brett

well we just got slammed in the North East with a decent snow storm. My C230 has been horrible. Since 97 i had another car with all-wheel drive and just graged the Benz in the winter. It is so hard to back out of places and go up hills etc. Should i use chains?? what type and how etc. You guys know the deal, just give me any input at all cause' this is a real pain thanks!!
brett

Worm Drowner

Hmmm....I'm surprised that you are having so much trouble in snow. I live along Lake Erie in the snowbelt of Ohio and have had very little difficulty with my C220. What tires are you using and what condition are they in? I use Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus and they are resonably solid. Of course, no non-studded tire is going to give much traction on ice.

If you do go with chains, your top speed will be limited to 30 MPH while using the chains. That might be fine on an unplowed road but not very realistic on a properly plowed & salted highway.

If you are willing to invest in winter tires, you might consider having studs added to them to give you more traction. In NJ, studs are legal from 11/15 to 4/1.

vas2vas

hmm don't have much problem with my 95 c280, i use the standard continentals and i don't have traction control mind you....

ricerokets4life

my c280 is horrible and i have winter tires on. i was spinning tires just trying to back out of my driveway... traction control activated on idle (switched into a moving gear, let off the brake, and traction control on!!!!)

one member of my family was driving an e420 and couldnt even climb a small hill. i dont recommend driving your benz around in these dangerous conditions unless youre really experienced, have a lot of patience, or are looking for some fun.

brett

spikes?? hmmm. how and where do you get that?? The main roads here I have no real problem with, ALL of the secondary roads and parking lots etc are a real situation though. My tires are the same as yours wih less than 5k on them. I had the same problem with the continentials. chains? may be an option just to get going or backed out. My lady pulled her honda civic out of the same situation without a problem...a bit embarrassing i might add.

GDawgC220

I think sometimes it take a lil bit of practice getting cars out of snow. I rarely have a problem with my c220 (no traction control options at all)...and with that weather MA just got, u can see what we had to deal with in terms of snow. I use Continentals CH95, all seasons and theyre fine.

Just don't jam on the gas and expect to go anywhere...the more gas u give it, u'r just gonna spin. Practice taking off slowly. Let the car roll a lil bit and tap on the gas, or give it gas very lightly, therefore not putting lots of wheelspin.

Give it a try in a parking lot or around your neighborhood. Tho I admit, rear wheel in snow takes a lot of getting use to and practice to move around.

Good luck.

BTW, carry a shovel and bag of sand in the trunk (1. for weight 2. if u ever get stuck).

-G-

Jer

My Michelin Arctic Alpins work great in the snow, and I have a 500' driveway that goes uphill to the street! Also, I keep it in 2nd gear to avoid upshifting if I get moving too fast. You really need that torque with a RWD.

Worm Drowner

A bag of sand in the trunk is a good idea. Cat litter will work as well.

It sounds to me like the roads out your way just aren't getting treated by the winter crews.

You can have studs installed in your winter tires at most decent tire stores.

The idea of going to a vacant parking lot and practising handling the car on snow and ice is a very good one. Also, it's a heck of a lot of fun too!

GDawgC220

Yes it is very very fun as long as you don't hit anything :p

-G-

ricerokets4life

yes, parking lot is fun. but try not to hit anything, not even a pile of snow. if you hit it with enough force, it can scratch or even dent your car even though it is just snow.

lemme tell you, RWD cars are crazy to get used to, as gdawg pointed out, but once you do, it can teach you a little bit about countersteer and controlling oversteer/understeer (i stress a little because doing so on a dry road is pretty different than what happens on ice or snow). by far, you have to be most careful driving RWD cars in comparison to AWD, 4WD, or FWD cars. take the start up as gently and gradually as you brake. going 15-25 mph while usually going 30-40 on these secondary roads, i was driving the benz the slowest without a doubt. i couldve easily gone my normal speed in the other drivetrain cars.

speaking of which, i was driving around my neighborhood (roads are poor and VERY icy still) and i was completely sideways (!!!) on several occasions during turns.

GDawgC220

HEHE....thats the best part about winter driving, of course with no other cars on the road. Making a 90 degree left or right turn on secondary streets and your car will be perpendicular to the road

-G-

ricerokets4life

(in a nerd voice) hehe lets calculate the velocity of the car as it travels perpendicularly to the road knowing the x and y components of the vector with a 0.005 coefficient of friction and an original velocity of 7 m/s...

just kidding.

GDawgC220

never mention physics to me ever again I hated physics with a passion

-G-

ricerokets4life

you know what that means...

GDawgC220

what?

-G-

jnolte

U need to get a life? LOL

ricerokets4life

tis true. i need a life.

but you know what that means.

CBus

I am not sure what model years have the S/W switch on the transmission, but my C280 has it, and when I start off in 2nd gear, it makes a huge difference. In ice and snow, the slower you start off the better. Once your tires break loose, let off the gas and start out slow again.

Cleveland winters suck.

So does physics.

Worm Drowner

Naw! They build character!!!