Turn the traction control (and any other assistance) OFF...
Tried that Graham, it was still useless
Thought you might say that Steve! Not tried my little coupe in the snow, but on 205s (rather than the silly wider versions) I expect it to move. A bit!
Graham (G4FUJ)
Sold L44FOR 4/4 Giallo Fly '11 MINI Countryman Cooper D All4 '90 LR 90 SW
In spite of a clip on local news last night implying that the Lickey Hills had been hit by heavy snow....a light dusting this morning. Hate the stuff myself....not quite sure why I've let myself in for a weeks skiing next month!
As Keith commented, make sure you have really good insurance and don't go on the Black runs....
Peter, 66, 2016 Porsche Boxster S No longer driving Tarka, the 2014 Plus 8...
A good 30cm during the night (I'm delighted to say....).
It's still snowing and forecast to carry on all day. Might be interesting getting down the mountain and back up this evening to pick up #2 daughter from Geneva airport.
Still, I have snow tyres, and 4WD, plus chains if necessary. The only issue is if the road gets blocked.
Well it's still snowing, and the Gendarmerie insist that everyone dons chains, regardless of Snow tyres, 4WD etc. So, I've just popped out to the garage and fitted them. The ones I have are a Maggi Trak Autos - fantastic Italian chains which pretty much put themselves on. Here's a video of the fitting procedure (you can skip the first 80 seconds as the faffing about with spacers bit you only have to do once when fitting them for the first time).
My feeling is that if it is fairly dry snow you can get away with just snow tyres but if it is wet and icy you really need chains and a lot of care. I rather like the look of these, another Italian invention and very expensive but they look quite effective.
They look excellent. To get grip like that on an ice rink is amazing.
As it happened the trip up the mountain last night was quite challenging. It was snowing quite heavily at Geneva airport & my daughter's flight was delayed 2 1/2 hours, so we didn't leave until quarter to one. By the time we got to the bottom of the mountain the snow was already very deep on the road. I was really delighted with the performance of my A class 4matic with Michelin Alpin Pilot snow tyres but no chains. It breezed up the mountain feeling safe, planted and controlled all the way, acting as a snowplough a fair bit of the time. The autobox really seemed to get it right the whole way up, so I was able to just concentrate on throttle and steering. Top marks.
I'll have to investigate them for low profiles, the wheels are £500 a corner (without tyres) so would want to avoid having spare wheels for the couple of days a year (if that) we get snow.
I bought a set online from tyreman with alloys for £1k 7 years ago. They were narrower with taller side walls. My car had the AMG kit complete with low profiles tyres as standard.
JohnV6 2022 CX Plus Four 2025 Renault Scenic Alpine etech "Yvette"
I'll have to investigate them for low profiles, the wheels are £500 a corner (without tyres) so would want to avoid having spare wheels for the couple of days a year (if that) we get snow.
I bought a set online from tyreman with alloys for £1k 7 years ago. They were narrower with taller side walls. My car had the AMG kit complete with low profiles tyres as standard.
I bought a complete set for my SLC this year for €1062. They were Pirelli Sottozero 3 tyres 225/45 R17 on 7" pattern alloys, and included €184 for the tyre pressure captors. I decided not to go with the 245/40 tyres on 8" rims at the rear (as is on the standard car) as slightly narrower seemed a good idea for use in snow, and is the setup suggested by Mercedes Switzerland.
I bought a set online from tyreman with alloys for £1k 7 years ago. They were narrower with taller side walls. My car had the AMG kit complete with low profiles tyres as standard.
Did you manage to sell these in the end?
Graham (G4FUJ)
Sold L44FOR 4/4 Giallo Fly '11 MINI Countryman Cooper D All4 '90 LR 90 SW
Now that's what you call snow - reminds me of our years working in Germany.
A famous downhill race in the Skiing World Cup has been cancelled - because there has been too much snow. Saturday's race at the Lauberhorn course in Wengen, Switzerland, was dropped after more than 40cm (16in) of snow fell overnight. Crews worked through the night but were unable to prepare the piste in time. After a dry start to the ski season in December, resorts are now dealing with heavy flurries as a cold snap grips Europe. The Lauberhorn course is the longest downhill run in the world, and racers can reach speeds of 160km per hour (100 miles per hour). The heavy snow was accompanied by powerful winds, complicating preparations, and eventually forcing organisers to admit the race could not be held safely.
Be careful what you wish for ..
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta 1999 Indigo Blue +8 2009 4/4 Sport Green prev 1993 Con Green +8 prev