We had the first real winter weather event in Memphis since I got my JK. I was curious to see how she did with the stock Goodyears SRA's. We were suppose to get some freezing rain, then it turn over to snow, up to 6-8 inches at first. However, what we got in Memphis was a little different. We got freezing rain,sleet, a little snow, then rain/sleet, then freezing rain/sleet again. The results were a solid frozen layer of about an inch of this stuff when it was all said and done Friday night. Friday morning, my wife had to go in to work, nothing to bad on the streets, slushy in areas. She is a nurse and would be getting off early, schools were closed. I was home with the kids, would go in to the office when she got back. Couldn't wait to go into the office.... Anyway, around 10am or so, it starts snowing pretty hard and puts a nice "dusting" of snow on the ground, roads included, all in all about an inch on the roads. The wife gets home in the van and says the roads are getting bad, but not horrible. I head out to the office. It usually takes about 10 minutes, but it took me probably around 30...there was no traffic..

So first I mess around with the ESP on. IMO, it feels as if you don't have full control, like with wheel spin. It can cause you to slow down instead of speed up when pulling out onto a street or something. If you got to get on it, you lose. Going around corners, and purposely sliding a little, the ESP straightens you up very nicely.

Second, ESP off. Well that is a lot more fun, feels like you have a little more control taking off, and you can slide do donuts for the most part. ESP will still kick in at some point. But you can control the slides around corners. You have to drive it more to stay on course.

Third, later on, I left work and the roads were slushy but had melted a lot. Friday night, it got cold. Like 17. So all that slush and standing water...yep turned to ice, even some spots of black ice. Ice is fun, but scary, especially when it is black ice. ESP doing a donut on black ice, doesn't do anything at all. All tires slide...

The goodyear tires. While they suck in most other places, they did ok in this stuff.

All in all very impressed. I would like to have real snow one day so I can drive in that.

Disclaimer: Most of the driving was done in a large parking lot, vacant of cars people, and poles. This was my first winter weather event, I needed to see how she performed.

Anyway, just a short story. Please send snow.

 

The SRA's are decent for getting around but always be careful when stopping in snow. Almost had a bad run in with a tree going down a turning decline one time with about .5" of fresh snow on the ground and I was only cruising at about 5mph. Scary stuff.

 

Yeah. I mean I said they were decent, not anywhere near great. They've been fine for me in up to 5" of snow. Haven't seen more than that this winter season or last year's. I've never not gone out because of the weather and I take it easy and they've been fine. I live in the Northeast, albeit a relatively populated area. What are you using for the snow?

 

Don't get me wrong, not saying the SRA's (Suck Royal Ass)'s are good at all, they did surprise me somewhat with how they performed. I can't imagine what a tire like the Duratrac's would do. You couldn't have any fun!

Another thing. All the driving was in 2wd. I did put it in 4hi at one point just to see, plenty of traction.

I was in our church/school parking lot, the drive way I was in was "U" shaped with a drain in the middle of the two lanes, there was black ice on that, I came to a compete stop, then the Jeep slid sideways, front and rear at the same time. THe SRA's proved again why they suck.

 

I'm on the eastern side of the state and also got to experience a more winter like snow fall. I took advantage of the situation and went to the local 72,000 acre off road park, Windrock(coal creek OHV park), and had a blast! This is the first real chance I had to test out the MTRK's in the snow and ice. They did great, other then the really heavy slush that caused some mild hydroplaning, but nothing that ever made me feel uncomfortable or unstable.

 

Nice Jeep. I really like the stock wheels with larger tires.