Winter/Ice-snow-death car thing

[andy-xr]

I'm in 2 minds as to what to do on the current main car front, but have decided that a 4WD or AWD might not be a bad idea. Where the O/H lives is one of the highest points in Yorks, and last winter pretty much every form of public transport stopped running when it looked a bit murky.

Whats the call on 4x4's in the snow and ice? Did anyone ever solve the mystery of whether this would help, or was it concluded that those BMW drivers on summer tyres were just ponces, and straight forward 2WD with decent snow/ice treads were the way forward?

Thinking of a Jeep, probably a (Grand) Cherokee unless everyone laughs at them

[paulrussell]

I think alot of the problem was that people didn't know how to drive properly in snowy conditions, they just bought a 4x4 thinking they're unstoppable no matter how they're driven, where in reality it does.

[rhinochopig]

Our ford ka on winter tyres was infinitely better than my Evo with full time AWD. It was also better than some of the soft-roaders I passed abandoned on some of the hills on the NY Moors. Just buy some winter boots.

[Chrisw666]

The Berlingo I had at the start of last years snow was unstoppable on normal tyres until some twerp drove into it, on winter tyres one would be as useful as you would need.

[thinfourth2]

paulrussell said:

I think alot of the problem was that people didn't know how to drive properly in snowy conditions, they just bought a 4x4 thinking they're unstoppable no matter how they're driven, where in reality it does.

No in genral large 4x4s on huge pimping alloys are unstoppable.

Thats where the problems appear along with large 4x4 shaped holes in hedges

[Speed addicted]

The problem seems to be that people expect things like Cayenne turbos with massive summer tyres to work in snow, and when they get going expect them to stop better than other cars.
My poncy X5 was fine around Aberdeen last year, I fitted mud/snow tyres on smaller narrower wheels (the rears went from 285 to 235) and had no problems at all, it worked OK on the summer tyres but the winters were better.
Of course it still weighs 2.5 tonnes and you have to think about braking distances.

[ChiChoAndy]

I'd take a 4x4 with winter tires on over a 2wd with winter tires, any day of the week. another added bonus is that you can engine brake with all 4 wheels, rather than just 2, which is handy at times. Saying that, I ran a rwd G35 in the states. Had no bother. it's all about how you drive, not what you drive, to be honest.

Ignore stories of "I drove past a [insert 4x4/awd vehicle here] as it basically tells you nothing.

[wackojacko]

My dad has a G350 cdi and that was awesome in the snow.

But on the other hand mine did fine on T1R's in moderate snow..... Keeping momentum is fun !

I'd suggest an AWD Volvo estate of some sort as it's a good conpromise between out right high riding 4x4 and a normal shopping car.

[Deva Link]

ChiChoAndy said:

it's all about how you drive, not what you drive, to be honest.

I would venture to suggest that there's a little bit more to it than that.

Except for you of course, 'cos you're ace.

[steveatesh]

My son fitted winter tyres to his z4 last winter and he never got stuck at all. I've decided to follow his lead and get a set of spare wheels with winter tyres for my wife's Z4 which save buying a 4x4 when we never have any other need for it.

Depends on your own use and needs but if you do go for the 4x4 get some winter wheels/tyres to go with it.

[5678]

Just put winter tyres on what ever you have and don't worry about it.

Last year my E30 was almost unstoppable. If it could get over the snow, then it was fine.

I will be putting winters on my 182 this time and will sit back knowing that once our friendly farmer/neighbour has cleared any drifts I will be able to get anywhere.

[trashbat]

I've got Eagle F1s on my car which are, unsurprisingly, pretty useless.

Didn't fancy the cost of a new set of wheels & tyres so I made up for that with these:



It sounds like a halftrack, costs about £1 a mile and I don't get very far to the cake, but come proper weather it makes for pretty good progress.

[roachcoach]

In my experience the biggest 'problem' with 4WD is a great many drivers falsely assume because they can 'go', they can 'stop'.

[The Tea Boy]

On this topic I can honestly suggest MX5! My 21yr old mk1 was fantastic on skinny tyres and great fun too with an lsd never got stuck and never too much oversteer unless you wanted it

Matt

[sinizter]

steveatesh said:

My son fitted winter tyres to his z4 last winter and he never got stuck at all. I've decided to follow his lead and get a set of spare wheels with winter tyres for my wife's Z4 which save buying a 4x4 when we never have any other need for it.

Depends on your own use and needs but if you do go for the 4x4 get some winter wheels/tyres to go with it.

I drove a Z4 last winter on summer tyres and didn't get 'stuck' although there was one hill I couldn't get up due to lost momentum, just had to go a different way. Putting a little thought into how to drive meant that I actually got through some bits where some French FWD cars were abandoned by the roadside.

This year, I'm getting winter tyres for my M3. I'll probably need to sit down with a stiff drink when I cost it up - It should be cheaper than an incident on the roads.

[ChiChoAndy]

Deva Link said:

ChiChoAndy said:

it's all about how you drive, not what you drive, to be honest.

I would venture to suggest that there's a little bit more to it than that.

Except for you of course, 'cos you're ace.

No, there isn't. Fit the correct tires, and drive like you are on snow and ice, and you'll be fine. In Syracuse, (that gets more snow than any other metropolitan area in the US and folks drive all sorts of cars. RWD, FWD, AWD, big trucks, small trucks, you name it, it's out there. However, they do fit good tyres. So you tell me. What else is there other than fitting the right tires and driving to the conditions?

An upstate NY winter scene, by the way

[ChiChoAndy]

doogz said:

roachcoach said:

In my experience the biggest 'problem' with 4WD is a great many drivers falsely assume because they can 'go', they can 'stop'.

TBH it's a pretty sound principle. If you have grip to accelerate, why will you have any less when it comes to braking?

Well, winter tyres help a great deal with braking, but you can 4 wheel engine brake with 4wd.

[Chris71]

Winter tyres are almost certainly more use than 4WD (I used to work in a ski resort and our FWD vans were quite happy driving around on fresh and packed snow with the appropriate tyres...) but once you've got them, there's no doubt that spreading the drive across four driven wheels is better than two. Even when you're slowing down, the application of engine braking on all four corners is advantageous.

A decent set of winter tyres on a typical FWD car should allow a half decent driver to go most places in a bad British winter, but in extremis - or perhaps because you secretly crave a 90" Defender with an external roll cage and a great big feck-off winch on the front - a 4X4 has to be the better option.

[edo]

I've sorted it for you all folks. I bought a Range Rover. It won't snow again now.

[roachcoach]

doogz said:

roachcoach said:

In my experience the biggest 'problem' with 4WD is a great many drivers falsely assume because they can 'go', they can 'stop'.

TBH it's a pretty sound principle. If you have grip to accelerate, why will you have any less when it comes to braking?

There's a technical explanation I'm sure but in deep snow I could pull away/drive as if it was dry in ours. Wouldn't fancy stopping as quick as the dry though!

Same as like braking in the wet, just snow makes the stopping distance grow like the hulk on steroids.