Wet weather pavement drive mode

4Runner newbie here.
My 2014 GMC Envoy got tired at 200K miles. Lots off road. Got a 2021 4Runner and love it but still trying to figure things out. Live in SoCal and we get so little rain that oil and crap build up on the roads badly. In the Envoy, when we had the 1st rain I’d put the car in all wheel drive for a little extra traction. It had 2WD, AWD, 4x4 high and low range.
Had a brief rain this week and I was out in my Camaro and the roads were really slick. Nothing to do with it but feather the throttle. But, It brought me to this question. Under these circumstances is there a mode I can put the 4Runner in that is, or is equivalent to AWD?

 

You can use 4-hi if you feel the need, just try not to crank the steering wheel or it will bind a little bit.

 

Only 4Runner Limited has AWD equivalent mode. H4F (4wd high with center diff free)

Other models you have to switch to 4wd high if the road is slippery. If its not slippery and just raining you can drive on 2wd high.

If the road is just wet and not slippery if you take turns on 4wd high it could bind. 4H on part-time 4WD / H4L on Limited full-time 4wd requires a slippery surface so that the front and rear ends can match speed without binding.

 

Upgrade stock tires would be my first thing. My local tire shop took the stocks on trade for a good amount and installed my Falkens.

 

Leave it in 2wd. Part time 4wd is not like AWD (Full time 4wd).

Tires do come into play though.

 

Thanks to all.

 

Like others have said before, 4WD has no center differential, so the front and back axles spin at the same rate.

Your GMC had auto four-wheel-drive which only engages the front axle when it’s necessary, the 4runner does not have that feature.

Drivetrain binding is not a terrible thing, but I wouldn’t use it in the rain. Snow and ice is probably the only time you would use it on the pavement.