Just took it out in the snow again to really get them going and see what happened. I've got the roads out here to really rag them out. I was being fairly careful before because of traffic, and had them under a bit of a microscope.
Mind you, I have torque biasing differentials front and rear, so your experience may vary.
So far as I could tell, they are fine. I slammed on the brakes a few times, and if you really nail it, they'll slide a bit, but no more than with a mud tire. I then did it in corners, and while it did push quite a bit, it was manageable. So long as you keep your distance from others, and you have proper snow, they behave well enough. I wouldn't have a problem using them around town.
As for off-pavement:
Things have been icy and wet here for a few days, so the ground is a bit sloppy. I locked the center differential, and deliberately cross-axled it in my ditch. Now, that ditch is hell in a cross axle situation, it's one of those that will fuck you right up. I didn't want to risk damage to it, but what the hell.
She pulled right through with no drama. I tried several different angles without issue, and then tried it without the differential locked. It wasn't much worse, but when properly cross-axled, it complained just a tiny bit. My ditch is fine. Would have been more dramatic with open differentials front and rear, but I believe it might have made it.
I didn't use any left foot braking to help my differentials, and my traction control doesn't function at all, so they were just doing the normal job. If even one wheel had no traction, they would have functioned just like open differentials with the center unlocked.
I wasn't too worried, because I can simply have it pulled out tomorrow, or could have winched it if I felt like it; which I didn't. :rofl:
So, they seem fine when you really give them the stick in snow. Off-pavement in winter weather I wouldn't worry at all.
I still wouldn't suggest them for icy mountain switch-backs, but I'd certainly take these on a winter trail ride, and wouldn't have a problem running them on a longer trip in similar conditions.
They'll probably be halfway decent in mud, I expect.
That's all I'm going to do now until I sort out my head gasket issue. Do with the information what you will.
Cheers,
Kennith
Mind you, I have torque biasing differentials front and rear, so your experience may vary.
So far as I could tell, they are fine. I slammed on the brakes a few times, and if you really nail it, they'll slide a bit, but no more than with a mud tire. I then did it in corners, and while it did push quite a bit, it was manageable. So long as you keep your distance from others, and you have proper snow, they behave well enough. I wouldn't have a problem using them around town.
As for off-pavement:
Things have been icy and wet here for a few days, so the ground is a bit sloppy. I locked the center differential, and deliberately cross-axled it in my ditch. Now, that ditch is hell in a cross axle situation, it's one of those that will fuck you right up. I didn't want to risk damage to it, but what the hell.
She pulled right through with no drama. I tried several different angles without issue, and then tried it without the differential locked. It wasn't much worse, but when properly cross-axled, it complained just a tiny bit. My ditch is fine. Would have been more dramatic with open differentials front and rear, but I believe it might have made it.
I didn't use any left foot braking to help my differentials, and my traction control doesn't function at all, so they were just doing the normal job. If even one wheel had no traction, they would have functioned just like open differentials with the center unlocked.
I wasn't too worried, because I can simply have it pulled out tomorrow, or could have winched it if I felt like it; which I didn't. :rofl:
So, they seem fine when you really give them the stick in snow. Off-pavement in winter weather I wouldn't worry at all.
I still wouldn't suggest them for icy mountain switch-backs, but I'd certainly take these on a winter trail ride, and wouldn't have a problem running them on a longer trip in similar conditions.
They'll probably be halfway decent in mud, I expect.
That's all I'm going to do now until I sort out my head gasket issue. Do with the information what you will.
Cheers,
Kennith
