Perhaps one of the worst cars on snow, an automatic (SMG) BMW M3 with 255/35 R19 rear tyres in a "race" against various other vehicles.
The first one to the top of the small, snow covered incline wins. Traction control turned off in the M3 and always started in 1st gear. Oh, and the M3 has Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 UHP winter tyres.
In order of "race" appearance:
1) M3 vs BMW 118d Manual. Drive wheels are new 245/35 R18 Nankang NS20 summer tyres
2) M3 vs Ford KA. Drive wheels are 165/35 R13 budget summer tyres
3) M3 vs BMW 118d with extra weight over the rear wheels
4) M3 vs VW Passat Manual with an extra runup. Drive wheels are new 205/55 R16 Dunlop SP Sport summer tyres
Apologies for the quick editing.
1 min read
Updated
After getting stuck in the snow two years ago I put winter tyres on my Mondeo last year and never had a problem getting stuck once. Will always use winter tyres now another bonus is it was great fun just cruising past everyone else who was stuck.
the m3 has a limited slip diff! makes a big difference dont you think!
Says it all, I tried winter tyres on a vectra 3.0 diesel auto, sold me on them forever, especially when I passed a Discovery 4x4 on a hill, he looked good with all 4 wheels spinning but going nowhere.
Now I have friends and relatives that won't be without them in the winter months.
Best way to buy them check your manual, buy a second hand set of wheels, and they will last for several winters.
The Vectra ran 215/50/17 summer tyres and I ran 215/55/16 winter tyres, same circumference
Mike North Derbyshire
Winter tyres make a vast difference. I passed an X5 (all 4 wheels spinning) stuck on a snowy Welsh hill and cheerfully waved from my crappy old FWD B4 Passat estate, 15 years old on 200k, running 165 wide half-worn Michelin Alpin Sports (yes that skinny - all I could afford cheap/used at the time) on 14" Mk2 Golf alloys!. That said 4wd will obviously double your traction. Winter tyres on snow will do much more than double it. Spinning the wheels excessively is counter-productive and disappointing to see on this test. I've driven BMWs "stuck" on inclines, for their surprised owners, just using a little basic clutch control. I know several customers who've spun out their E90s on ice even with traction control on. I've owned 3 Quattros, they achieve insane grip, the Haldex A3's are good but permanent Quattro on winter tyres will murder everything. I believe the A6 Allroad is still the only car (albeit with it's air suspension) to have completed the official Land Rover Test Course. I know a chap in Cheshire with a 997 911 who garages it near winter and buys a cheap Quattro each year to get to work. Interesting comparison test anyway.
If you'd fitted decent tyres to the Ka, it wouldn't have slipped like that..generally they're great in bad weather..in fairness all budget summer tyres will struggle in such conditions. Impressive results for the Beemer though as they are appalling in snow as a rule..Best car for snow - a mark 1 Fiesta with 145 section tyres - they beat most four wheel drives..!!
We actually had 2 KA's there for the test. The other was running premium Dunlop Street Response tyres and was actually worse! The budgets were slightly better as they had a blockier pattern.
The Fiesta on winter tyres would be a snow king.
I would love to have seen it go against a Quattro on summer tyres, that would of been interesting.
You mean like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
:)
I have had 2 sets of tyres for my cars for a number of years (one winter and one summer) and I'm convinced that they work. However, people who I speak to often question the need for winter tyres and I'm sure would ask this question. Were the people driving the cars with summer tyres really trying to get to the top of the hill or trying to show how good winter tyres are by deliberatly spinning their wheels?
Genuinely trying to get to the top of the hill, so much so we had to push the Passat and 1 series up ourselves once we'd finished filming which wasn't much fun!
The starting point had virtually become polished ice, so the heavier summer equipped cars could barely move off the spot without wheelspin.
Please refer them to this article:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.u...
To summarise: winter tyres aren't just for the snow, but cope better in cold, damp, greasy and wet conditions. And concerning snow, winter tyres can provide nearly three times the traction of summer tyres on
snow, will be able to retain control (handle) twice as well, and -
most importantly - will be able to stop SIX CAR LENGTHS SHORTER on
snow even at low speeds. (Source: Auto Express cold weather tyre test,
published 23 October 2010.)
In short, they're very definitely suited to British winters - even without any snow.
Case in point: I've always historically run Goodyear (summer) tyres (and, since, winter), and Goodyear tend to optimise their designs against aquaplaning. In all my years of running Goodyears I've never once aquaplaned, despite driving in some atrocious conditions.
Last year I decided to switch to some Continental summer tyres, and for the very first time experienced aquaplaning. With all the heavy rain we'd had, I was actually very happy to switch back to my (Goodyear) winter tyres at the end of November.
David.
Its why I fitted Winter tyres to my van and have recommended them to my customers.