What’s A Safe Highway Speed?

I know this comes down to what I feel comfortable with but I wanted to get a lil input from some of you. I have a 5th Gen TRD Pro w/ Terra Grapplers and will be doing my first long distance drive on our Toll Roads which have a speed limit of 80 MPH. (Which means if you aren’t doing at least 82 MPH everyone is cursing you as they pass.) The roads are decent but there will be lots of traffic (with plenty of idiots). What do you folks find comfortable running as your top end cruise control speed?

 

The speed limit.

 

"Like I told my last wife, I said, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see, and besides... it's all in the reflexes." -Jack Burton

 

This is pretty much how I feel. I guess the reason I asked the original question is because all my other cars have been low profile (Audi and BMW) and this one has the highest center of gravity that I have ever owned.

 

I don’t usually run cruise control. I don’t mind keeping at the speed limit. I have observed that 4Runner forces me to go slow, my other car is a Tesla and I can tell the difference when I drive it.

4runner is meant to drive slow and I am good with that so speed limit for me.

 

I have never driven mine that fast but I’d imagine it would be ok ok a straight open road. I’d stay way back from others for obvious safety and preventing stone chips.

You’ll probably be able to watch the fuel gauge go down quickly at that speed.

This probably does not need to be said but I will say it just don’t let others in traffic impact your driving. You get to choose your speed based on what you feel is safe. It’s your life and your vehicle. No sense in anyone try to intimidate you.

I used to have an old bof frame Explorer and pull my 3k boat at 80mph when I was just out of college on an open freeway after a long day of fishing. The vehicle felt stable but I had to watch the trailer. Looking back it was stupid. All I needed was one tire to blow or something jump out to have an accident.
If I was lucky maybe I shaved 15 minutes off my commute. Dumb. Now I sit back and try to smell the roses more.

 

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Even with all the nanny systems in newer 4Runners, you can't overcome physics. Narrow track, high COG and soft-ish suspension aren't great in an emergency situation. Besides, the MPG drops dramatically above 70. Be smart and prudent and you will (probably) be fine.

 

You’ll be fine at 80mph during the day with dry weather and good conditions. Go slower if you don’t have that.

 

Usually there is a vehicle traveling that suits my pace and I'll keep up with them but about 20 car lengths back. This could be anywhere from 72 to 80 MPH depending on conditions and other traffic. Be safe on your trip!

 

The 4runner is quite stable at 80 MPH.
It will get skittish if you want to take a sharp bend at that speed though.
It's also not the swiftest to react to sudden changes but the brakes hold up well.
I am usually in the middle lane and follow the pace of the traffic. I have the 100mph ones on the left and the 45 mph ones on my right. The maniacs curse me and I curse the slowpokes .

 

I have cruised at ~85 and it feels comfortable to me at that speed. But, this is with minimal traffic, and I'm always looking ahead to see what's coming. I've had it up to 100 passing, but I can't say I'd recommend driving that fast all the time.

I also have KDSS, which helps a little bit with stability.

 

I have a 2015 with AT tires. I will say I don't drive the speed limit, usually 8-12 over. I have had multiple driver training courses throughout my career and am a confident but safe driver. This vehicle is absolutely fine at highway speeds. We have done cross country trips, multiple state trips, and constant trips on the turnpike and thruway without issue. The only time I have been really concerned was in high cross winds that made keeping a straight line a bit harry.

 

This. I test drove a non-KDSS on a windy day and didn't like how wandery it felt at 65. But after buying mine with KDSS, I routinely drove 85-90 mph on interstates for the first two years or so and felt comfortable. I even had one panic brake at very high speed and although she swayed back and forth like a ship on the ocean (can't imagine that without KDSS), they system did a bang-up job getting me stopped. So well that the cars behind me had do swerve into the emergency lane.

Nobody can tell you how fast you should drive. You should drive at the speed of traffic and your comfort. Don't want to drive as fast as everyone else? Just stay to the right - that's what those lanes are for

 

I did some evasive moves on my test drive and was sold. I'm still impressed with how it handles, even lifted. Sometimes I get a little excited and push it a little harder than I should through turns, and it's like you can actually feel the sway bars lowering the vehicle.

Totally agree about the second part, as well.

Another option if you're not comfortable keeping up with traffic is to take an alternative route that avoids the freeway. I tend to do this especially when I'm towing. It makes for a nicer ride, and can save you some fuel. If you have the time to spare, it can be pretty fun.

 

Depends more on how frequent you want to fill up. Anything over 75mph and my 4runner's fuel efficiency drops like a rock.

I also run Nitto TGs.

 

All I can say to them is “tough poo”, I drive as I see fit, this is a free country. If they tailgate I’ll slow down even more.

 

Depends on your tire rating. Mine are a C load and have a max speed of 90 so i keep it 85 and below (not to say i won't go faster briefly). 4Runner likes 55-75mph for MPG. Otherwise you just drive as you feel comfortable.

 

As long you stay out of the left lane.

There are rules to driving on the freeway.

 

The speed posted is the safe highway speed, not the flow of traffic. If the flow of traffic is doing 10 mph over and you are in the flow, you may get singled out by the police for a ticket. It happened to me once, and when i told the officer i was going with the flow he said the flow was speeding, and they can’t catch them all so he just picks one out to slow them all down.

 

I think about this occasionally when the flow is going 20-25 over on my way to work.

 

I’m in my late 60’s, I’m pretty sure I know how to drive properly. I resided in CA Bay Area for 40 years and have seen a bit of freeways and +120mph death wish drivers.
“Speed Limits” are exactly that, not mandatory speeds.

 

I see people of all ages who don't know how to drive. I have heard that it's a Midwest thing, but I see people in every state I've driven in camping in the left lane. I was just curious if you were one of them.

I just saw a thing on Facebook about how the left lane is for passing from a highway cop. And, some of the people commenting were saying things like
"I'm not going to drive any faster than I'm comfortable with, just so that you can break the law, etc" which is bullshit. The left lane is for maniacs.

 

You will be fine traveling at the speed limit

 

According to my GF 95-100 which she is was doing in last week with my 255/80 WildPeaks. I usually keep it about 5mph over.

 

I drive 75-80 on Hwy 395 (also driven the same road @ 15-20 in winter), up to 90 for a fair piece on I40 in AZ and NM, also when in northern NV. I just keep with the flow!

I also stay out of the fast lane except when passing. Weaving in-and-out will catch a County Mountie's eye.

Lesser speeds if using "crash-control"!

 

Safer with the flow. Getting a ticket does not perfectly correlate with being unsafe.

A rusted out vehicle at the speed limit is far more dangerous than a brand new 911 going with the flow at 10mph over.

 

My uncle, who designed cars for Mickey Thompson and crew chiefed for him @ Indy (and designed a car that went over 400 mph) once told me: Cars will always outperform the driver!

Third from the left, @ Bonneville:

 

Go with the flow of traffic regardless of speed limit, whether that's 20 under or 20 over. That's what I was taught in my defensive driving class.

They said someone insisting on driving the speed limit when traffic is flowing faster is just as dangerous as someone zipping in and out of traffic over the limit. It causes traffic to build up and forces a lot of lane changes for people to get around

 

This is why I tend to take backroads when I'm towing, or not in a hurry.

 

I used to be a conquer and pass guy but have realized that cruise control, good distance between the next vehicle, and listening to an interesting podcast brings stress levels way down.

Let the idiots be idiots. They are always gonna be on the roads in mass.