Wet traction test, pickup trucks. F150 best, Titan worst.

[Jesda]

GM second worst. Toyota second best.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFJI0tLMVpI[/youtube]

Still, of the trucks tested, I'd rather have the Ram or Titan. After spending a year with a Navigator, I absolutely believe that Ford's traction control is superior.

[Bubba1]

GM second worst. Toyota second best.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFJI0tLMVpI[/youtube]

Still, of the trucks tested, I'd rather have the Ram or Titan. After spending a year with a Navigator, I absolutely believe that Ford's traction control is superior.

I found it interesting that this was a GM proving ground yet the GM pickup was second worst.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'm assuming they used factory tires. I wonder if things would be different if they tested the trucks with the same tires across the board. I've never liked that most tests, reviews, etc. use stock tires, as few people stay stock when replacing their tires. Most people buy cheap, a few others buy performance, but few buy the exact tire their car had when they bought it.

Still, of the trucks tested, I'd rather have the Ram or Titan. After spending a year with a Navigator, I absolutely believe that Ford's traction control is superior.

Absolutely agreed. The new Ram's my first choice for a brand new pickup, and the Titan a close second. Titan might be third if Ford had kept the F150 handsome rather than making it gaudy. If they put a Coyote derivative under the hood I may be willing to overlook the looks.

I actually like advancetrac. It still needs to be put in its place like all traction control (via the OFF button), but it does a great job when it is needed. I got stuck on an offramp last week thanks to Weber county failing to get plows out on a very steep stretch of highway after the biggest snowstorm of the winter (EVERY SINGLE snowstorm this winter, Weber county has stood out as being completely inept at snow management on the roads...they've turned even light dustings into nightmare commutes with their fail). I wasn't going anywhere with Advancetrac off, but as soon as I turned it on the car found some traction. It was really, really slow going, but it was going.
Also, thanks, Mr. d!ck in the Corolla who was going 10mph UPHILL and forced me to bleed off ALL of my 60mph of momentum and thus get stuck in the heavy wet snow. You're a real pal.

[Jesda]

Also, thanks, Mr. d*** in the Corolla who was going 10mph UPHILL and forced me to bleed off ALL of my 60mph of momentum and thus get stuck in the heavy wet snow. You're a real pal.

That drives me NUTS. I was doing fine up a hill on ice in my friend's Lincoln when a truck (some kind of big dump truck) in front of us came to a complete stop. Everyone had to put their cars in reverse and take a dangerous and twisty alternate route.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

I'm assuming they used factory tires. I wonder if things would be different if they tested the trucks with the same tires across the board. I've never liked that most tests, reviews, etc. use stock tires, as few people stay stock when replacing their tires. Most people buy cheap, a few others buy performance, but few buy the exact tire their car had when they bought it.

You'd be real surprised. A quick survey of TireRack will show you that the OE tire selections are often among the bestsellers for their respective cars. Now, that's a pretty weak example but I doubt anyone has done quantitative research on the subject.

I wonder what kind of "mechanical" locker the Chevy had. I've seen 4x4s with Aussie or Detroit Lockers crawl up much slicker surfaces in 2WD.

[MinisterofDOOM]

You'd be real surprised. A quick survey of TireRack will show you that the OE tire selections are often among the bestsellers for their respective cars. Now, that's a pretty weak example but I doubt anyone has done quantitative research on the subject.

Tire rack, sure, but if you go buy tires at a brick and mortar store they've got the sales schpiel to throw at you; everyone I know who isn't a car person tends to go for whatever the shop convinces them is "cheap but good." A lot different from tire rack where you tell it what car you drive and it tells you what tires it came with as well as similar options.

You may still be right...I could be mistaken...but in my experience physical tire shops like to sell whatever they've got going on, not what the car actually came with off the lot.

[Jesda]

I think most people keep their original tires for at least 4-5 years. The average driver doesn't put a whole lot of stress on them.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

You'd be real surprised. A quick survey of TireRack will show you that the OE tire selections are often among the bestsellers for their respective cars. Now, that's a pretty weak example but I doubt anyone has done quantitative research on the subject.

Tire rack, sure, but if you go buy tires at a brick and mortar store they've got the sales schpiel to throw at you; everyone I know who isn't a car person tends to go for whatever the shop convinces them is "cheap but good." A lot different from tire rack where you tell it what car you drive and it tells you what tires it came with as well as similar options.

You may still be right...I could be mistaken...but in my experience physical tire shops like to sell whatever they've got going on, not what the car actually came with off the lot.

I've purchased brick and mortar tires twice. Both times, the sales monkey immediately suggested the OE tires. In my experience, OE tires have always been very expensive, and I'm sure a large chunk of that is markup.

Dunno. I know my parents, car people they are not, stay with the OE choice.

Now, as for testing a car, I think it's completely fair to hold the manufacturer to the tires they select from the factory.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I don't get the video... the Titan has an electronic locking rear differential (via push button)... did they not read the manual?

[Jesda]

I think the test was intended to see how the trucks performed as-is, without manipulating any controls.

I would have liked to see more detailed testing as well.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah but they didn't even mention it... they just said "the titan sucked, so we threw it in 4WD to get it out". No interim "clicked on the locking rear diff, and it still sucked, so we went 4WD"?

[Jesda]

Yeah they really should have at least mentioned that. However, when you're in a situation with low traction, you're more likely to use the brake and throttle to find traction than stop and hit a button, especially in traffic.