Mercedes in the snow

[RenwardHoop]

As a new owner of a Mercedes C220 I was wondering is anybody else having trouble in this snow ?

We live on a hill in Gloucester and we've put sand down to aid traction, but we are having a nightmare in this weather. It's automatic, maybe thats the trouble, any tips on driving in the snow/ice ?

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

I only use the Range Rover and leave the CLK on the drive................I've still skidded on a couple of ocasions mind down to road tyres on the rear axle :lol:

 

[Alex M Grieve]

We live on a hill in Gloucester and we've put sand down to aid traction, but we are having a nightmare in this weather. It's automatic, maybe thats the trouble, any tips on driving in the snow/ice ?

You have the advantage of a diesel, which should tick over without stalling. Biggest factor is to keep the revs down and try to prevent spinning of the rear wheels.

I would start by selecting the winter gearbox setting (W - enables you to start in 2nd gear) and then trying to let it progress on tickover to get started. If heading up hill and tickover won't work (unlikely to stall, but may just sit there), then the lightest breath of throttle just to get it going.

I tend to prefer the unused snow to places which have been polished by others, but it is a matter of personal taste. What works for me may not appeal to you.

Would be interested to hear how you get on, and what you find the most effective technique. Good hunting!

 

[television]

A few bags of sand in the boot does help a lot.

 

[Juddian]

Malcolm's right, weighting the boot works wonders, but the only way forward is winter tyres, they're not just for snow.

 

[rf065]

Malcolm's right, weighting the boot works wonders, but the only way forward is winter tyres, they're not just for snow.

Everyone who does buy them says they are a revelation. After last winter I vowed never to run a car through winter again without them. Let's have some more snow! :lol:

Russ

 

[st4]

I'll give you a top tip, find a quiet empty icy car park, disengage ESP, boot it, turn wheel agressively and laugh out loud, see how sideways she'll go - you'll most likely spin.

Now try with ESP one, much harder, but not impossible.

Always use the lowest speed in the highest gear possible. Disengage your ESP as it will brake various wheels, when you want to try and get the car slowly moving.

 

[jackwall5]

I'm living where winter tyres are a legal must have.... in fact the law states that on Nov 1st you must have on your car.

With the freak weather hitting UK and Ireland at the moment, it'd be surprising if 1 in 100 people had winter tyres ......

They are really worth the spend if you know you'll get the weather... and that'll be the main point here I suppose. Are the worth it.

If you can get them in time, they'll stay good for [nearly ever] 'cos you'll only run a few 100 miles a decade.

I know some of the hills around Gloucester .... great in a flood I suppose, less good in ice.

The above advise is sound and there's little else to do save for not use your car for the few days. Easy said I know.

Safe Driving.

 

[mossie]

i agree with st4 turn the esp off and enjoy.

 

[missmegan]

As a new owner of a Mercedes C220 I was wondering is anybody else having trouble in this snow ?

We live on a hill in Gloucester and we've put sand down to aid traction, but we are having a nightmare in this weather. It's automatic, maybe thats the trouble, any tips on driving in the snow/ice ?

i drive a c220 auto, turn off esp, use very light revs, if triptronic select 3rd , take it easy and think ahead, if its a very steep gradient find another route, works every time

 

[JEZ.S320L]

BUT - you can only ever go as fast as the car in front - and if THAT is stopped, so are you. 4WD/chains/winter tyres make little or no difference. Unless, that is, ALL vehicles had 4WD/chains/winter tyres fitted - which we all know, is not going to happen. Ever.

 

[rf065]

BUT - you can only ever go as fast as the car in front - and if THAT is stopped, so are you.

It's not really about how fast you can go, it is about never getting stuck.
If the car in front is stopped, you have enough traction to drive around it and carry on. Apart from that, they have more grip even without snow, on cold wet roads they are amazing. Even if you don't have snow all winter, they still have benefits for 3 months of the year, even in the UK.

I've tried ST4's idea of the snow covered empty car park, and the biggest thing it proved was how much grip winter tyres have compared to normal summer tyres. They could be a life saver one day.

Russ

 

[JEZ.S320L]

It's not really about how fast you can go, it is about never getting stuck.
If the car in front is stopped, you have enough traction to drive around it and carry on. Apart from that, they have more grip even without snow, on cold wet roads they are amazing. Even if you don't have snow all winter, they still have benefits for 3 months of the year, even in the UK.

I've tried ST4's idea of the snow covered empty car park, and the biggest thing it proved was how much grip winter tyres have compared to normal summer tyres. They could be a life saver one day.

Russ

Sorry, I meant progress, rather than speed - be that 1mph or or 10mph. As for 'If the car in front is stopped, you have enough traction to drive around it and carry on'. I very much doubt if that was possible - given the gridlock, queues and jams that were evident in the last few days. I didn't witness convoys of 4WD-only vehicles on the Highways and By-ways - they were all stuck in the same traffic that I was.!!

 

[philharve]

Winter tyres rather than snow chains

Hi All

So, no member has recommended snow chains/socks in preference to winter tyres! Are winter tyres really that superior to chains/socks?

I wonder how many M-B owners have a spare pair of wheels shod with winter tyres in their garage? Not many I think, given the rarity of severe weather conditions in the UK.

What kind of money is involved in (say) buying a pair of spare wheels (used?) and equipping them with winter tyres? Chains/socks are always going to be the cheaper option and if they provide some level of protection then, surely, they deserve a recommendation?

I have never used chains/socks or winter tyres and have always relied upon my skill to keep me out of trouble.

My C230K is my first automatic and I have been wondering if the present extreme weather conditions presents special difficulties for automatics compared with the stick shifters?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[rf065]

Sorry, I meant progress, rather than speed - be that 1mph or or 10mph. As for 'If the car in front is stopped, you have enough traction to drive around it and carry on'. I very much doubt if that was possible - given the gridlock, queues and jams that were evident in the last few days. I didn't witness convoys of 4WD-only vehicles on the Highways and By-ways - they were all stuck in the same traffic that I was.!!

OK, you are correct, if the road is blocked you will not go any further. The point I was trying to make is that in 2 winters running winter tyres, in a climate colder than down south & with regular snow falls each year, not to mention ice on untreated roads almost daily first thing in the morning, I have never got stuck or even had any dramas worth repeating. To me, that is proof that winter tyres work & I will be using them every year from now on, no matter what car I drive. I have had a 4x4 on all weather tyres, and the CLK on winters is safer to drive. That alone should tell you how good they are.

The south of England is on the news every year without fail as the slightest fall of snow grinds everyone to a halt, everyone blames everyone else & everyone says there is no need for winter tyres in that climate. The reality is that the south is never prepared for what hits them as this attitude is everywhere, it is not cold enough, we only get snow every 10 years etc.

From Dec to March in the UK, there cannot be many places where the average temp is above 7C everyday. Most places will be below that, especially in early morning & evening rush hours, in these temps, winter tyres will benefit everyone even without snow falling. No need to mess about with chains or socks either & no restricted speeds due to them, just fit & forget for 2 or 3 months of the year and you are prepared for whatever the weather brings.

There was an interview with a tyre company exec, who has seen winter tyre sales increasing throughout Europe & in parts of the UK, who says everyone in the South of England laughs when anyone mentions winter tyres & the whole world laughs at the south every year when a half inch of slush brings them to a standstill. Lets face it, it may be record snow falls for the south, but nothing more than everyone else gets every year & they seem to cope with it.

I've no doubt nothing much will change & next year this will all be repeated all over again. :lol:

Russ

 

[philharve]

Winter tyres recommended

Hi Russ

Obviously you have great faith and a lot of experience with winter tyres. I was particularly interested in your comparison between a 4x4 and a CLK.

What make of winter tyre do you use/recommend? Are they expensive?

I tend to keep my cars a long time so maybe investing in an extra pair of wheels with winter tyres would be worth it. Don't they age, even if not used?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[JEZ.S320L]

OK, you are correct, if the road is blocked you will not go any further. The point I was trying to make is that in 2 winters running winter tyres, in a climate colder than down south & with regular snow falls each year, not to mention ice on untreated roads almost daily first thing in the morning, I have never got stuck or even had any dramas worth repeating. To me, that is proof that winter tyres work & I will be using them every year from now on, no matter what car I drive. I have had a 4x4 on all weather tyres, and the CLK on winters is safer to drive. That alone should tell you how good they are.

The south of England is on the news every year without fail as the slightest fall of snow grinds everyone to a halt, everyone blames everyone else & everyone says there is no need for winter tyres in that climate. The reality is that the south is never prepared for what hits them as this attitude is everywhere, it is not cold enough, we only get snow every 10 years etc.

From Dec to March in the UK, there cannot be many places where the average temp is above 7C everyday. Most places will be below that, especially in early morning & evening rush hours, in these temps, winter tyres will benefit everyone even without snow falling. No need to mess about with chains or socks either & no restricted speeds due to them, just fit & forget for 2 or 3 months of the year and you are prepared for whatever the weather brings.

There was an interview with a tyre company exec, who has seen winter tyre sales increasing throughout Europe & in parts of the UK, who says everyone in the South of England laughs when anyone mentions winter tyres & the whole world laughs at the south every year when a half inch of slush brings them to a standstill. Lets face it, it may be record snow falls for the south, but nothing more than everyone else gets every year & they seem to cope with it.

I've no doubt nothing much will change & next year this will all be repeated all over again. :lol:

Russ

I think you have a point. The word UNPREPARED is key. Both drivers and local authorities can claim that - in spades! I can only speak for my recent experience in Brighton, which experienced the worst snow in 20 years. Three main factors created the ensuing chaos. 1) Every road out of Brighton is up a hill. 2) 20 years-worth of drivers, who didn't have a clue how to drive in snow and ice. 3) The Local Authority, who didn't have the resources, nor the wherewithall to grit the main routes. If you put all those factors together, I very much doubt that winter tyres, chains, 4WD or even a track-laying vehicle, would have made any progress whatsoever that day.

As someone who lived for a great number of years, high up in the Pennines, I too used to laugh when the 'soft south' got hit by a flake of snow and the news was full of Reporters pointing out the slight dusting, with drifts as high as the kerb. Even so, this last week has been exceptional in the South. I honestly feel that the number of drivers who have the spare room to store - and the spare cash, to splash out for - wheels and winter tyres, will prove to be as rare as rocking-horse droppings.

 

[philharve]

Winter tyres all round

Hi All

I just read an article by Michelin that recommends fitting winter tyres all round for maximum performance. They are NOT a replacement for snow chains/socks.

Buying a set of winter tyres is therefore a considerable investment and maybe an uneconomical option if you live in a country where mild winters are the norm and extreme weather a rarity.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[Ron Palfrey]

When I lived in Chesterfield 25 years ago I used to keep a pair of wheels in the garage already fitted with snow chains. When it snowed heavy I'd just swap the wheels over and nothing would stop me with the chains on. When the snow has starting melting/clearing though you can wear your chains out quickly.
My C280 auto was useless in the snow. My Golf Estate (manual) is a lot better, but would be even more so with winter tyres. However, now in Leicestershire it is only once in a blue moon that I'd really need them.

 

[philharve]

Auto useless in the snow

Hi Ron

Why was your auto useless in the snow?

Is using the manual selection of gears an improvement?

REGARDS

Phil