Drive Mode during Winter

[Yosemite]

First‑time 4Runner owner here. I’m in Canada, and our winters can last 5–6 months. For most of that time the roads are icy or snow‑covered, and by March–April they’re usually more slushy.

My question is: which drive mode should I use in winter? Is it safe to stay in 4H for the entire 5–6 months?

For context, I drive about 30-50 km(pure highway) a day, 5-6 days a week.

My old vehicle was 2014 GMC Sierra and i set it to Auto during winter.

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[Wandering Sagebrush]

My 2¢… if you don’t need 4WD, don’t use it. Have VERY good winter tires (mounted on rims) like Bridgestone Blizzaks, drive sanely, leave lots of stopping room, carry chains and traction boards.

 

[mfoga]

Best answer is to watch this and make your own informed decision

 

[Tarekith]

The downside of 4WD is that you can’t turn very tightly without doing possible damage over time. This is a good overview video about when and where to use 4WD on Toyotas:

 

[jblack]

First‑time 4Runner owner here. I’m in Canada, and our winters can last 5–6 months. For most of that time the roads are icy or snow‑covered, and by March–April they’re usually more slushy.

My question is: which drive mode should I use in winter? Is it safe to stay in 4H for the entire 5–6 months?

For context, I drive about 30-50 km(pure highway) a day, 5-6 days a week.

My old vehicle was 2014 GMC Sierra and i set it to Auto during winter.

The answer is if you drive on paved surfaces definitely no
If the pavement is covered in snow or icy and slippery yes 4 hi
It can be engaged and disengaged on the move under 80 kph (check your manual for the actual speed)
So it is very easy to go in and out of 4hi
If you are driving on gravel or completely snow covered roads 4hi is suitable
Its about slip a part time system must have slip
Put your vehicle into 4 hi once a month in the months without snow to keep the 4wd system ready for winter
Either on a straight stretch of paved road or a gravel road
It only has to be for short burst
Main thing dont leave in 4wd unless on a road surface that provides slip snow,ice,gravel dirt.
I am in ontario and only use 4wd in winter during snow storms

 

[Nodak]

since you didnt get a limited or a platinum (which is ideal for you situation as it is for mine during ND winters since its a FT4WD mode and you dont have to worry about 4wd binding)

i would stay in eco mode to keep yourself out of 4wd mode as much as possible. eco mode detunes the engine when used correctly (slow starts, gradual gas pedal inputs and tries to get into the highest gear as possible as quickly as it can)

the benefit of this mode is that it minimizes all the quirks of breaking traction during winters compared to normal mode.

this mode helped with wife with her tundra in keeping things easier to manage during winters.

 

[4Everest]

In addition to what everyone else has said (which I agree with), another general rule is: use 4WD to get OUT of trouble on the streets, not INTO it.

 

[MikeUtah]

First‑time 4Runner owner here. I’m in Canada, and our winters can last 5–6 months. For most of that time the roads are icy or snow‑covered, and by March–April they’re usually more slushy.

My question is: which drive mode should I use in winter? Is it safe to stay in 4H for the entire 5–6 months?

For context, I drive about 30-50 km(pure highway) a day, 5-6 days a week.

My old vehicle was 2014 GMC Sierra and i set it to Auto during winter.

I also live with winter 5-6 months of the year and deal with an average of 23 feet of snow here at my house, elevation of 7,500 feet. Just a few additional comments to the great posts above.

First, as mentioned, nothing beats a separate set of Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 tires! Yes, highway miles will wear the tires, but the benefit far-out weights the cost of new Blizzak’ s every two to three years.

Second, when the pavement is covered with snow, I shift to 4H. As the snow gets deeper and at lower speeds and if constant traction is needed, I turn off the TRAC (Traction Control), which requires a quick push of the 'Traction button'. I generally also turn off the VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), which requires pushing and holding the same button for a few seconds.

As an alternative to turning off the TRAC and VSC, set the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) to Deep Snow (using 4H only) (turns off the TRAC and VSC nannies).

Third, when dealing with really deep snow, it is very important to do the following:

• Set the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) to Deep Snow (using 4H only).
• Turn off Parking Support Braking (PKSB). If you are dealing with drifting/deep snow, the PKSB will think you are about to hit something and shut the truck down. The first and second time this happened to me; I thought I had engine trouble!
  

 

[Yosemite]

My 2¢… if you don’t need 4WD, don’t use it. Have VERY good winter tires (mounted on rims) like Bridgestone Blizzaks, drive sanely, leave lots of stopping room, carry chains and traction boards.

I always have 2 sets of tires with my other cars. All-season and Winter tires(Blizzaks and Michelin). For my 4Runner i was planning on buying KO3 and just use that all year long. So not sure if that's good idea or not. lol

 

[Yosemite]

I also live with winter 5-6 months of the year and deal with an average of 23 feet of snow here at my house, elevation of 7,500 feet. Just a few additional comments to the great posts above.

First, as mentioned, nothing beats a separate set of Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 tires! Yes, highway miles will wear the tires, but the benefit far-out weights the cost of new Blizzak’ s every two to three years.

Second, when the pavement is covered with snow, I shift to 4H. As the snow gets deeper and at lower speeds and if constant traction is needed, I turn off the TRAC (Traction Control), which requires a quick push of the 'Traction button'. I generally also turn off the VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), which requires pushing and holding the same button for a few seconds.

As an alternative to turning off the TRAC and VSC, set the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) to Deep Snow (using 4H only) (turns off the TRAC and VSC nannies).

Third, when dealing with really deep snow, it is very important to do the following:

• Set the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) to Deep Snow (using 4H only).
• Turn off Parking Support Braking (PKSB). If you are dealing with drifting/deep snow, the PKSB will think you are about to hit something and shut the truck down. The first and second time this happened to me; I thought I had engine trouble!
  

Wow! This is very good. Thank you for your input. Really appreciate it!

 

[Nodak]

pksb only works at low speed. normal driving speed vsc takes over.

now the bigger issue with pksb is freezing during the winters, that is the reason i turn mine of during winters.

i personally dont ever turn off vsc or traction as it helps more than hinders during the winter during small slides.

you need to know when you need to turn off those systems for unique events or situations. otherwise they help more than hinder during normal day to day driving.

and since 1988 when i moved to ND, i have never needed a 2nd set of dedicated winter tires to get around.

but then again if it gets that bad i need a 2nd set of tires, i dont go out. its not worth it during our brutal cold snaps to get stuck somewhere.

 

[Four Runner]

Use 4H only on roads that allows tires to slide. Never on dry pavement, unless you’re on a straight line.

Reference below is from the owner’s manual

 

[jblack]

Wow! This is very good. Thank you for your input. Really appreciate it!

Any experienced driver in canadian winter conditions knows when driving conditions are marginal as they start driving cautiously that is a good time to select 4hi be proactive dont wait until you get into trouble
If the snow in a side street or driveway is particularly deep where the truck is struggling to make progress then you need 4lo as this a torque multiplier
Then as soon as clear select 4hi
4lo in and out needs a stationary vehicle and neutral
Dont mess with traction control that is overthinking it
A proper 4wd system like in the 4runner is superior traction to most cuv awd systems

 

[OnePunchPan]

If it's like 4-8 inches of snow I'll keep it in FT 4WD and I've only ever used 4hi like twice.

Running a stock limited gas only 4runner w/ FT4WD; experienced one of the harsher winters this past season with snowfall of about 1.5 feet I wanna say. My neighbor broke his ankle trying to shovel and we had to drive them back from the hospital under some pretty horrible conditions and I have to admit...

The stock tires + 4Hi ate it up. I have no experience off roading and my past car was an old FWD 2012 VW GTI, but this car made me feel like an expert off roader even in the deep snow. At no point did I get 'stuck' and the slight bit of fear quickly turned into excitement.

 

[Nodak]

um if you have a limited 4wd version it always in FT4WD, there is no 2wd mode.

its either

1. normal mode is 4HF (FT 4WD Free - the center diff is unlocked aka free 40/60 split)
2. 4HL is when the center diff is locked (50/50 split)
3. L4L = low 4WD locked

if you buy the 2wd, it doesnt come with any 4wd mode period.

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