Specific grip issues

[Lotusgone]

My 2012 330d coupe auto is fine on tarmac, but it seems to have a real aversion to gravel. It took me half an hour to get out of a mate's drive last night, and only having owned it since April, I now worry about it Bambi-ing about on frosty roads.

The (run-flat) tyres aren't brand new but have plenty of tread, with no problems on wet surfaces. Do I simply accept that I need to keep it away from gravel or is there something I really ought to be doing?

[anonymous-user]

Sounds odd.

We have a 100m long gravel drive; reverse out of garage, 90 degree swing. 90 degree forward turn and move off down drive.

Never had a single issue with any car, including a few BMWs with RFTs. We currently have 3 RWD cars, 250, 300 and 220 bhp, the last in a half tonne car.

No problems and I rake the gravel every 5/6 weeks.

Either your mate has excessively loose, deep gravel or you’re a bit throttle happy? .

[mekondelta]

Is it possible that the gravel they used is too fine? FWD car will have more weight over the driven wheels so may be able to navigate it. Combination of RWD and auto may be the problem in this situation but you should be fine everywhere else (except driving on actual snow).