Very Poor Traction

[whammer007]

Hi All,

Well it was snowing here this morning, and I tried to take the wife and the dog to the park for a spot of winter fun.
Her W210 200K manual woudn't even get me out of the street!. Spinning and sliding away while I was being passed by Corsa's and the like.
Her previous car Audi A6 1.8T manual usually had no problems getting out of the street in similar conditions.
The Merc. (or useless tank as now calls it) is now parked a short walk up the street, and I am loathe to try and move it after the spectacle I provided the neighbours with earlier.
Are these cars always so pathetic in these conditions?
I fear a trade in may be coming!!!

Regards,

Col

 

[Blobcat]

Not sure if you have traction control in yours but if its working then you would not be sliding around. With relatively wide tyres and rear wheel drive, the grip is much less than with narrow tyres and front wheel drive.
My recommendations is put some weight in the boot, ensure tyres are in good condition and correct pressure and set off in 2nd gear. With mine going can be very slow with traction control on as you can have the foot to the floor but only crawling along as car is stopping wheels from slipping. I have switched it off a few times to get up steep hills but you have to be very carefull to keep control.

 

[mercman_1]

snowy conditions

Totally agree, of all the cars I have had the Merc is the worst in anything but ideal conditions,you get a small flurry and the damn thing wont move while every one else rolls by laughing,I have tried it with weight in the boot ESP off/on nothing works so now I just leave it in drive (retired no work to get to)

 

[whammer007]

I have traction control, and it was switched on. The wheels just kept spinning faster and faster. The warning light flashed on the dash as it was "working". Does it work differently in 1st gear to any other gear?
I am a bit embarassed about this mornings display, but that apart, does it not snow in Germany?
My wife is now surfing the Audi website, and has found about half a dozen that she likes.
Wish me luck


Regards,

Col

 

[Blobcat]

In Germany you can buy '4 Matic's' which are 4 wheel drive. They also replace their tyres in the autumn for Winter tyres which make a world of difference.
If traction control is working then it should stop the wheels slipping by cutting the power to the wheels. The Yellow triangle flashes to let you know it is working. The wheels will not spin up with TC on and working

 

[whammer007]

Point taken about the 4-matic and tyres scenario. The warning light was flashing away on the dash, but believe me the wheels were spinning like tops.

Regards,

Col

 

[Parrot of Doom]

RWD with an engine in the front, wide tyres, its a combination thats not good for icey conditions.

The best bet is to get thinner tyres and stack up some bricks in the boot, or buy some snow chains

 

[Apial]

The 4matic is not necessary to regain traction in icy conditions. You car has been brought to an abrupt stop by your tyres. You wouldn't go out in the snow in smooth slippers but would wear wellingtons wouldn't you?

Some performance winter tyres will make a huge difference in these types of conditions. Michelin Alpins or Pilot Alpins are very good. Once fitted you will think that your car really is a 4matic model!

 

[Blobcat]

The 4matic is not necessary to regain traction in icy conditions. You car has been brought to an abrupt stop by your tyres. You wouldn't go out in the snow in smooth slippers but would wear wellingtons wouldn't you?

Some performance winter tyres will make a huge difference in these types of conditions. Michelin Alpins or Pilot Alpins are very good. Once fitted you will think that your car really is a 4matic model!

Very much agree with the tyres, we go to Canada quite a lot and have only once had a 4x4 in winter. We have had various people carriers and cars, however all have had either winter or Canadian 'all season' tyres on, which in snow make a world of difference. It is very strange getting used to being able to accelerate, steer and brake on snow when back home you are sliding around all over.
The problem we have is that we rarely get enough 'winter' to make winter tyres and snow chains worthwhile. A spare set of steel wheels with winter tyres however can save your alloys from the salt and ensure you have a fighting chance of getting to your destination.

 

[Apial]

It is very strange getting used to being able to accelerate, steer and brake on snow when back home you are sliding around all over.
QUOTE]

I know what you mean. Its like putting your hand in a flame and not getting burnt or walking on water. The winter tyres appear to defy the laws of physics.

 

[andy_k]

I can't believe that you want to blame everything on the car.

As others have said you need the proper wheel tyre combination for the conditions it's as simple as that.

Rather than "usless tank" I'd suggest "useless drivers who are too arrogant to think that the laws of science apply to them".

There's been a lot of press coverage this year of moronic English drivers turning up at the alpine ski resorts on summer tyres with no snow chains (even though it's illegal to travel without them in many european countries) and then wondering why they are getting stuck everywhere and causing accidents.

Food for thought.... A set of winter tyres will probably cost you less than the excess you may have to pay on your insurance. The alternative is to do like Mercman 1 and leave the car in the drive.

Andy

 

[turnipsock]

It's taken me till now to dig my car out.

 

[mercman_1]

Tyres

Your missing the point! we all know winter tyres are good but almost every other car is managing fine without them.
Bob.T.

 

[andy_k]

not really missing the point, I think you'll find that most people running around on wide low profile tyres with the modern tread patterns will be in the same position.

Small cars with skinny tyres will always cope better in snow - unless of course they are being driven by idiots

Andy

 

[LNM]

Turnipsock

LOL, did your CE send the aerial up as a locator beacon so you could find it ?

Some c**t stole the star off the front of mine last night, despite the snow.

I'd have thought it'd be too cold for the theiving vandal smackhead chav.

 

[whammer007]

Andy-K offered

I can't believe that you want to blame everything on the car.

As others have said you need the proper wheel tyre combination for the conditions it's as simple as that.

Rather than "usless tank" I'd suggest "useless drivers who are too arrogant to think that the laws of science apply to them".

Cheers for that Andy!
I bet my car was the ONLY car in my street that was incapable of making it to the main road........oh wait a minute.....everyone else has 4x4/snowchains/m&s tyres.
Get real mate, most other cars can hack it! I've driven a lot of different cars in similar conditions over the last 20 odd years, this big fella wasn't even trying to help me.
BTW. we went out in the afternoon when it wasn't so bad, I think the wife has gone off the Audi idea......for now.

Regards,

Col

 

[television]

You cant compare the snow in germany to here, over there it is dry,and you cant make snow balls, here it is wet. it is also against the law to drive on summer tyres there. My 300TE would not move in Sweden on summer tyres in the snow, with winter tyres it was the same as all of the other cars.
As everyone has said fat tyres are useless in snow as they slide around on top of the snow, narrow tyres on cheap cars sink through. so all of your neighbours have skinny tyres, so what. I am amazed that you have been driving for twenty years and not learnt the basic facts. quite frightning really.

Malcolm

 

[turnipsock]

I've got winter tyres on my 230TE. It was struggling a bit to get out today. The tyres are obviously working well as you can see that the tread is clearing really well, judging by the little snow worms that were lying around.

There is little weight over the rear wheels, and the front tyres are being asked to plough through the snow, the deeper the snow the less likely you are to succeed in getting anywhere. My car kept getting beached today, at least it will be clean underneath.

Should you use the same tyre pressures as normal tyres on winter tyres?

 

[television]

Should you use the same tyre pressures as normal tyres on winter tyres?

The answer to this is yes, This applies to what ever tyres you fit, it is more to do with wheight of the car, Running at lower presures would not help on snow.
Hope you finished digging your self out, I used to do that in Sweden, and carry two sand bags in the rear over the wheels, really does help.

Malcolm

 

[Rory]

Does it work differently in 1st gear to any other gear?

This might be a clue - you shouldn't have been in 1st.

2nd (if manual) or C/W if auto may have helped.