changing open diff to limited slip for ice and snow

[JJZ 109]

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IMO all season tires are garbage and a poor excuse for a winter tire.(Brand new they will get you through most of it but I wouldn't trust them for a 2nd winter) A dedicated winter tire is far better and since you stated you were "very pleased with them" that you would be looking at them again. Even an all terrain with a decent amount of siping is much better than an all season tire.

I agree. That's why this year I removed the Goodyear Wranglers from the rear of my 2013 F150 STX and put a decent mud/snow tire on. I didn't change all 4 simply because the truck doesn't need to be in 4x4 99% of the time.
I also took all 4 all seasons off my wife's 2012 Chrysler 300 and replaced them with M/S tires for the winter. Big difference.

 

[diesel lover]

I'm so sorry is there a large difference between mud and snow and all season tires?? I know my mud and snow tires work well

 

[diesel lover]

So I guess my tires are all season tires labeled mud and snow that's why they work well. they self clean very well.

But the real question is here what if I had a limited slip? How much better would it do on snow and ice? I may go the the junkyard and buy one.

Even if I had two winter tires I would only have ONE spinning in bad weather at a dead stop. Would two really spin on snow or ice with LS??

I appreciate your guys help and realize your not trying to start an argument

 

[k0ua]

So I guess my tires are all season tires labeled mud and snow that's why they work well. they self clean very well.

But the real question is here what if I had a limited slip? How much better would it do on snow and ice? I may go the the junkyard and buy one.

Even if I had two winter tires I would only have ONE spinning in bad weather at a dead stop. Would two really spin on snow or ice with LS??

I appreciate your guys help and realize your not trying to start an argument

If you want my opinion I will give it.. the LS diffy won't help that much in your situation. Some Winter tires, like Bridgestones Blizzak's Will do far more for you than a LS differential.

http://www.tirerack.com/videos/index.jsp?video=23&tab=winter

A slightly cheaper way is to put in some studs on M&S tires. The Blizzak's will have to be changed out come spring, as they are no good on hot pavement and wear fast.. They are a very soft rubber compound that stays soft in cold weather among other qualities that make them effective in the snow and ice.

 

[xring100]

Most of the time even on an open diff if the mu is similar under both tires you can get both tires to spin on lo co with enough throttle input. the place i see my locker excelling at is on the hill in the road in front of my house when its hard pack or ice its nearly impossible to climb without a huge run at it. but with the Locker I can plant one tire into the snow thats not been packed down and turned to ice and because its locking up i can climb it without issue. I see the big benifit on Split coefficient surfaces. Left tire Slick, Right Tire not slick. On the unlimited slip differential the Left will just spin like mad

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I agree with James. :thumbsup: If you have poor traction with one tire, having poor traction with two tires is only slightly better. Thats why we are suggesting you get better traction first. Your tires are the only thing that touches the road and what make the most sense to upgrade first. In your situation, your not off camber or otherwise unloading the weight off of one tire so adding a locker/limited slip isn't going to be that dramatic. Based on the info that you said one tire is spinning easily, tells me that the other one is not far behind it either. (They each have relatively equal weight and are not on different surfaces assuming) Thats why I don't think it will help to turn the other tire MUCH.




I should comment I'm all about improving traction and by getting both tires on an axle turning can make a difference between getting stuck and not. I had a LS in my SRW one ton and I thought it would be pretty awesome to get an electric locker out of a power wagon so I could really have 4X4 and mean all 4 tires were turning. It ended up costing me a chunk of change and I did use it when ever I got a chance. The difference between 3 and 4 tires spinning wasn't huge but it did make a noticeable difference. I only had A/T tires on the truck so it really wasn't a mud bogger or anything like that. IMO it really wasn't worth the money but it sure was cool as all heck to have it! Now on the other hand, I have a LP international that has an open diff and that thing drives me nuts in the winter time. I have to chain up just to get out of the driveway. I really want to put a locker of some type in it but I have brand new M+S tires on it and I still have the problem with one side breaking loose. These were about the most aggressive tires I could find so upgrading tires is already done.

 

[tcartwri]

If your e-brakes are in decent shape, you can lightly apply them to simulate a limited slip. You have to be very light on the throttle though

 

[xring100]

Yes agreed K0UA ,
back at diesel lover, M/S are nothing like a good set of Snow/Ice tires. The snow/ice tires use much softer different tread compounds that remain elastic in cold temps where as the M/S compounds will be closer to their glass transition temperature and get very hard. This is best illustrated when you try to take Summer Only tire thats cold out into 30 degree temps and stomp on the gas. I've been in a Corvettes Z06at work that at 60 mph on dry unsalted road a liberal touch of the throttle not full throttle in 3rd gear broke traction on both tires. Summer tires in cold temps are Hard and black and might as well be made from granite. the effect is much less on Mudd/ Snow tires. My dads normal tire on the S10 are Michelin LTX M/S tires just like mine and he claims the Blizzaks are superior.
Limited slip will help but i'd try true snow/ice tires first with 500-800 lbs of ballast it will be cheaper and you'll still need the ballast with the LSD

If you want my opinion I will give it.. the LS diffy won't help that much in your situation. Some Winter tires, like Bridgestones Blizzak's Will do far more for you than a LS differential.

http://www.tirerack.com/videos/index.jsp?video=23&tab=winter

A slightly cheaper way is to put in some studs on M&S tires. The Blizzak's will have to be changed out come spring, as they are no good on hot pavement and wear fast.. They are a very soft rubber compound that stays soft in cold weather among other qualities that make them effective in the snow and ice.

 

[kenmac]

I had a 95 Ram 1500 once . I installed a LS diff. in. I'm in an area with very limited to no snow at all (mostly mud). I got stuck in mud as much with the LS as I did with non LS. I really saw no benefit from installing the LS. Some limited slip rear ends require a LS additive (mine did)

 

[xring100]

I had a 95 Ram 1500 once . I installed a LS diff. in. I'm in an area with very limited to no snow at all (mostly mud). I got stuck in mud as much with the LS as I did with non LS. I really saw no benefit from installing the LS. Some limited slip rear ends require a LS additive (mine did)

You are no longer the master of the One Wheel Peel if you've got rubber and $$$ to burn its much better to put down two patches of rubber instead of one