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Wrangler Unlimited 2015 or 2016 on ICE/Rain on the highway.

8K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  Interested 
#1 ·
How does a Wrangler unlimited perform on Ice, Rain and snow on the highway? And Add windy conditions to it too because that is the weather in Montana every winter between Nov & Feb. I am trying to decide if the newer models have improved from a handling and control perspective. I am looking at 2015 or 2016 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon models. This will be my second jeep. The last jeep that I drove was an old military jeep back in high school and that guy's top speed was 60MPH :) so I don't really know how the new models will perform.

Thanks,

AFGH-Griz
 
#3 ·
The Unlimited has. 116" wheelbase, not what I would consider short at all. IMHO the Wrangler is a great winter vehicle if you know how to drive it. No vehicle is going to be great on ice covered roads. In rain I have absolutely no issues. In snow or ice, I drop it in 4wd and roll. I'm not one of those people who panic about axel scrub so long as the road is slippery. The Jeep is not a full time AWD system, so when in 4wd the front and rear wheels are not synchronized. At times this can make it feel like the front and rear wheels are working against each other. This is called axel scrub and is why you shouldn't drive in 4wd on dry or non-slippery surfaces. But on snow covered roads you'll be fine. My opinion is that if you can't drive a Wrangler in the snow, you should be using Uber.

The tires make a huge difference. I was happy with the stock M/Ts that came on my Rubicon until they wore funny. I now run A/Ts but haven't yet had them in the snow.

We had a couple of big ice storms last year and I drove in them all. I used my brains, my skill and I rode right past the many clowns who drove off the road.

The Unlimited is an amazing winter vehicle, I have yet to have any issues. There is a reason you see a lot of Jeeps in areas that get tons of snow. It's not as easy to drive as say a Subaru, but more rewarding and much greater capability. Good luck!
 

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#9 ·
The Unlimited has. 116" wheelbase, not what I would consider short at all.
Thank you for all the info, I didn't know much about the axle scrub. I am currently looking at a rubicon hard rock and will probably be driving it here in Montana on very sleek icy roads and among the nation's worst drivers :)
I am leaning towards the manual cause I get the 4:10 axle ratio which in 4wd should provide great amount of traction whether in ice or snow. & then I can control the engine with the manual transmission. I think that I should be ok. just concerned about night time driving when there is black ice on patches of highway. these show up unexpectedly on dry highways here in Montana and especially in the mornings or early evenings. These are my worst nightmares.

you are driving at about 70 MPH and then all of a sudden, you hit this patch of ice while you are at 70MPH and then spin off to the cliffs. so my question is: does the rubicon hard rock stock tires do better on these kind of black ice or the Sahara stock tires? I was assuming that deeper thread is better on ice since you got more rubber on the road.
 
#5 ·
I don't have any problem driving my JK in these conditions, not worst or better then others, right tires and adapting your driving with the conditions is the way to go.

I drove Cherokee XJ, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara and my JK in same conditions of high cross wind on icy highways and none of them was better then the others, I had to drive at about the same speed in all of them to be able to stay on the road in control. You can't go over the adherence that your tires have.

You and your tires are the ones making the difference, the vehicle can only make up for a really small one.
 
#6 ·
I have never driven my 2015 unlimited in snow, but I had no issues with the 2007 JK Sahara 2 dr stock tires, but around the 3rd winter the tires weren't the greatest.

Just got myself 5 2014 Rubicon takeoff wheels ($850USD) and might go with dedicated winter tires for winter 2017, I have to see which rims I want to use as my summer rims.

I am not sure what year the Unlimited is the video is, but it looks 2011+ with stock tires and it appears like it drives like a champion, I peed a little when he came to the first stop sign.

How to Drive Your Jeep Wrangler with 4wd in the Snow

A beginners guide to using the 4WD in your Jeep safely. The difference between 4H and 4L and when and how to use each.

https://youtu.be/2ia5SEz549U

Quick Tips | How to Wrangler
 
#16 ·
Its more about steering and stopping than going that makes ice driving a challenge in an AWD, 4WD or even chained up 2WD vehicle.

That said, its mostly of function of driving skill and tires and...patience thats gonna determine how well a "vehicle" does in adverse weather.
 
#17 ·
Montana ice-covered highways (90/200/83) + Jeep Wrangler = scary as hell. Stock Rubicon MTs are terrible on ice-covered asphalt. I just swapped out my duratracs with some general altimax arctics for this winter but if I'm going to do some distance driving at 20 or below I'm taking my truck with the blizzaks. I see you're a Griz fan, Western Montana?
 
#19 ·
The longer wheelbase of the 4 door helps, but you will need some new tires right away. Non-siped MT's are great for deep mud and deep snow, but not for winter highway driving....especially in a RWD vehicle (I assume you won't be in 4WD on the highway at speed).
 
#20 ·
If you are driving on all black ice, you can probably kiss it goodbye. I've been in multiple vehicles and just tapping the brakes at 4-8mph the ABS wouldn't even come on. If it's that icy you won't even be able to steer, brake, or accelerate.
 
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