[realtreegrizzly]

Was wondering what everyone else thinks about riding in the snow we have about 5 inches of snow I find that the pioneer with stock tires and wheels doesn't go as well in the snow as I expected. my honda atv with worn out stock tires will go much better I have not checked my tire pressure it my have way to much making the tires hard. I have a gator 625i that will run circles around my pioneer in 2wd I was on my pioneer and my son was on the gator he was going places in 2wd I couldn't go in 4wd. Is it just the tires are aftermarket tires better Oh by the way my gator has bighorn 2.0 factory tires 27x14

 

[David]

I found that the Pioneer with stock tires in 2WD is pretty much just a lesson in how to spin tires. I haven't had mine out of 4WD since we got real snow in December.
Others with aftermarket tires will have other stories I'm sure.

 

[Dick]

I noticed that too, its a squirrel on hard pack unless you use 4wd. Seems fine on dirt and mud, probably lot to do with the tires not much contact surface.

Not complaining, being an old short tracker its fun. Don't care where the back end is .. just the front.

 

[DBCooper]

I'm not impressed with the pioneer in snow.

Plain as I know how to say it.

 

[Moose]

Here ya go. I was were you were a couple months ago.

http://www.hondapioneerforum.com/forum/tire-wheel/2225-stock-tires-traction.html

 

[Dick]

You also have to take into account that there is about 100 different types of snow and almost every storm will give you a different experience. I have seen snow the snowmobile would hardly go in.

Anyone used to driving jeeps in the snow will find these fit like a glove.

To get more traction look at Moose's posts on tires or add some weight in the back.

 

[realtreegrizzly]

I had a 2006 rhino and it wouldn't pull out of its tracks in the snow drove it over the bank by the barn like to never got it out My son had a 250 recon he pulled up beside me stopped and said need a pull the took off from a dead stop on the same bank I was on junky old rhino Didn't keep it to long

 

[rich450es]

ill bet that gator weighs alot more then the pioneer does

 

[realtreegrizzly]

ill bet that gator weighs alot more then the pioneer does

According to their website the John Deere weighs 1450 pounds
The pioneer weighs 1261 pounds

1450
- 1261
= 189

That's not much difference with my son in there with me about the same as the gator with only one rider

 

[Dick]

Also these machines have wider tires in the back than the front that will give a squirrelly feel even in 4wd. Ideally tall skinny tires all the same size work best in snow unless your going on glaciers than you want balloon tires.

 

[soapy]

Traction is 99% tire. Compounds, tread design etc. snow traction has little to do with the machine.

 

[Fins]

I got out today to play in our ten inches of dress snow. You think traction is bad in snow, add some incline to that snow, and it gets even worse. I also found standard 4WD not much help. Had to engage the differential lock

But I had fun

 

[DBCooper]

You also have to take into account that there is about 100 different types of snow and almost every storm will give you a different experience. I have seen snow the snowmobile would hardly go in.

I was riding in the same type of snow as the ATV's around me were.

 

[realtreegrizzly]

I got out today to play in our ten inches of dress snow. You think traction is bad in snow, add some incline to that snow, and it gets even worse. I also found standard 4WD not much help. Had to engage the differential lock

But I had fun

Like I always say when in doubt ream it out

 

[DBCooper]

I had fun, too. It's just not what I expected.

 

[Moose]

Traction is 99% tire. Compounds, tread design etc. snow traction has little to do with the machine.

I have to disagree with that. Driver, motor, gearing, weight, tires all play a big part

Weight all of those factors equally.

If one of those factors really sucks, such as tires, you drop from an A+ (100%) to B- (80%) really fast. Then minus a few points here and there on the rest and you end up with an F- !

 

[DBCooper]

Speaking of gearing, do you think the Pioneer could have benefitted from a low range?

I used to plow snow (admittedly, nowhere near the amount of the one we just got) with the ATV in 2WD (with 9yo almost slick tires). I'm just having a hard time believing there's that much difference.....in a tire.

Not saying I don't believe you. I'm saying it's a tough thing for me to believe. It's also an expensive leap of faith to switch out rubber on a new machine!

**Edit.... Also, due to the height of my opening (in the storage building - 83" clear), I'm not sure if I can up-size my tires or not. You would think the OEM size would be OK. But, you would also think the OEM tires would be.

 

[Dick]

These were never designed for snow, once we got 10 - 12" up here they were out of business except for plowed roads.

But I am surprised the ATV's went so much better than you, they are lighter and shouldn't be any better.

Enough snow.. where is spring?

 

[DBCooper]

I wish I'd taken video. A friend of ours lives at the end of the road (1.7mi) and he had a friend over riding his ATV (my buddy has a UTV, also). He was making laps around the field like he was in a NASCAR race. My wife and I slipped and slid that far....to see that???....lol

I saw several ATV's while I was out, yesterday. None seemed to have my issues.

Again....I plowed THIRTEEN of my neighbors' drives, yesterday. It did great, IMO. We admittedly got a BIG snow, for here. There's likely a foot that fell.

I love the Pioneer. I just wish it was better in the snow. For my needs....for over 90% of the time, it'll be great. But, one of the things I used to look forward to with the ATV, was going riding in the snow. Unless I get this worked out (and no....I don't want to have to put on chains and add weight to the rear, every time I want to ride in the snow.....I'm sorry), I won't be doing that.

 

[binfordw]

I don't really understand. We have had some heavy snows this year, and I've been pretty impressed. You can't expect a machine to pull itself when its belly is lifting its weight off the tires from dragging in deep snow.

I will agree it feels squirrely in snow. I believe this is mainly due to the locked rear, I had a jeep that was locked front/rear, and it was awful to drive in snow. However, it would go like ****, just perhaps not the direction you pointed it

I drove some county roads that were heavily drifted/closed in the pioneer, and then later in a 4wd truck. The truck has more ground clearance, and felt very similar in its limits as to where it could go compared to the Honda. I tried to pass through a section of closed road in the Honda, and got hung up. It took me 10 minutes or so to get backed out, mainly due to the reverse limiter preventing much tirespin. A neighbor had come down in a tractor thinking I would need pulled out, he reached me as I finished turning around in the road. The first thing he said was he was surprised at how well it did in the snow. (He has a Kubota rtv)

In short- it goes like **** in snow IMO. I would be shocked to see a UTV with the same ground clearance and similar tires go any better in deep snow.

This is its "limits". I backed out of this, and even turned around (30 point turn!) in the drift in the road. I don't see how you could expect any better? Perhaps tracks are in your future?