911 C4 capability in winter
Discussion
rossfitz said:
Moved to the midlands and had to buy a 4x4 for the family wagon to get around this winter. Thinking of next winter and hoping to chop Old wagon for something more fun for me like 996 C4. Anyone any experience of these being used on icy/snowy roads?
Thanks
A C4 on summer tyres is nearly as good as a C2 on winter tyres in my experience.Thanks
My C2S on winters is just brilliant in snow, right to the point where we get to 6" of uncompacted fresh snow, at which point you wouldn't believe how much can get packed into the front air scoops of a 997. Once the 4x4s have compacted things, it's just fine again. So a C4 on winters should be unstoppable, save for the same depth constraint. Main thing is not to get too much forward weight transfer going downhill - the rear engine gives any 911 great grip in snow but if it does get out of shape, bad things will happen. I don't know how much a C4 would help there.
Helicopter123 said:
A C4 on summer tyres is nearly as good as a C2 on winter tyres in my experience.
4wd on summer tyres will beat 2wd on winter tyres for pure traction on most surfaces other than sheet ice. However, for braking and cornering in slippery conditions, anything on winter tyres will beat anything on summer tyres, regardless of driven wheels.A C2 on winter tyres is probably a better proposition than an SUV on summer tyres in almost any situation on the road, unless you're likely to encounter deep snow where ground clearance is an issue.
Agreed. In snow I'll take a 2wd (especially fwd) on winters over a 4wd on summers.
I once drove up to Val Thorens in a fwd Mercedes A class hire car on winter tyres. It was snowing hard. In places there was six inches of level snow on the road. We kept going, slowly, and made it to the village after driving continuously uphill on snow, without seeing any tarmac, for over an hour. I passed a number of vehicles including 4wd that simply could not get traction. I was amazed at what that car achieved.
I'm in the midlands too. I've ran winter tyres here in the UK for 10 years, mostly on 4wd Audis, but I'd say a fwd on winters would match a 4wd on summers for traction. I have no experience of rwd. Either way, agreed that winters on anything is a huge improvement. I even run winters on my Discovery as while 4wd helps a bit with traction, it contributes not a jot for stopping. ..:-)
I once drove up to Val Thorens in a fwd Mercedes A class hire car on winter tyres. It was snowing hard. In places there was six inches of level snow on the road. We kept going, slowly, and made it to the village after driving continuously uphill on snow, without seeing any tarmac, for over an hour. I passed a number of vehicles including 4wd that simply could not get traction. I was amazed at what that car achieved.
I'm in the midlands too. I've ran winter tyres here in the UK for 10 years, mostly on 4wd Audis, but I'd say a fwd on winters would match a 4wd on summers for traction. I have no experience of rwd. Either way, agreed that winters on anything is a huge improvement. I even run winters on my Discovery as while 4wd helps a bit with traction, it contributes not a jot for stopping. ..:-)
thegreenhell said:
4wd on summer tyres will beat 2wd on winter tyres for pure traction on most surfaces other than sheet ice. However, for braking and cornering in slippery conditions, anything on winter tyres will beat anything on summer tyres, regardless of driven wheels.
A C2 on winter tyres is probably a better proposition than an SUV on summer tyres in almost any situation on the road, unless you're likely to encounter deep snow where ground clearance is an issue.
I'd disagree with the first part of that: a 4x4 on summers does not, in local experience, beat a 2wd on winters - we live a mile up a dirt track at the top of a Highland glen, so we've experimented with pretty much every combination - even my old RWD BMW on winters beats my X5 on summers (slightly for traction and lots for steering & stopping). Of course an X5 on properly sized (ie the smallest, narrowest you can get) trumps everything bar a Landie. A C2 on winter tyres is probably a better proposition than an SUV on summer tyres in almost any situation on the road, unless you're likely to encounter deep snow where ground clearance is an issue.
cpufreak said:
Brilliant, never seen that one before-how much fun does that look! Only a C2 on winter tyres as well ehTechnomad said:
thegreenhell said:
4wd on summer tyres will beat 2wd on winter tyres for pure traction on most surfaces other than sheet ice. However, for braking and cornering in slippery conditions, anything on winter tyres will beat anything on summer tyres, regardless of driven wheels.
A C2 on winter tyres is probably a better proposition than an SUV on summer tyres in almost any situation on the road, unless you're likely to encounter deep snow where ground clearance is an issue.
I'd disagree with the first part of that: a 4x4 on summers does not, in local experience, beat a 2wd on winters - we live a mile up a dirt track at the top of a Highland glen, so we've experimented with pretty much every combination - even my old RWD BMW on winters beats my X5 on summers (slightly for traction and lots for steering & stopping). Of course an X5 on properly sized (ie the smallest, narrowest you can get) trumps everything bar a Landie. A C2 on winter tyres is probably a better proposition than an SUV on summer tyres in almost any situation on the road, unless you're likely to encounter deep snow where ground clearance is an issue.
Also, check this out for a semi-scientific comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l2cMlNRX_A
thegreenhell said:
I guess it also depends on the specific car, but my Jeep on summer tyres has amazing traction in the snow. It seems to go far better than it stops. I can imagine a modern SUV on 20" low-profile summers being pretty pants though.
Also, check this out for a semi-scientific comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l2cMlNRX_A
Fair comment - was thinking of a) my X5 on 19" summers, which is way better than b) my neighbour's Cayenne on 20" summers, both of which indeed would be worse than c) my other neighbour's Cherokee on its summer/all round tyres.Also, check this out for a semi-scientific comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l2cMlNRX_A
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