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How Does The C63s Sedan Handle In Snowy Conditions

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Old Dec 9, 2017 | 12:24 AM
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How Does The C63s Sedan Handle In Snowy Conditions

Coming from the W212 E class 4matic, I want to know how the C63s sedan handle in snowy conditions with snow tires.

I might be interested in the C63s sedan but worry about driving it in the snow. This would be my daily driver so please share your experience.

Thanks,

ed
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Old Dec 9, 2017 | 01:20 PM
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Based on my experience on snowy roads(in Finland). Perfectly. C-mode. It allows you to drive with confidence, it does not do anything surprising. If you provoke (e.g. high speed cornering, heavy sudden gas) then of course it will slide, but gently, easy to control. Understeering might be a problem if arriving too fast to corner, and snowy surface does not allow efficient breaking, but this is nothing specific to C63, actually it has so much power that with gently gas one can manage understeering on snow also quite easily.

Last edited by Rippe; Dec 9, 2017 at 01:24 PM.
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Old Dec 9, 2017 | 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Rippe
Based on my experience on snowy roads(in Finland). Perfectly. C-mode. It allows you to drive with confidence, it does not do anything surprising. If you provoke (e.g. high speed cornering, heavy sudden gas) then of course it will slide, but gently, easy to control. Understeering might be a problem if arriving too fast to corner, and snowy surface does not allow efficient breaking, but this is nothing specific to C63, actually it has so much power that with gently gas one can manage understeering on snow also quite easily.
Because it is a rear wheel drive car, you don’t have any issues getting stuck in heavy snowfall or slipping and sliding?
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Old Dec 9, 2017 | 01:47 PM
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It is not 4-wheel drive, the most problems I have had is when there is ice under snow. Another case is when you try to leave early morning open air parking place after heavy snow fall - in such case I would prefer 4-wheel drive.Slipping and sliding, I think that for a rear wheel drive car, it behaves very well. I have had E350CDI 4Matic, only very rarely I really needed the 4Matic, however it was quite comforting to know that it was there in case of need.

Last edited by Rippe; Dec 9, 2017 at 01:51 PM.
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Old Dec 9, 2017 | 11:53 PM
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I've been driving RWD cars in the winter in Toronto for the past 15-years. 2 M3's and the C63S.

You're definitely not owning the road like you would with AWD, but it gets the job done. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of work to get the car going from a dead stop, but other than that, it's fine. I actually enjoy sliding the car around a in the snow. Makes the crappy weather more enjoyable.

Toronto's winter's are much more harsh than Vancouver, so I'm sure you'll be fine there.
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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 05:01 AM
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Originally Posted by KJ
I've been driving RWD cars in the winter in Toronto for the past 15-years. 2 M3's and the C63S.

You're definitely not owning the road like you would with AWD, but it gets the job done. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of work to get the car going from a dead stop, but other than that, it's fine. I actually enjoy sliding the car around a in the snow. Makes the crappy weather more enjoyable.

Toronto's winter's are much more harsh than Vancouver, so I'm sure you'll be fine there.
Yes you do have a lot more snow there in TO and good to know you survived each winter with a RWD car. In TO, I think you have less hills than we do here in Vancouver. Just that I have seen so many RWD car’s stranded on an up hill climb. I guess with over 500hp that should be enough to get the car up the hills lol.
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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Ed99
Yes you do have a lot more snow there in TO and good to know you survived each winter with a RWD car. In TO, I think you have less hills than we do here in Vancouver. Just that I have seen so many RWD car’s stranded on an up hill climb. I guess with over 500hp that should be enough to get the car up the hills lol.

I bet a lot of those stranded RWD cars have All-Season tires though. Since they are in Vancouver, they don't even bother getting snow tires until they get stuck!

The car can still look good with some nice winter wheels on!



Last edited by KJ; May 30, 2018 at 11:23 AM.
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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by KJ
I bet a lot of those stranded RWD cars have All-Season tires though. Since they are in Vancouver, they don't even bother getting snow tires until they get stuck!

The car can still look good with some nice winter wheels on!


True that...... Winter wheel/tire combo for Toronto.....

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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 03:48 PM
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That does look just as good. Are you running the same OEM tire specs?

Originally Posted by KJ
I bet a lot of those stranded RWD cars have All-Season tires though. Since they are in Vancouver, they don't even bother getting snow tires until they get stuck!

The car can still look good with some nice winter wheels on!

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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 06:11 PM
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Same tire specs for front.

Rears are 255/35-19 (10mm narrower than stock).

Michelin doesn't make 265/35-19 for Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.

Also, the rears came off my M3, which had the same stock tire sizes. So that worked out nice.

A more square setup is OK for winter, so 10mm narrower in the back is fine.
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Old Dec 12, 2017 | 12:49 AM
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Thanks for the info.


Originally Posted by KJ
Same tire specs for front.

Rears are 255/35-19 (10mm narrower than stock).

Michelin doesn't make 265/35-19 for Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.

Also, the rears came off my M3, which had the same stock tire sizes. So that worked out nice.

A more square setup is OK for winter, so 10mm narrower in the back is fine.
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 11:07 AM
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NVM
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 02:08 PM
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I am ashamed to say this, as I have long sang the virtues of snow tires in ANY climate that gets snow, but yesterday I drove ~60 miles in a freezing rain/snow/sleet mix with my SUMMER tires on. I bought a snow setup last year, but forgot to order hubcentric rings, then bought some that were 0.67mm too big, so I'm waiting on the correct ones. Plus, my beater truck wouldn't start.

Anyway, long story short: it wasn't that bad! The roads were mostly "slick"; there wasn't much in the way of accumulation. But I was impressed how well the car handled it, even with the worst possible tire option (outside of maybe something in an R-rated tire). I actually didn't even see traction control engage once until just as I turned onto my street and went a little heavy on the throttle around the corner. That being said: DON'T DRIVE A RWD (or any) CAR IN THE WINTER ON SUMMER TIRES!
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by nobbyv
I am ashamed to say this, as I have long sang the virtues of snow tires in ANY climate that gets snow, but yesterday I drove ~60 miles in a freezing rain/snow/sleet mix with my SUMMER tires on. I bought a snow setup last year, but forgot to order hubcentric rings, then bought some that were 0.67mm too big, so I'm waiting on the correct ones. Plus, my beater truck wouldn't start.

Anyway, long story short: it wasn't that bad! The roads were mostly "slick"; there wasn't much in the way of accumulation. But I was impressed how well the car handled it, even with the worst possible tire option (outside of maybe something in an R-rated tire). I actually didn't even see traction control engage once until just as I turned onto my street and went a little heavy on the throttle around the corner. That being said: DON'T DRIVE A RWD (or any) CAR IN THE WINTER ON SUMMER TIRES!
No, I've gotten caught out with summer tires in the snow before and it was not good.

My car's tail kicked out from the car downshifting, that's how little grip there was!

FYI, my wheels in the picture above are hubcentric, so no rings required. That was important for me to make sure there was no vibration at high speed.
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 12:16 AM
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Originally Posted by 1 SIC DR



True that...... Winter wheel/tire combo for Toronto.....

This is the stock 19/20 setup right? What snow tires did you get if you don't mind me asking?
Struggling to find any decent 285-30-20 tires.
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by VIC666
This is the stock 19/20 setup right? What snow tires did you get if you don't mind me asking?
Struggling to find any decent 285-30-20 tires.
Yes it is.... Went with Michelin Pilot Alpine PA4
It’s been snowing here in Toronto, been super happy with the ride quality

Hope that helps....
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Old Sep 14, 2018 | 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by 1 SIC DR


Yes it is.... Went with Michelin Pilot Alpine PA4
It’s been snowing here in Toronto, been super happy with the ride quality

Hope that helps....
How do you like the PA4 tires?
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Old Sep 14, 2018 | 05:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Ed99
How do you like the PA4 tires?
They are awesome, dry or snow!
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Old Sep 14, 2018 | 10:06 AM
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Great.... Makes driving my c63s fun all year round...

Originally Posted by Ed99


How do you like the PA4 tires?
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Old Sep 14, 2018 | 11:07 AM
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Does anyone know if the 18-inch wheels from the C63 (non-s) fit over the larger rotors of the C63s? Sure seems like a winter set-up would benefit from a little more sidewall if so. Thanks.
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Old Sep 14, 2018 | 11:33 AM
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At least I think they are larger on the W205 (says 15.2 when you click on the photo of the red two-piece brake system of the S-car vs. 14.2 for the grey one-piecers of the non-S at mbusa.com), whereas I think they were just "red calipers" with two-piece front rotors on the P31 package of the prior cars. Thanks.
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Old Sep 14, 2018 | 02:54 PM
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I’ve had no problems over the last 7yrs with my rwd AMG’s here in Montreal. As long as you have good winter tires on, you’ll be okay. I’m currently running Hakkapaliita’s R2 & loving them 👍🏼


Last edited by crazy1eye; Sep 14, 2018 at 02:56 PM.
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Old Sep 15, 2018 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by goatfarmer1970
Does anyone know if the 18-inch wheels from the C63 (non-s) fit over the larger rotors of the C63s? Sure seems like a winter set-up would benefit from a little more sidewall if so. Thanks.
They absolutely will not fit.
Some 19" wheels don't even fit over the C63S's larger rotors. The first set of 19" winter wheels I bought had a drop lip that touched the rotors. Lucky the shop found out when they test fit so I could order different wheels.
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Old Sep 15, 2018 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by KJ
They absolutely will not fit.
Some 19" wheels don't even fit over the C63S's larger rotors. The first set of 19" winter wheels I bought had a drop lip that touched the rotors. Lucky the shop found out when they test fit so I could order different wheels.


That's the truth . My BC Forged 19" front wheels are almost touching the caliper .It's so close I had a tiny rock wedge in between once

Last edited by C3504matic; Sep 17, 2018 at 01:10 AM.
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Old Sep 16, 2018 | 02:04 PM
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Toronto and Finland might have hard winters but both locations are flat as a board. RWD cars suck for winter driving in the hills and mountains regardless of tire config. If your regular commute is all flat you'll be fine even with crap tires. If you have steep hills or any mountain driving you'll need to be prepared to take extra precautions and outfit the car with good winters or you will get stuck.

I have noticed that there is a definite trend for Midwesterners and other flat-landers to comment on how easy it is to manage with rwd in the wintertime. You will get a completely different take when you ask the same question to folks that live closer to the mountains. Steep grades and excessively banked roads are always challenging with rwd even with good tires. So what I'm getting at is that terrain is probably the biggest consideration here.

Last edited by Mr. J; Sep 16, 2018 at 02:16 PM.
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