cbcharlie

don't worry those highways don't help me get to work, I take sunrise ;P And of course I never go to fast if there is traffic around. But this last storm we had, there was NOBODY on the roads that morning, had some fun

waiszeto

+ 1 same here ! Straight line definitely have no problem, just need to slow down in turns.

SCHUTZEE

I have the original Michelin Pilots with 33,000 miles and the car is like a snowmobile! Like others have said, the only time I am sliding is when I try.

kevink2

google



These are from a vw 4 matic, but same concept. Pic is front bottom suspension, shows 2 shafts that drive the 2 front wheels.

Real bad alignment can cause snow issues too.

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kevink2

nice sliding here, for MB drifting fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5azmkxmTc4&NR=1

.

mac911

Do you have your window sticker? It would obviously say 4 MATIC towards the top somewhere, plus be a charge on the list.

Furthermore, if in the summer (dry) you ever put the pedal down quickly from a stop, you should be able to feel if you had the rear tires pushing you, or if it was just a smooth, uneventful getaway from all 4 tires pulling.

I recently drove a 4MATIC GLK that felt very much like my C RWD, EXCEPT, putting the power down away from a stop, there was not that quick punch from the rear wheels, but just the smoothest getaway. Not my thing, but obviously right in the correct situations.


As everyone else says though, different tires in the winter like you have, is the safe thing to do.

vpdfan

I have to agree with Sportstick on this one...I have a 2008 C350 and was running 18" with the Mich. Pilot Sports...undriveable with any ammount of snow on the road...1/4" and I was slipping all over the place. Drives home were a white-knuckle, sphincter-tightening experience...I got myself some Blizzaks WS70s from Luke @ tirerack (shameless sponser plug) and it is a night and day difference...The car drives close to my full-time FWD SUV.....Cheap, good looking rims, 17" snow tires, and TMPS...$1300 shipped to my door....40 Mins to put on and off I go.

omgitselaine

In reading and learning a lot about tires and a car's 4matic / awd system I promised myself the next time I look into buying a new car I'll stick with a RWD ride and simply switch out each winter season with snow tires

I had a Lexus IS 250 AWD and now the W204 4matic but knowing a rwd car with snows is not only comparable but better than I'll go for the larger engines and rwd

Sportstick

It does work, but keep weight distribution in mind for future cars. C Class is 54/46...3 series gets closer to 50/50. Classic American muscle car proportions with very large engines and rwd could still be a challenge.

noka

Very impressed with handling in about 4-6" of snow and partially plowed roads today. Going from Andover, MA up 495 and on some back roads, the car remained firmly planted and controllable. I had to goose it a bit (on deserted back road) to get traction control to come on. That's with the stock Conti All-Seasons and it surprised the heck out of me.

TaxEsq

^+1 for Stock Tires. Case closed.

Distinct

Honest and friendly question, in what manner and situations is a RWD vehicle with winter tires better than an AWD vehicle with winter tires (holding all other variables the same like weight, etc.)?

noka

Well, I'm not saying I have the optimal setup and I wouldn't want to go up against a properly outfitted C300 with snows (although a RWD with snows would be an interesting competition to me),... but for what I do have and the foul weather we had today, I have to say I felt completely safe. That could be partially due to the fact that I drove like a grandma today and probably kept a football field or so of distance to cars in front.

Mtl20v

I would love to put some winter tires on your car so you can see the difference. I sell tires for a living in a province that has mandatory winter tires between dec 15-march 15. The difference is HUGE. You don't know what you missing and sad to say that the only way you will find out may end in tragedy. All the best....

you are much safer in a RWD with winter tires than an AWD with all seasons.

to the OP. You car is a 4 matic and the tires are the problem.

On a second note...my 2011 C300 came from the factory with blutec badges on the fender.

Sportstick

It's not, and the original comparison was rwd with winter tires versus 4MATIC with so-called "all season" tires.

Anyone celebrating the ability of OE all season tires to make it through some winter scenarios is still missing the objective point. Harder all season compounds have lower traction on low mu surfaces than softer winter tire compounds. Winter tread patterns have better traction than compromised all season tread patterns. The fact that an OE all season tire can make it through some winter conditions (how wet/dry and deep was the snow, how packed, how level the road, etc?) means it can at least somewhat live up to its billing. The only part of the case which is closed is that physics shows that, even if all season tires can succeed sometimes, winter tires unquestionably are superior. It then becomes a matter of in what conditions does one drive and how prepared does one wish to be. Certiorari denied!

Mtl20v

Tires hold you to the road. When its cold, sport/all season tires get hard and act like hockey pucks. They also do not have the correct pattern for grip on snow. Snow tires are the most important thing for your car in the winter. I dont care what others think. Its is being cheap and ignorant and NOT putting safety first. very irresponsible if you live in a snowy area.

noka

I have had Winter tires on several cars I have owned. I know what I am missing and I know the compromises. I trust my ability as a driver with 4Matic and all-season more than some other drivers with snows on their vehicles. It's not all about the tire,... there are other variables. Would my car handle better with snows? No question. Can I operate it safely with all-seasons? Also no question.

noka

Do you put the absolute best snow tire money can buy on your car in the Winter? Do you do the same in the Summer with the best high performance tire? If the answer is no, are you very irresponsible or just making some compromises? If the answer is yes, would you mind sharing what rubber you run?

Mtl20v

Fine. Till you need to brake or turn in an emergency situation. See you in a ditch.

noka

You seem to be an angry and nasty person. I can only hope someday you are more able to interact with others without being that way.

Mtl20v

I bought falken HS439 tires. Not studded nokians like i have had in the past. There is also a compromise the other way. A sloppy hardcore snow tires handles like junk in the dry. The tire i bought handles well in the dry and MUCH better than an all season in the snow.

Mtl20v

I just dislike people who think that their driving skills are greater than physics.

noka

OK, so admittedly, you made some compromises. Perhaps it's true that the "tire" handles well, but there's also a matter of how the human behind your wheel performs.

noka

Did I say that?

Mtl20v

Yes. "Can I operate it safely with all-seasons? Also no question."

Absolutely. but having 2 parts of the equation is greater than just one. Safety first. I'm sure you can afford winter tires. Why not run on them in the winter months?