Stock tires in snow/ice

[jahwild]

Looking for insight on the stock mud terrain tires being used in snow or ice.

I have a stock Wildtrak and am wanting to go on a trip to big bear lake in the middle of winter. Plan is to do some overlanding in the snow with a couple others and likely just stick to as light of trails possible out there. Are the mud terrain tires decent for getting around the snow/ice?

I’m based in SoCal and would rather not get winter tires since I would usually never use them so am mostly curious if chains or something similar is necessary to not get stuck.

Sponsored

 

[HighVelocity]

Get some chains.

 

[CalvinT]

Getting stuck also depends on how you drive and where. Since you want to overland I hope the people you're going with are experienced in recovery.

 

[Brian_B]

The GY MTs I thought did really well in the snow. I mean, they aren't a dedicated snow tire, but they were much better than my Baja Legends and as good or better than Falken AT3Ws

This was in CenCal Sierra snow. You will still need chains, for sure though.

For the record, on road, I've never really ~needed~ chains, but CHP will still require you to carry them. CHP will usually close the road before they require you to put them on. But off road snow, different animal.

 

[allagash24]

I’d get chains and familiarize yourself with how to put them on and how to drive with them. I had a set for my f250 when I used to plow. Rarely needed them but when I did that thing was literally unstoppable

 

[not on the rug]

In snow (on the road) I found them to be surprisingly capable. I picked up my Bronco last fall and we didn't get a ton of snow last winter but spent an ample amount of time driving around in it to learn their capabilities and test them out. They performed a lot better than I had expected

 

[BroncoChallenger]

I agree with the guys above, on what should be a road the GY MT's are pretty decent. Not the best I've ever used BUT still quite capable, I drove our 2DR in some of the heaviest snows we've had in a while and had no problems.

I haven't tested them offroad in the snow/ice, but if it's a concern I would DEFINITELY get a set of chains (regardless of what tires you're running) and get used to putting them on. Start now, while there's no snow, so you get a feel for how they work. Then when there IS snow, go somewhere and practice putting them on in the snow (someplace you can easily get out of if you can't get them on, NOT out on a trail) so that WHEN you need them on your trip, you've got experience putting them on in the snow.

 

[bassist]

Always carry chains/cables in CA if you are going to the mountains.

And don’t be that guy that has to pay to get them put on. I remember people paying something stupid - like $40-$50 around 15 years ago.

I got it down to a 45 second job when I was routinely hitting Tahoe.

 

[jahwild]

Thanks for the insight everyone! Sounds like I should be fine if staying on a plowed road but going anywhere unplowed or off road should definitely have chains.

Follow up, and probably a dumb question but, should I plan to have 4x chains? Saw that most sets come in pairs.

 

[Brian_B]

Thanks for the insight everyone! Sounds like I should be fine if staying on a plowed road but going anywhere unplowed or off road should definitely have chains.

Follow up, and probably a dumb question but, should I plan to have 4x chains? Saw that most sets come in pairs.

Nah.

 

[EasternSierra]

The GY MTs I thought did really well in the snow. I mean, they aren't a dedicated snow tire, but they were much better than my Baja Legends and as good or better than Falken AT3Ws

This was in CenCal Sierra snow. You will still need chains, for sure though.

For the record, on road, I've never really ~needed~ chains, but CHP will still require you to carry them. CHP will usually close the road before they require you to put them on. But off road snow, different animal.

CHP (and the National Park Service in Yosemite) require chains in wintery conditions on the highway, but do they ever actually check if you have them? I raised the issue of chains (with regard to clearance with suspension components) with a local 4x4 shop here in Sacramento. They said I didn't need to worry about being able to fit chains and I wouldn't have a problem with not actually carrying them.

 

[Brian_B]

CHP (and the National Park Service in Yosemite) require chains in wintery conditions on the highway, but do they ever actually check if you have them? I raised the issue of chains (with regard to clearance with suspension components) with a local 4x4 shop here in Sacramento. They said I didn't need to worry about being able to fit chains and I wouldn't have a problem with not actually carrying them.

I do live in the mountains, and when we get good fresh snow - the CHP will set up road blocks down just before the snow line. They don't usually make you put them on - I've only had that happen once, but they do make sure you have them or they turn you around. And if the snow gets worse or the plows get delayed, they just close the road down usually.

The gas stations and auto stores around here make a killing selling to people who didn't bring a set. They don't even check if they will fit - just ... have chains.

I've also had park rangers check to make sure I was carrying chains at entrances to the park in CA.

I have a set in my Bronco right now... but they won't fit my current tires. If I had to put them on I'd be screwed. I do need to get another set

 

[bassist]

Thanks for the insight everyone! Sounds like I should be fine if staying on a plowed road but going anywhere unplowed or off road should definitely have chains.

Follow up, and probably a dumb question but, should I plan to have 4x chains? Saw that most sets come in pairs.

Just one set of chains is fine.

 

[bassist]

CHP (and the National Park Service in Yosemite) require chains in wintery conditions on the highway, but do they ever actually check if you have them? I raised the issue of chains (with regard to clearance with suspension components) with a local 4x4 shop here in Sacramento. They said I didn't need to worry about being able to fit chains and I wouldn't have a problem with not actually carrying them.

Absolutely. I’ve seen them eyeballing every vehicle that goes past them at the chain control point.

 

[EasternSierra]

I do live in the mountains, and when we get good fresh snow - the CHP will set up road blocks down just before the snow line. They don't usually make you put them on - I've only had that happen once, but they do make sure you have them or they turn you around. And if the snow gets worse or the plows get delayed, they just close the road down usually.

The gas stations and auto stores around here make a killing selling to people who didn't bring a set. They don't even check if they will fit - just ... have chains.

I've also had park rangers check to make sure I was carrying chains at entrances to the park in CA.

I have a set in my Bronco right now... but they won't fit my current tires. If I had to put them on I'd be screwed. I do need to get another set

Thanks. Maybe this is an issue of different practices in different CHP districts. In other words, when I go farther afield I'd better follow your advice!

I'm raising this issue because now I live a couple hours closer to the mountains, and I'm already going there a lot more often.

I lived in the SF Bay Area for a long time, and usually my only reason to cross the Sierra in winter was to get to the deserts on the other side, like Death Valley. Even though I had chains, I tended to avoid going over the mountains in winter unless conditions were good, so the issue just didn't come up. 4H was good enough for dealing with old compacted snow on U.S. 395, if there even was any.

The one time my wife and I went up to really romp in the falling snow in Yosemite, I carried chains but never used them. The park rangers asked if I had chains and was in 4WD. The reason for this was painfully obvious, thanks to a small car 100' away that had run off the road and into a snowbank.

Now that I have a 4x4 again, I expect to be going up to the mountains a lot in winter for photography and just touring around, aside from crossing over them to explore and photograph on the other side.

Sponsored