Thinking of C Estate, winter driving?

[Abe Froman]

Hello,

Thinking of a C220 CDi Estate but heard about winter driving issues. It's for my wife to take the kids around so wondered if this is a known 'issue' As in will it be like my Beemer? ie: Pants in the slippy stuff.

What do you do? Winter tyres for the 6 months?

Thanks.

[rassi]

Winter tyres will solve any problems, yes.

[st4]

Uts drivable, I am a keen landscape photographer and take the car down crap roads in winter conditions and it makes it, just

[jamieboy]

I used my automatic C220 CDI on summer tyres all through the last two winters, driving between Aberdeen and Edinburgh. It was a bit hairy a couple of times, but if I was able to manage on normal / summer tyres then (I imagine) you'd be fine with winter tyres.

[r129sl]

On summer tyres, all of my Mercs have been appalling in the snow although I have never actually become marooned. On winter tyres, they are unstoppable. Obviously, it is completely the wrong time of year for us to have the annual winter tyre shouting fest but on a C220 CDI estate intended for wife and children, I'd run winters all year round.

[P.Nott]

r129sl said:

On summer tyres, all of my Mercs have been appalling in the snow although I have never actually become marooned. On winter tyres, they are unstoppable. Obviously, it is completely the wrong time of year for us to have the annual winter tyre shouting fest but on a C220 CDI estate intended for wife and children, I'd run winters all year round.

I agree. My wife does relatively few miles each year and rarely is the car used on long runs, so I figured winter tyres could stay on year round. I had winter tyres fitted which seem to last for ages, are a real revelation on snow covered surfaces and great for peace of mind when she needs to drive on slippy surfaces.

Edited by P.Nott on Wednesday 12th June 08:14

Edited by P.Nott on Wednesday 12th June 08:16

[Leithen]

Our E-Class estate is rock solid on winters (Conti's) - so I'd imagine the same would apply on the C-Class.

[anonymous-user]

I would recommend Avon Ice Tourings for winter driving, they're usually a reasonable price, last well and have excellent grip on all sorts of crap. I've had them on various cars over the years including my E class and they have never failed to impress.

[gizlaroc]

All cars are crap on summer tyres in snow.

I have an ML on all season Michelins and that is pants compared with the C-Class on winter tyres.


I woke 600km from the tunnel the other week to loads of snow in France, we managed to do that journey in 6 hours on winter tyres, this pic will show you how bad it was, that is 3 lanes with the inside lanes completely covered.....

[williamp]

also the type of tyres. My c estate had factory fit pirellis which spun the wheels in the dry (its a 200 cdi) and were useless in the snow: couldnt get off the drive. Now got goodyear eagles and they dont spin the wheels in the dry, and felt ok in the snow.

[mad4amanda]

Our c class estate was brilliant this winter on toyo snowproxes drove all through France in thick snow.

[sawman]

I picked up a w202 estate (C280) and noticed it has all seasons on the from and some pretty worn summer contis on the back - I was considering some all seasons to replace the contis, as some of the reviews put them close to winters, but I'd be happy to take recommendations (apologies for partial thread hijack)

[74merc]

I ran some Goodyear 4 Seasons on my S202 C280 estate and they were a great compromise for all year round driving. I had them fitted to a set of 16" wheels and the car rode and handled so much better than summer tyres on 17" AMGs.

[loudlashadjuster]

Just another vote for the "Mercedes rubbish in snow without winters on" from me.

My C on staggered 225/255 Continental SportContact3s is hopeless in anything more than a light dusting.

I'm sure winters would've helped immensely but at about a grand to change I just take the Up instead!