Cabe
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TipTronics there if I need it.
Snow Driving Tips
- Thread starter talltimtam
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steve333
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Found the best way to keep moving in the snow(without winter tyres)is to put the tiptronic into manual(2nd gear) & turn esp off then by leaving plenty of space to the car in front you can generally keep moving ok
Dave Lewis
Active Member
If I had to rely solely on the W124 in these conditions, I wouldn't hesitate to get a set of steel wheels with serious winter tyres. Anything else would be a waste of time in a hilly place like Bristol. As it is, the old girl stays on the drive, and I use my Subaru Forester - no problems with traction, and just as important, well balanced and communicative on slippery surfaces.
Noodle-Pulp
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Scary on the roads around surrey today,had to go to woking this morning,not to bad getting there at 9am but after the deluge of snow the return home at 1.30pm took me an hour & 40 minutes(normally 30 minutes max).Got stuck about 5 times but the good old public came to the rescue each time
,rear wheel drive mercs & snow/ice just don't go,so the cls won't be going out again until the roads around here improve....
I imagine Seven Hills Road would have been fun.. shame I missed out on that one
jimti
Active Member
I had a driving test (assessment)today in all this horible weather, the tester had to give me a push at one point, although it was his own fault as I warned him that the car wouldn't like the snow.
He had to agree with me afterwards 
Anyway I passed with no faults, so I'm a happy chappy :bannana:
He had to agree with me afterwards Anyway I passed with no faults, so I'm a happy chappy :bannana:
Noodle-Pulp
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I had a driving test (assessment)today in all this horible weather, the tester had to give me a push at one point, although it was his own fault as I warned him that the car wouldn't like the snow.
Anyway I passed with no faults, so I'm a happy chappy :bannana:
grats :bannana:
I already posted this in another section, but then realised that there is a specific thread so I thought I repost this. I hope no one minds...
I'm a Finn living in the UK and I've driven about 20 years in arctic conditions in -20 and several feet of snow around.
In Finland, law requires winter tyres to be fitted during winter, there are certain dates when they are to be put on and taken off, or "pending on the weather conditions".
There are two kinds of tyres available; studded tyres and what's called "traction tyres" ie, heavier pattern compared to summer tyres, but no studs. The studded tyres are the bees knees in winter. I think they should make them legal during snow fall here in the UK despite the fact that they do eat the asphalt like crazy, at least for EMS and professional services.
There are two kinds of conditions; icy and snowy. The treacherous one is the icy conditions, because then you'll have virtually no traction unless you have studded tyres. Snowy conditions are easier, as they are more like aquaplaning occasionally.
What amazes me, is that Brit drivers do not distinguish these two and more importantly do not understand the severity. If there's been some humid air and it falls below zero, the roads turn to (black) ice rinks, yet these drivers drive like it's the middle of the summer. I was passed by some idiot woman driver in her TT on a winding narrow road because I was driving 25 on 30 zone on an icy road.
Then the snow comes in and the most drive like grannies, 15mph on 40mph zone and I'm behind then in my 4x4. Driving is much easier on snow than on ice.
I'm sure this forum is filled with apt drivers, but here are couple of tricks for driving in winter, hope these will come in handy:
1. If you have trouble getting moving and you have a manual transmission, put in 2nd gear and ease on the clutch. This won't make the tyres have so much torque and turning the snow underneath to a slippery track, but instead due to higher gear the tyres rotate a bit slower and are easier to control.
2. Occasionally it's easier to back up a slippery hill than it's to drive up, if you have a RWD.
3. If you get stuck on snow and you have people helping by pushing the car. Here's what you want to do. Try to get the car rocking back and forth by accelerating and then letting off the while the people pushing do the same. This way eventually you get bigger and bigger rocking movement back and forth and it should make you 'leap' forward over the snow. This is very common in Finland, when the roadside parked cars got stuck in snow after the snow plower had cleared out the driving lanes.
Hope this helps.
I'm a Finn living in the UK and I've driven about 20 years in arctic conditions in -20 and several feet of snow around.
In Finland, law requires winter tyres to be fitted during winter, there are certain dates when they are to be put on and taken off, or "pending on the weather conditions".
There are two kinds of tyres available; studded tyres and what's called "traction tyres" ie, heavier pattern compared to summer tyres, but no studs. The studded tyres are the bees knees in winter. I think they should make them legal during snow fall here in the UK despite the fact that they do eat the asphalt like crazy, at least for EMS and professional services.
There are two kinds of conditions; icy and snowy. The treacherous one is the icy conditions, because then you'll have virtually no traction unless you have studded tyres. Snowy conditions are easier, as they are more like aquaplaning occasionally.
What amazes me, is that Brit drivers do not distinguish these two and more importantly do not understand the severity. If there's been some humid air and it falls below zero, the roads turn to (black) ice rinks, yet these drivers drive like it's the middle of the summer. I was passed by some idiot woman driver in her TT on a winding narrow road because I was driving 25 on 30 zone on an icy road.
Then the snow comes in and the most drive like grannies, 15mph on 40mph zone and I'm behind then in my 4x4. Driving is much easier on snow than on ice.
I'm sure this forum is filled with apt drivers, but here are couple of tricks for driving in winter, hope these will come in handy:
1. If you have trouble getting moving and you have a manual transmission, put in 2nd gear and ease on the clutch. This won't make the tyres have so much torque and turning the snow underneath to a slippery track, but instead due to higher gear the tyres rotate a bit slower and are easier to control.
2. Occasionally it's easier to back up a slippery hill than it's to drive up, if you have a RWD.
3. If you get stuck on snow and you have people helping by pushing the car. Here's what you want to do. Try to get the car rocking back and forth by accelerating and then letting off the while the people pushing do the same. This way eventually you get bigger and bigger rocking movement back and forth and it should make you 'leap' forward over the snow. This is very common in Finland, when the roadside parked cars got stuck in snow after the snow plower had cleared out the driving lanes.
Hope this helps.
Last edited:
Thanks Jmal, some good tips in there.
Completely agree with people not taking enough care in icy conditions. Every morning these days its like -8 to -10 degrees C, and on my way to work I see people accelerating hard and driving at speed, like it's the middle of summer and I bet they don't even have the appropriate rubber for the conditions. Just ironic that I have winter tyres and I'm the one taking the most care while driving!
Completely agree with people not taking enough care in icy conditions. Every morning these days its like -8 to -10 degrees C, and on my way to work I see people accelerating hard and driving at speed, like it's the middle of summer and I bet they don't even have the appropriate rubber for the conditions. Just ironic that I have winter tyres and I'm the one taking the most care while driving!
st4
Banned
We have so many winter driving threads, can we not just merge them and make a sticky. Makes the forum easier to use IMHO
Cabe
Active Member
Mebby a banner with "Yes, winter tyres are a good idea people!"
Noodle-Pulp
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Davo
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Xmas eve I found myself on the A169, heading for Whitby on snow covered roads.
Unknown to me, the road was closed from the Whitby end, just as well it was scary enough one way. There are several long steep hills, which I went up with the auto box in 'W' with the ESP working overtime, and came down with the brake pedal to the metal, and ABS giving my foot a vibro massage.
I passed several cars stuck with no traction, or crashed in the ditch. To the guy in the black Porsche 911, who was stuck on the hill near Fylingdales, you bought the wrong car mate.
Unknown to me, the road was closed from the Whitby end, just as well it was scary enough one way. There are several long steep hills, which I went up with the auto box in 'W' with the ESP working overtime, and came down with the brake pedal to the metal, and ABS giving my foot a vibro massage.
I passed several cars stuck with no traction, or crashed in the ditch. To the guy in the black Porsche 911, who was stuck on the hill near Fylingdales, you bought the wrong car mate.
Apial
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Xmas eve I found myself on the A169, heading for Whitby on snow covered roads.
Unknown to me, the road was closed from the Whitby end, just as well it was scary enough one way.
So what exactly is the legal status of a "Road Closed" sign? Ignore at your peril? 3 points? No insurance?
There appear to be more than one type. Blue ones left by the police, and red ones left by the highways dept.
rf065
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To the guy in the black Porsche 911, who was stuck on the hill near Fylingdales, you bought the wrong car mate.
Nope, nothing wrong with the car, only the wrong tyres.
Russ
BernieStan
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Snow driving
I've bought Snow socks, this means we never got the snow fall threatened when I bought them !
However friends who drive down to the French and Austrian ski slopes tell me that they work as well as snow chains and are much easier to get on and off the rear wheels. They reckon they could drive up snowy roads well enough..... Anyone else used the socks?
I've bought Snow socks, this means we never got the snow fall threatened when I bought them !
However friends who drive down to the French and Austrian ski slopes tell me that they work as well as snow chains and are much easier to get on and off the rear wheels. They reckon they could drive up snowy roads well enough..... Anyone else used the socks?
1945wickedred
Active Member
Yes best tip of all leave the car in the garage and don't go out.
