How Does The C63s Sedan Handle In Snowy Conditions
#1
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
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
#2
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; 12-09-2017 at 01:24 PM.
#3
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.
#4
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; 12-09-2017 at 01:51 PM.
#5
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.
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.
#6
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.
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.
#7
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; 05-30-2018 at 11:23 AM.
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#8
True that...... Winter wheel/tire combo for Toronto.....
#9
That does look just as good. Are you running the same OEM tire specs?
#10
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.
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.
#11
Thanks for the info.
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.
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.
#13
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!
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!
#14
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!
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!
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.
#15
#17
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KJ (09-15-2018)
#20
Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 198
Likes: 2
C63 Coupe 507, CLK55 Convertible, X1 35i, 70 GTO convertible, motorcycles
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.
#21
Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 198
Likes: 2
C63 Coupe 507, CLK55 Convertible, X1 35i, 70 GTO convertible, motorcycles
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.
#22
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; 09-14-2018 at 02:56 PM.
#23
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.
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 418
Likes: 89
From: Edmonton AB
2015 C63S ,DME Tune, KW Has ,Kmac Bushings,BC Forged wheels,Gt Rotors,Porterfield R4S,Modal Intake
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; 09-17-2018 at 01:10 AM.
#25
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.
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; 09-16-2018 at 02:16 PM.