For those who would not invest in dedicated winter tires....either you have 4X4 or you live in a warmer climate! I have the same truck 2X4, 2.3, 5 speed. I put an aggressive winter ICE/SNOW (similar to blizzak) all around and have three totes at the tailgate with bags of salt and snow inside to the tune of 300 pounds. The truck will go in anything this winter has thrown at me and it turns and stops extremely well. Having the bags of salt and sand in totes keeps any overflow out of the bed. I have all three totes attached to the rear cargo hooks so they can't shift and all are under my "Bakflip" cover.