Thought I would give my experience on my three recent truck/tire combinations in the snow. My driveway is my example: it is about 30 feet of about 5% grade. It has ruts, cracks and root-bumps, so I can’t get snow cleaned off less than 3 inches deep. It is packed semi-dry snow, walked on and driven on a few times, and below freezing.
My previous ¾T dodge 4wd, Cummins, crew cab, short box with a fiberglass cap and AAM’s Torsen-style limited slip did the worst in 2WD. It had a new set of Cooper AT/W LT265/70R17. The truck was heavy in the front, and had the cap’s weight in the rear. It lacked traction control, and the lightly biased limited slip had always been disappointing. It could never make it up without 4WD.
My new Canyon AT4, crew short box, with no cap or weight in the bed other than an MX4 tonneau cover did better. It has, as we know, stock Goodyear DuraTrac tires. With traction control on, it just BARELY makes it up in 2WD. With traction control off, it makes it slightly further than my 3/4T could. The Eaton differential is much nicer to have, but the lack of rear weight seems to offset it.
Lastly, my Nissan NV3500HD work truck, loaded with tools and stock, did the best. It has an aluminum V8 up front, and an open differential brake-actuated limited slip in the rear. For treads, I have Firestone Destination XT from last fall in a LT245/75R17 size. With traction control on, it eases up with just a tad more persuasion than the canyon. Presumably, the weight helps a lot; however, I’ve used this tire on some of the other trucks in my company’s fleet with great snow and ice results. The pickup-like hood and front axle placement on the Nissan vans helps put more weight on the rear axle… I think.
None of the trucks touched pavement while going up the driveway. And, I go up about the same speed with all of them. This isn’t a professional comparison, but rather what I’ve experienced. I’ll admit I had to throw snow chains on the Nissan once to get out of somewhere I probably should not have gone.
My wife’s FWD Santa Fe with studded Goodyear Ultra Grip winter tires is for a different comparison another day.
My previous ¾T dodge 4wd, Cummins, crew cab, short box with a fiberglass cap and AAM’s Torsen-style limited slip did the worst in 2WD. It had a new set of Cooper AT/W LT265/70R17. The truck was heavy in the front, and had the cap’s weight in the rear. It lacked traction control, and the lightly biased limited slip had always been disappointing. It could never make it up without 4WD.
My new Canyon AT4, crew short box, with no cap or weight in the bed other than an MX4 tonneau cover did better. It has, as we know, stock Goodyear DuraTrac tires. With traction control on, it just BARELY makes it up in 2WD. With traction control off, it makes it slightly further than my 3/4T could. The Eaton differential is much nicer to have, but the lack of rear weight seems to offset it.
Lastly, my Nissan NV3500HD work truck, loaded with tools and stock, did the best. It has an aluminum V8 up front, and an open differential brake-actuated limited slip in the rear. For treads, I have Firestone Destination XT from last fall in a LT245/75R17 size. With traction control on, it eases up with just a tad more persuasion than the canyon. Presumably, the weight helps a lot; however, I’ve used this tire on some of the other trucks in my company’s fleet with great snow and ice results. The pickup-like hood and front axle placement on the Nissan vans helps put more weight on the rear axle… I think.
None of the trucks touched pavement while going up the driveway. And, I go up about the same speed with all of them. This isn’t a professional comparison, but rather what I’ve experienced. I’ll admit I had to throw snow chains on the Nissan once to get out of somewhere I probably should not have gone.
My wife’s FWD Santa Fe with studded Goodyear Ultra Grip winter tires is for a different comparison another day.
