starts. It can be hairy to say the least. Our Wranglers are rear wheel drive, and they will not get much traction with the beginning of a snowfall, and yes, the wide rubber you got doesn't help for winter driving. And my 2012 JKU I bought new is my newest, not my first Jeep.
 
#31 ·
I assure anyone with doubts - the Jeep is quite capable.

IF it gets put in any situation that compromises that fact. Other vehicles would have difficulty as well, this assuming all is in proper order. Tired, inflation, tread, speed,etc....
 
#32 ·
Lots of good advice above... Being from Toronto you are well versed in winter conditions. AND you should know dedicated winter tires will out perform any 3 Season Snow Flake Tire.

Next point. In 2WD a Wrangler is no better than a Mustang in the winter. And any AWD will be "easier" to drive in winter conditions. The Wrangler has PartTime 4WD. There is no centre differential so when turning at an intersection or into a parking lot 4WD will try to push you straight ahead. "Shift On The Fly" lets you slip into 2WD just before the turn, and back into 4WD as you straighten out.

No doubt about it. Audi and Subaru have the best AWD Systems out. You can drive them with no education or skill. But the Wrangler is bullet proof and will take you places that will leave AWD stuck or broken. All you need is the desire to learn the skills required to drive a PartTime 4WD vehicle.

NUMBER ONE !!! get winter tires if you live in Toronto. Buy them during a snowstorm, you will not believe the difference.
 
#33 ·
After having my '14 JK for 2 weeks last February, we got freezing rain with around 4" of snow which is a lot for the Nashville area, and then again almost exactly one month later the first week of March. Didn't have a single problem either time. I have 18" Nitto Trail Grapplers. Trust my Jeep in any weather, except maybe 60 mph winds.
 
#34 ·
If you are not in 4wd, the rear tires will have a tendency to kick out under moderate to heavy acceleration when going through turns. It's just the way the rear with no 4WD/AWD engaged works. As others have said, if you have LSD it helps to keep the rear from spinning as much.

Hell, if I try I can easily get my Jeep to kick out some on wet roads. You just have to learn how to drive these vehicles on non dry roads.
 
#36 ·
The area where I live has an average annual snowfall of 184" to over 300" depending on the town and elevation.

The vehicles of choice around here are Jeep, Audi and Subaru.
I've had three Jeeps as a DD, two Wranglers and one Patriot, and all three have gotten me through 15 winters without a single issue.

The Wrangler has a huge advantage over all the others when it comes to unplowed gravel lots and river access points that I frequent in winter.
 
#37 ·
It's all about the tires you're running on, and common sense driving in bad weather. I remember back when I had my TJ with BFG AT tires.
My dad needed to be picked up during a snow storm since his Crowne Vic was useless in the snow.
Dad was speechless as I plowed through the snow, my TJ was a tank in the winter.
And I am very confident my JK will follow suit.
 
#39 ·
Traded a Toyota 4runner Limited AWD for my Jeep. IF they offered it back to me I'd say - No Thank You regardless of road conditions.
My last Rubicon with MT's got me home to N/E Pa from Columbus Ohio when route 80 was CLOSED.
Cops let me on BECAUSE I was in a Jeep. They were Right and I got home where I needed to be When I needed to be.
My Best Friends Wife had just been Killed in a car accident, He had a 15 month old baby and a broken heart.

Thank you - Jeep. Period.
 
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