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Author Topic: Snow performance  (Read 8463 times)

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Nick W

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #15 on: 01 March 2018, 12:27:20 »

For a RWD car to be usable in the sort of snow we see, it needs to be small, low powered and on narrow tyres. That will allow it to get moving, and then you can exploit the extra control that RWD  gives over FWD.


An Omega (or similar BMW/Merc/whatever) on wide low-profile tyres, with decent power driving through an auto is best left at the side of the road until conditions improve.
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Migv6 le Frog Fan

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #16 on: 01 March 2018, 12:54:08 »

I just drove the 190 to the paper shop. The young lad who runs it told me he couldn't drive to work this morning because his 3 series is rwd.  ;D
I pointed out the window to my car and told him "so are both of mine".  ::)
No sense of adventure with kids today.  ;D
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LC0112G

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #17 on: 01 March 2018, 12:54:49 »

For a RWD car to be usable in the sort of snow we see, it needs to be small, low powered and on narrow tyres. That will allow it to get moving, and then you can exploit the extra control that RWD  gives over FWD.


An Omega (or similar BMW/Merc/whatever) on wide low-profile tyres, with decent power driving through an auto is best left at the side of the road until conditions improve.

err....



I put my snow chains in the boot this morning just in case. ;D
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mandula

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #18 on: 01 March 2018, 13:22:56 »

There is a big difference with non-studded winter tyre and "summer" tyre with M+S mark.

It might feel expensive to have two sets of tyres (summer+winter), but if you want to use your car also at winter conditions (and also avoid collisions) they are worth it and will last several years if used only at winter.
Of course if the winter lasts only few days per year, it is easier just to go for a pub and survive through it  ;D

https://www.goodyear.eu/corporate_emea/our-responsibilities/road-safety/winter-tire-recognition.jsp
« Last Edit: 01 March 2018, 13:25:59 by mandula »
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LC0112G

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #19 on: 01 March 2018, 13:49:23 »

There is a big difference with non-studded winter tyre and "summer" tyre with M+S mark.

It might feel expensive to have two sets of tyres (summer+winter), but if you want to use your car also at winter conditions (and also avoid collisions) they are worth it and will last several years if used only at winter.
Of course if the winter lasts only few days per year, it is easier just to go for a pub and survive through it  ;D

https://www.goodyear.eu/corporate_emea/our-responsibilities/road-safety/winter-tire-recognition.jsp

This ^^^

A true Winter tyre is designed to give optimal grip when the ambient temperature is less than about 7 degrees C. That's the temperature at which the rubber on a summer tyre becomes too hard to grip the 'road' properly.  A summer tyre will still work (on tarmac), but a winter will be better below 7, and give reasonable grip on packed snow. However, there are still occasions where a winter isn't enough and chains are required.

Many alpine countries now mandate winter tyres be fitted in the winter months (Swizerland, Italy & Germany but not France). However, the UK doesn't, and given that we only have a few days a year below zero it's probably not worth it for most. I got back from the French alps last week, and during my week there I had to help push several cars & vans up the road outside the apartment. All these had summer tyres and no chains, and were going nowhere fast spinning their wheels on the ice. Cars/vans with winter tyres had no problems.

My hire car also had summer tyres (Lyon charge extra for Winters), so I always buy a cheap set of chains from a supermarket on the way up the mountain (£20 typically). In the past 10 years I've probably had to use chains 5 times, and this was another time. A couple of those times - probably including this one - could have been avoided if I'd had winter tyres, but celery.

Most modern 4WD cars are particularly useless in the snow. They're always fitted with low profile, wide summer tyres which are bad going up hill, and lethal going down hill. Once you get 3 tons of X5 sliding down hill with all 4 wheels locked up it isn't going to end well. You see more X5's and Range rovers off the side of mountain roads than anything else.   
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danzigfan

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #20 on: 01 March 2018, 13:52:04 »

Doesn't get much better than rwd + snow believe me I adore It  :y  Drove 40 miles every day to work these weeks... here. It's keeping me smile all day...I love it.
Winter tyres of course but you can slide every corner whenever you want to.
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ronnyd

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #21 on: 01 March 2018, 16:24:26 »

Took the Desmond out for a short spin this morning. Roads ok but laying snow was starting to drift in the wind. Was fine till some pillock in a Galaxy pulled out behind me, and as James eluded to earlier, decided to follow me about two car lengths behind. >:(
After a couple of miles he thankfully pulled off. The visibility was a bit sketchy at times but a few decided they didn,t need their lights on. ::)
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ajsphead

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #22 on: 01 March 2018, 17:38:28 »

Overtook my first incompetent twit today. Long 1/2 mile hill, 10mph, just drove straight around them. That was in my old FWD diesel astra (78 bhp & skinny Winter tyres).

Looking forward to going to work tomorrow, if it wasn't for the need for extremely defensive driving to make allowances for all the other incompetent twits in over sized over tyred over powered over priced washing machines it would be great fun.
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TheBoy

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #23 on: 01 March 2018, 17:48:05 »

Got mine out, stuck in snow, using snow mode on auto box. Was surprised being rear wheel drive. How do other owners find the Omega in snow/ice?
Never had an issues in my Omegas. And I don't use winter tyres.

I try to keep both LPG and petrol tanks full to add weight, and lob in a tow pole, shovel etc which add a little more, and drive to the conditions...   ...except when roads are empty, then its rude not to provoke some sideways action.
Only time I nearly got an Omega stuck was TB2, when I took it down a lane with too much snow, and as it built up in front of the bumper, the rear started to slip, so had to reverse a couple of miles back to a more main road, and go another way.
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aaronjb

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #24 on: 01 March 2018, 17:50:25 »

Only time I nearly got an Omega stuck was TB2, when I took it down a lane with too much snow, and as it built up in front of the bumper, the rear started to slip, so had to reverse a couple of miles back to a more main road, and go another way.

That's what finished off one of my journeys in the MR2 - turned the hard left into the incline of my road, found nobody had driven down it before me and the front end did a very good snow plough impression.

Was alright once I dug the front end out.. ;D
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Automaticman

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #25 on: 01 March 2018, 19:12:33 »

Many years ago I executed a fully controlled 360 in a ford escort works van going downhill in very snowy Llansannan in  north wales, I will never forget it and neither does my workmate who was sat white knuckled next to me lol, luck or skill or maybe a bit of both well never know but isn't it odd how everything goes slow motion  :o
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cam.in.head

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #26 on: 01 March 2018, 19:25:02 »

when my dad worked for telecom he drove a viva ha van all around the yorkshire dales and never got stuck once in the snow. thin tyres ,rwd and lots of weight in the back.
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Lazydocker

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #27 on: 01 March 2018, 22:55:14 »

WTF is wrong with you people?  ???

RWD is fine in the snow. Both my Omega’s were fine. The HiLux I’m currently driving for work was firmly in 2WD until my road, and even then only to assist the turn at the end! :-X

Take some man up pills, learn to use the car and get on with it! ::)

Of course, if the concern is the other retards on the road that is a different story... ;)
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #28 on: 02 March 2018, 01:12:59 »

 ;D ;D ;D
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ajsphead

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Re: Snow performance
« Reply #29 on: 02 March 2018, 08:26:41 »

Omega defeated this morning - by 3ft snow drift which I left a lovely reverse image in. Never mind, just backed it up the hill back home.
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