C63 Snow Usage...Anyone??
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 222
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From: Montreal, Quebec
2009 C63 AMG, 2013 ML350 BlueTec, 2012 VW GLI
We have strict laws here (Quebec) that all cars must have their winters on by Dec. 15th and you can remove them no earlier than March 15th. You guys are lucky.
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 188
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From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
AMG C63, Merc C230, Audi A3
And yes, this is my first winter with C63 and I am pleasantly surprised how confident this monster is with 500 HP and RWD. Car looks like hell though
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Relocated
2010 Irridium Silver MB C63 AMG Sedan
Killer pictures man...I really like the raw usage...makes you just want to take a whole day and wash it to make it new again. Mine was just as crusty...
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Joined: Sep 2009
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c63 amg
I think that it makes a perfect sense to enforce winter tires usage in our winter. Some people take them off too early. I got rear ended a while ago in the beginning of March because driver behind me took winters off and it showed that morning. We don't have such laws in Ontario, but I keep my winter till mid April anyways to avoid surprises like that.
And yes, this is my first winter with C63 and I am pleasantly surprised how confident this monster is with 500 HP and RWD. Car looks like hell though
And yes, this is my first winter with C63 and I am pleasantly surprised how confident this monster is with 500 HP and RWD. Car looks like hell though
I know off topic
thanks
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,438
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From: Relocated
2010 Irridium Silver MB C63 AMG Sedan
On fairly dry winter days I take the C63 out and its all good. I try to drive it as much as possible so that it doesn't freeze up and the tires don't flatten. I did not bother to change the tires to A/S or snow. (stupid, stupid, stupid) 
If you even hit a thin layer of snow or ice, the Perelli PZ's are the worst, most dangerous tires ever. The combination of the tread (or lack of), the immense torque, and no PP, the C63 was sliding all over. I was so freeked out because I went from dry ground to a thin snow patch ( and I mean like a thin dusting) and my antilock brakes went dead and the ESP was non-functional, all lights came on saying refer to user manual, as if the car was saying "Your fu**ed now. Good luck stopping. Just read the book as you slide into a wall" 
Don't be stupid and think that you can even have the slighest control with this thing on ANY form of ice with the stock tires. Antilock brakes freeze and you are its b**ch until it stops.
This also happened to me pulling into a shell station, I was fishtailing and drifting all over. I almost hit the metal bars that surround the pump. I couldn't even get up the slight incline on my driveway into my garage, the wheels kept spinning. I had to pull back and catapult it in.
If you even hit a thin layer of snow or ice, the Perelli PZ's are the worst, most dangerous tires ever. The combination of the tread (or lack of), the immense torque, and no PP, the C63 was sliding all over. I was so freeked out because I went from dry ground to a thin snow patch ( and I mean like a thin dusting) and my antilock brakes went dead and the ESP was non-functional, all lights came on saying refer to user manual, as if the car was saying "Your fu**ed now. Good luck stopping. Just read the book as you slide into a wall" Don't be stupid and think that you can even have the slighest control with this thing on ANY form of ice with the stock tires. Antilock brakes freeze and you are its b**ch until it stops.
This also happened to me pulling into a shell station, I was fishtailing and drifting all over. I almost hit the metal bars that surround the pump. I couldn't even get up the slight incline on my driveway into my garage, the wheels kept spinning. I had to pull back and catapult it in.
Last edited by ZephyrAMG; Jan 11, 2010 at 12:50 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 26
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From: Frankfurt, Germany
C63 AMG
Winter tyres on mine and its not as bad as I expected. In fact its a lot better than my last rear wheel drive car (a 911 C2S - which was undriveable in the snow). Still it is nowhere near the thrills and spills of driving an RS4 which simply ignores snow and ice.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,515
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From: Toronto
2016 C63 S
I'm really surprised (in a good way) at how well this thing performs in the snow with good winter tires.....
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 49
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From: Canada
C63 AMG (Performance & Premium Package) Audi RS4
Here's my mini-review after one month of driving in snow & ice
-I have new winter tires on....see pics below
-if the roads are not plowed and there is greater than 3 inches of snow, the car performs quite poorly....ESP constantly flashing and difficult to travel faster than 60km/hr period
- I have had the ESP/ABS system temporarly fail (see previous threads) on 2 occasions so far........once from being "overworked" through 10-12in of snow and once on aggressive inclines and declines
-stuck going up my driveway twice......there was some ice below the snow.
-Overall I am a bit dissapointed in the "winter" performance of this car. I think that this is largely due to the fact that I was spoiled with an Audi RS4, and a VW Touareg before that. I did not expect the C63 to be on par with a 4x4 vehicle but I thought it would be better than it is. Our conditions can be quite bad sometimes because of high winds, lots of hills, and the fact that the roads are not always plowed.
-I absolutely love the performance of this car for 8 months out of the year and it is definitely a keeper. However, I will most likely buy a winter SUV next year.
-Just my 0.02
-if the roads are not plowed and there is greater than 3 inches of snow, the car performs quite poorly....ESP constantly flashing and difficult to travel faster than 60km/hr period
- I have had the ESP/ABS system temporarly fail (see previous threads) on 2 occasions so far........once from being "overworked" through 10-12in of snow and once on aggressive inclines and declines
-stuck going up my driveway twice......there was some ice below the snow.
-Overall I am a bit dissapointed in the "winter" performance of this car. I think that this is largely due to the fact that I was spoiled with an Audi RS4, and a VW Touareg before that. I did not expect the C63 to be on par with a 4x4 vehicle but I thought it would be better than it is. Our conditions can be quite bad sometimes because of high winds, lots of hills, and the fact that the roads are not always plowed.
-I absolutely love the performance of this car for 8 months out of the year and it is definitely a keeper. However, I will most likely buy a winter SUV next year.
-Just my 0.02
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: Frankfurt, Germany
C63 AMG
-I have new winter tires on....see pics below
-if the roads are not plowed and there is greater than 3 inches of snow, the car performs quite poorly....ESP constantly flashing and difficult to travel faster than 60km/hr period
- I have had the ESP/ABS system temporarly fail (see previous threads) on 2 occasions so far........once from being "overworked" through 10-12in of snow and once on aggressive inclines and declines
-stuck going up my driveway twice......there was some ice below the snow.
-Overall I am a bit dissapointed in the "winter" performance of this car. I think that this is largely due to the fact that I was spoiled with an Audi RS4, and a VW Touareg before that. I did not expect the C63 to be on par with a 4x4 vehicle but I thought it would be better than it is. Our conditions can be quite bad sometimes because of high winds, lots of hills, and the fact that the roads are not always plowed.
-I absolutely love the performance of this car for 8 months out of the year and it is definitely a keeper. However, I will most likely buy a winter SUV next year.
-Just my 0.02
-if the roads are not plowed and there is greater than 3 inches of snow, the car performs quite poorly....ESP constantly flashing and difficult to travel faster than 60km/hr period
- I have had the ESP/ABS system temporarly fail (see previous threads) on 2 occasions so far........once from being "overworked" through 10-12in of snow and once on aggressive inclines and declines
-stuck going up my driveway twice......there was some ice below the snow.
-Overall I am a bit dissapointed in the "winter" performance of this car. I think that this is largely due to the fact that I was spoiled with an Audi RS4, and a VW Touareg before that. I did not expect the C63 to be on par with a 4x4 vehicle but I thought it would be better than it is. Our conditions can be quite bad sometimes because of high winds, lots of hills, and the fact that the roads are not always plowed.
-I absolutely love the performance of this car for 8 months out of the year and it is definitely a keeper. However, I will most likely buy a winter SUV next year.
-Just my 0.02
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 63
From: Montana/Alberta
C63 BS, GLA45
There's no point in comparing the C63, or any 2WD car to an AWD vehicle in the winter. AWD gives 100x more grip when accelerating. It's like the difference between summer tires and winter tires, the gap between the 2 is that huge.
If you've ever driven and spoiled by AWD and expect vehicles to perform that way in the winter, your only choice is an AWD car.
If you've ever driven and spoiled by AWD and expect vehicles to perform that way in the winter, your only choice is an AWD car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
2011 GLK350, 2010 ML350, 2008 C63 AMG
-I have new winter tires on....see pics below
-if the roads are not plowed and there is greater than 3 inches of snow, the car performs quite poorly....ESP constantly flashing and difficult to travel faster than 60km/hr period
- I have had the ESP/ABS system temporarly fail (see previous threads) on 2 occasions so far........once from being "overworked" through 10-12in of snow and once on aggressive inclines and declines
-stuck going up my driveway twice......there was some ice below the snow.
-Overall I am a bit dissapointed in the "winter" performance of this car. I think that this is largely due to the fact that I was spoiled with an Audi RS4, and a VW Touareg before that. I did not expect the C63 to be on par with a 4x4 vehicle but I thought it would be better than it is. Our conditions can be quite bad sometimes because of high winds, lots of hills, and the fact that the roads are not always plowed.
-I absolutely love the performance of this car for 8 months out of the year and it is definitely a keeper. However, I will most likely buy a winter SUV next year.
-Just my 0.02
-if the roads are not plowed and there is greater than 3 inches of snow, the car performs quite poorly....ESP constantly flashing and difficult to travel faster than 60km/hr period
- I have had the ESP/ABS system temporarly fail (see previous threads) on 2 occasions so far........once from being "overworked" through 10-12in of snow and once on aggressive inclines and declines
-stuck going up my driveway twice......there was some ice below the snow.
-Overall I am a bit dissapointed in the "winter" performance of this car. I think that this is largely due to the fact that I was spoiled with an Audi RS4, and a VW Touareg before that. I did not expect the C63 to be on par with a 4x4 vehicle but I thought it would be better than it is. Our conditions can be quite bad sometimes because of high winds, lots of hills, and the fact that the roads are not always plowed.
-I absolutely love the performance of this car for 8 months out of the year and it is definitely a keeper. However, I will most likely buy a winter SUV next year.
-Just my 0.02
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 49
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From: Canada
C63 AMG (Performance & Premium Package) Audi RS4
Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 37
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From: Chicago, IL
2011 C63, 1999 C280
I live in Calgary as well, and got my C63 as a winter car. Nice thing about Matte Black, snow doesn't stick to it at all!
We got a rediculous amount of snow, and have been driving the C63 fine everyday. Like SebringSilver, I'm using the Hankooks IceBears for winters. They're OK in the snow and ice, it's the cold dry performance that's awesome. They have really good dry grip for a winter tire.
I drive pretty much with ESP-Sport mode, all the time, and ESP-Off at nights. ESP sport gives enough wheelspin to get going a lot easier from a stop (ESP-On is TOO intrusive), and ESP-Off when nobody's around so I can drive like an @sshole.
We got a rediculous amount of snow, and have been driving the C63 fine everyday. Like SebringSilver, I'm using the Hankooks IceBears for winters. They're OK in the snow and ice, it's the cold dry performance that's awesome. They have really good dry grip for a winter tire.
I drive pretty much with ESP-Sport mode, all the time, and ESP-Off at nights. ESP sport gives enough wheelspin to get going a lot easier from a stop (ESP-On is TOO intrusive), and ESP-Off when nobody's around so I can drive like an @sshole.
Is this a factory paint job? I really want matte black on my car, and the dealer in Chicago is just saying that it isn't possible on the C63 at all.
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Toronto
my wife bananas! :D
but i'll bite. 255 will be ok since it is a winter tire. however in theory it is better to go more narrow for winter tires. most people will run 225 or 235 (i run 235 on all four corners). the reason to go more narrow is that it cuts through snow better than if it was wider
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 15
From: Canada
07 E63 + 07 CLK63CAB
Fung63 is correct in the wide vs narrow winter tires. When using a wide profile the cars weight is spread across a larger foot print and will tend to ride on top of the snow instead of with the narrow tire will dig deeper with the same weight. With the liquid brine we use here in Ontario they spray or pour it on the roads previous to a snow fall then compliment this caustic slop with road salt, all of which loves to corrode aluminum and steel. This is why my AMG's stay in the garage until this crap is off the roads. Driving a winter beater (Tiburon) sure makes spring something to look out for. This caustic material also loves to eat the aluminum fins in the radiators and oil coolers as well as oxidize any exposed metal part of your baby. No Thanks IMO.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7
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From: Vancouver BC
2011 BMW 335i Sedan
Winter tires for Vancouver
What about those of you in the Pacific Northwest? Do you tend to stick with offsets for your winter setup? I don't usually take my car out if there is more than an inch or two of snow on the ground, so usually am just running winters for the benefits of the stickier compound in 0-5 degree rainy weather. So having 255s in the rear rather than 225 seems to make more sense here IMO.
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From: Alberta
This and that.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
C63 507
Hey guys, looking for some feedback/help finding winters for my c63.
I'm thinking of getting a cheaper set of 18s on rims for the winter instead of running the stock 19s.
I've decided to go with 225s or 235s all around. I've tried checking a few local shops and ended up ordering a set from 1010tire, but they ended up canceling the order on me because they couldn't guarantee the wheel fitment due to the clearance on the amg brakes even though the measurements matched the recommended 18x8 45mm offsets.
Wondering if anyone has recommendations for some cheap 18in wheels just to use in the winter?
I'm thinking about ordering these instead now in 18x8 +45, but again not totally sure about the fitment
http://www.rtxwheels.com/en/content/turbine-3
Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated. Anyone have issues fitting wheels over the brakes even with the right offsets?
I'm thinking of getting a cheaper set of 18s on rims for the winter instead of running the stock 19s.
I've decided to go with 225s or 235s all around. I've tried checking a few local shops and ended up ordering a set from 1010tire, but they ended up canceling the order on me because they couldn't guarantee the wheel fitment due to the clearance on the amg brakes even though the measurements matched the recommended 18x8 45mm offsets.
Wondering if anyone has recommendations for some cheap 18in wheels just to use in the winter?
I'm thinking about ordering these instead now in 18x8 +45, but again not totally sure about the fitment
http://www.rtxwheels.com/en/content/turbine-3
Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated. Anyone have issues fitting wheels over the brakes even with the right offsets?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 352
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, QC
2013 C63 coupe P31
Also you can check tirerack.com, they offer winter packages per car, so all you have to do is give them your car details and they give you the recommended wheel and tire sizes.
