Slip sliding away

[Blinky]

Up here in Canada where we get long, hard ugly winters I won't even consider running all-season tires in winter, they just suck and are not consistent on the variable road surfaces you'll encounter.
Even in heavy rain the OEM FX4 tires were kind of a joke, they work ok but I'll likely be replacing them this spring and selling them with maybe 14k miles on them.

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[Lone Ridr]

It's snowing hard, had a out an inch already this morning. I was going to a car part swap meet. None of our roads have been plowed or salted. 24 eb/awd set to "slippery", factory tires with 11k on them. I spun on every corner even at 3 mph. I'm not getting how some in here claim it's so grippy in snow.

I bought my Lariat in November 2024. I posted pics and stated how well it did in the snow. Fast-forward to last week: The truck wasn't worth a crap. I measured 6 inches of snow and 14 degrees. The snow was like concrete. I have a 'U' shaped driveway 200 yards long. The truck fishtailed and slid all over the driveway. It wouldn't track straight. The vehicle was downright dangerous to drive. I've had many Tacomas, Colorados, and even El Caminos that handled my driveway better than this Lariat. I've lived here 43 years. An AWD Lariat without positraction is not as adept as a 4 wheel drive or even an El Camino with positraction.

The two El Caminos I speak of didn't come with positraction. I went to the junk yard and searched for Malibu station wagons with a metal tag secured under one of the cover bolts. The tag was a warning to use GM positraction fluid in the rear differential. I swapped out the rear ends and was able to drive through many severe snowstorms that my Lariat can't handle.

I need the 4k towing package to haul my trike and the 2026 Tremor is supposed to have the 4K package with standard locking differential. I will purchase one off a lot within 200 miles of my location when they become availble. I like my Lariat but will not abide with a truck that can't handle my driveway and that I have to be careful not to be pulled into a ditch at 20 miles an hour.

 

[SafetyGuy]

I bought my Lariat in November 2024. I posted pics and stated how well it did in the snow. Fast-forward to last week: The truck wasn't worth a crap. I measured 6 inches of snow and 14 degrees. The snow was like concrete. I have a 'U' shaped driveway 200 yards long. The truck fishtailed and slid all over the driveway. It wouldn't track straight. The vehicle was downright dangerous to drive. I've had many Tacomas, Colorados, and even El Caminos that handled my driveway better than this Lariat. I've lived here 43 years. An AWD Lariat without positraction is not as adept as a 4 wheel drive or even an El Camino with positraction.

The two El Caminos I speak of didn't come with positraction. I went to the junk yard and searched for Malibu station wagons with a metal tag secured under one of the cover bolts. The tag was a warning to use GM positraction fluid in the rear differential. I swapped out the rear ends and was able to drive through many severe snowstorms that my Lariat can't handle.

I need the 4k towing package to haul my trike and the 2026 Tremor is supposed to have the 4K package with standard locking differential. I will purchase one off a lot within 200 miles of my location when they become availble. I like my Lariat but will not abide with a truck that can't handle my driveway and that I have to be careful not to be pulled into a ditch at 20 miles an hour.

Good day

My first thoughts as to your particular situation are:

-Are you still on your original all-season tires?

When new, they may have been sufficient if you were in the same snow situation as you complain about here, but are worn a bit now.

-How worn are your original tires/tread depth remaining? It doesn't take long for some tires to wear down and is reflected in their adverse weather performance.

-Have you tried deactivating your ESC via the button in your center console when in deeper snow?

I drive regularly in snowy/icy/slushy weather, I have very good winter tires and drive according to the conditions and my 2025 Lariat AWD 4K truck is wonderful in all the conditions we have faced, I do slow down of course.

Here are 2 clips (front and rear) showing us driving home on icy roads with some blowing snow ridges, from watching our grand daughter...while the oncoming vehicle, I suspect it had less then ideal tires/all seasons getting pulled into our lane....you can see my speed on the 100 kph highway is reduced.

I hope this helps,

Andy

 

[710-oil-614]

I bought my Lariat in November 2024. I posted pics and stated how well it did in the snow. Fast-forward to last week: The truck wasn't worth a crap. I measured 6 inches of snow and 14 degrees. The snow was like concrete. I have a 'U' shaped driveway 200 yards long. The truck fishtailed and slid all over the driveway. It wouldn't track straight. The vehicle was downright dangerous to drive. I've had many Tacomas, Colorados, and even El Caminos that handled my driveway better than this Lariat. I've lived here 43 years. An AWD Lariat without positraction is not as adept as a 4 wheel drive or even an El Camino with positraction.

The two El Caminos I speak of didn't come with positraction. I went to the junk yard and searched for Malibu station wagons with a metal tag secured under one of the cover bolts. The tag was a warning to use GM positraction fluid in the rear differential. I swapped out the rear ends and was able to drive through many severe snowstorms that my Lariat can't handle.

I need the 4k towing package to haul my trike and the 2026 Tremor is supposed to have the 4K package with standard locking differential. I will purchase one off a lot within 200 miles of my location when they become availble. I like my Lariat but will not abide with a truck that can't handle my driveway and that I have to be careful not to be pulled into a ditch at 20 miles an hour.

Sounds like you need better tires.

Tremor not 4K tow eligible.

 

[Lone Ridr]

Sounds like you need better tires.

Tremor not 4K tow eligible.

I've lived here (southern Indiana) 43 years and never had to have winter tires. I have always had a 4 wheel drive and gone off-roading regularly when younger, not so much any more. My 2 best off-road performers were a 79 Chevy Luv and a 2000 S10 ZR2. Worst: 79 Chevy C10. The Maverick is not a serious off-road performer nor can it handle serious snow conditions.

 

[Lone Ridr]

Sounds like you need better tires.

Tremor not 4K tow eligible.

$K available for 2026- Go here: https://www.ford.com/trucks/maveric...A9DThYHNZ2PkKBQLTkLSan7vSTisFrN-vh-INY07ozPjZ

 

[Ryom]

The truck wasn't worth a crap. I measured 6 inches of snow and 14 degrees.

I've lived here (southern Indiana) 43 years and never had to have winter tires. I have always had a 4 wheel drive and gone off-roading regularly when younger, not so much any more. My 2 best off-road performers were a 79 Chevy Luv and a 2000 S10 ZR2. Worst: 79 Chevy C10. The Maverick is not a serious off-road performer nor can it handle serious snow conditions.

The 14F temperature killed the tires performance, winter tires have compound that stays pliable in significantly below freezing temps, not so much for All-Season/3-Season tires. Your tires turned into hockey pucks and lost most of their capability.... 40F is VERY different than 15F for All-Season tires.

Even absolute garbage can vehicles will handle severe winter conditions and climb with a good set of winter tires, and the Maverick is no slouch. You've just discovered why winter tires exist.

4K available for 2026- Go here: https://www.ford.com/trucks/maveric...A9DThYHNZ2PkKBQLTkLSan7vSTisFrN-vh-INY07ozPjZ

Nope, look here... the max is 2K. You had the XL selected.

https://www.ford.com/trucks/maverick/models/tremor/?intcmp=vhp-modwalk-cta-moddetails

 

[Lone Ridr]

But only on the Lariat but not the 20+ other 4X4s I have owned. The temp was 30+ yesterday and still slip sliding away.

 

[710-oil-614]

$K available for 2026- Go here: https://www.ford.com/trucks/maveric...A9DThYHNZ2PkKBQLTkLSan7vSTisFrN-vh-INY07ozPjZ

No it’s not.

 

[Lone Ridr]

No it’s not.

Some sites say yes some say no. Possible rumor, May have to upgrade to Ranger IF they add moon roof.

 

[710-oil-614]

Some sites say yes some say no. Possible rumor, May have to upgrade to Ranger IF they add moon roof.

The Ford site you linked to clearly says no.

 

[SafetyGuy]

But only on the Lariat but not the 20+ other 4X4s I have owned. The temp was 30+ yesterday and still slip sliding away.

Sounds like you might have the stock Continental All-Season tires...I have heard many complaints here from owners down south that have them on...they wear down exceedingly quickly.

You might have worn off the outer soft rubber layer (as read on other threads here) and are now on the harder rubber half of the tread...what are your tires and what is their tread depth, if I may ask?

With that info, it may answer some of your concerns about performance.

Andy

 

[Lone Ridr]

Good day

My first thoughts as to your particular situation are:

-Are you still on your original all-season tires?

When new, they may have been sufficient if you were in the same snow situation as you complain about here, but are worn a bit now.

-How worn are your original tires/tread depth remaining? It doesn't take long for some tires to wear down and is reflected in their adverse weather performance.

-Have you tried deactivating your ESC via the button in your center console when in deeper snow?

I drive regularly in snowy/icy/slushy weather, I have very good winter tires and drive according to the conditions and my 2025 Lariat AWD 4K truck is wonderful in all the conditions we have faced, I do slow down of course.

Here are 2 clips (front and rear) showing us driving home on icy roads with some blowing snow ridges, from watching our grand daughter...while the oncoming vehicle, I suspect it had less then ideal tires/all seasons getting pulled into our lane....you can see my speed on the 100 kph highway is reduced.

I hope this helps,

Andy

Sounds like you might have the stock Continental All-Season tires...I have heard many complaints here from owners down south that have them on...they wear down exceedingly quickly.

You might have worn off the outer soft rubber layer (as read on other threads here) and are now on the harder rubber half of the tread...what are your tires and what is their tread depth, if I may ask?

With that info, it may answer some of your concerns about performance.

Andy

I am trying to get pictures transferred from my phone to my PC and will post them when I can. The tread is clearly defined in the snow. the tracks hook to one side. I'm not talking about flat plowed roads. I'm talking snow buildup in front of tires. The truck can't push straight through. Once I am out of my gravel driveway, down the street and on the highway, everything is fine. I'm not shoveling 200 yards of driveway. In the past I have driven circles and flattened the snow with my tires, not with this truck.

 

[Lone Ridr]

Sounds like you might have the stock Continental All-Season tires...I have heard many complaints here from owners down south that have them on...they wear down exceedingly quickly.

You might have worn off the outer soft rubber layer (as read on other threads here) and are now on the harder rubber half of the tread...what are your tires and what is their tread depth, if I may ask?

With that info, it may answer some of your concerns about performance.

Andy

Michelins, 8000 miles, look brand new.

 

[Lone Ridr]

The Ford site you linked to clearly says no.

"

The 2026 Ford Maverick Tremor is designed for off-road capability and typically comes equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, but
it does not automatically include the 4K Tow Package as standard equipment. It is, however, compatible with the 4K Tow Package, which increases towing capacity from 2,000 lbs to 4,000 lbs, requiring it to be selected as an add-on option." I've been looking for 3 weeks and haven't found one. I've als searched through window stickers, no joy,,,,,,

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