987C.1 Traction Control Off on Icy Roads?

[jcelee]

I live on a hill surrounded by hills. These hills are rarely salted or treated in any way. I'm planning to swap over to winter tyres this weekend but am wandering whether traction control is best switched off on potentially icy roads?

I had a Jag with a reasonably crude TC system which would grab a brake if it sensed any slip making a bad situation (slight slip on ice) a whole lot worse and unpredictable. It would automatically grab a brake without warning in one instance sending 17ft of car very sideways across the road....

Many thanks for your thoughts

[Trev450]

When I was on summer tyres I used to switch the psm off on icy hills to assist getting to the top without having the power cut all the time.

Since I've fitted winter tyres, however, I haven't found it necessary.

[jcelee]

Thanks, so we just think PSM cuts power, it doesn't apply brakes?

[mrdemon]

you need PSM on that's what's its for :-)

http://youtu.be/kSmZ3Y5fMTo

goto 3 minutes in, the guys have no control on the ice hill when PSM is OFF

[Trev450]

jcelee said:

Thanks, so we just think PSM cuts power, it doesn't apply brakes?

I'm fairly certain it applies the brakes too.

I'm not advocating switching the PSM off unless absolutely essential, but sometimes in order to get up a steep hill on summer tyres, I found it the only way.

[Carl_Docklands]

jcelee said:

I live on a hill surrounded by hills. These hills are rarely salted or treated in any way. I'm planning to swap over to winter tyres this weekend but am wandering whether traction control is best switched off on potentially icy roads?

I had a Jag with a reasonably crude TC system which would grab a brake if it sensed any slip making a bad situation (slight slip on ice) a whole lot worse and unpredictable. It would automatically grab a brake without warning in one instance sending 17ft of car very sideways across the road....

Many thanks for your thoughts

Slow controlled, up-hill on black ice? PSM needs be off. Deep snow? PSM off. All other situations, PSM ON.

Demon - did you not take basic lessons at Porsche centre Silverstone? )

None of the above apply if your name ends in 'Rance' as PSM is 'off' at all times

[jcelee]

The issue I've experienced in the past (not in the Cayman yet) was patches of black ice going down hill. The issue with automatic braking here is that it turns a small slip into a much larger and sudden slide.

Am I right to assume then that PSM is smart enough not to jam on a brake when it detects slight loss of traction because of ice?