SnowCub

Coming into this winter, my first time with a RWD daily commuter, I didn't want to chance the all-season tires. I bought a set of Michelin X-ICE2, Consumer Reports #1 rated snow tire. I have to say that I've been less than impressed. Handling and braking are good, but getting going from a start has been difficult. With the transmission in Comfort mode and ESP On, forward progress is rather leisurely. Putting the transmission in Sport is better. Going up hills is challenging. Turning off ESP helps, but can get tricky

So I'm wondering how other folks are doing with all the snow. Is this winter particularly bad? Are the Micheline X-ICE 2 not that good? Previously winters I was driving a VW Golf with Nokian R tires.

mkhurley

I know your looking for RWD by I gotta say, my 4-Matic was like a tank in 8-10" of snow the other day. Nothing slowed it down, up steep driveways, deep untouched snow, don't think it ever even broke traction. First winter with it, running Conti Extreme Contact DWS tires, it's almost better than my AWD Yukon Denali in the snow.

02Drunkenup

All seasons on my S430, I don't take it out until a decent amount of the snow is plowed. Last week's snow made the streets terrible, but I went to take the car over the bus that day. On my way, I must've went through at least 3 unplowed streets, I didn't know exactly what to do, except give the car a little momentum going in, W mode and nurse her through. Not bad tbh

braizedtofu

I have blizzaks on my e5 and i have yet to really have any problems. Of course taking off from a stop is going to be the most difficult, but remember you are not trying to race in the snow, you are just commuting. Compared to my evo, I think having all season on my evo is just as good as blizzaks on the e5.

Some food for thought, why do you think most people keep their rwd cars at home in the snow

06e320cdi

Check out my Youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpn52...&feature=feedu

I will admit, that last week, here in PA, I had to put the chains on to get home

delviacv2

Warren, Afew days days ago I installed 18" AMG wheels with new blizzaks and I could not be any happier, there is big hills around here and after the new set up is not a problem

WEBSRFR

Probably not what this thread is about but I am OS glad that I got the 4MATIC option. There is a hill around my house and I saw a woman in a suburban try to go up it and she had to back down all the way down and take another route. My E550 went up the hill without breaking a sweat. I felt so confident that i event stopped at the stop sign in the middle of the hill and the car accelerated just fine from a stand still with no drama. MB has done a wonderful job with 4MATIC and this is on regular all season tires. First time I've owned a 4WD car and i am never going to go back.

SnowCub

The biggest problem seems to be *deep* snow. By deep I mean anything over 2". The front wheels seem to get caught and don't want to move. Its very odd and makes for very slow progress. With the ESP Off and the Sport On I can work around it but the tail sure whips around quick.

As for the folks with AWD, I've owned 2 AWD cars and loved them. But the expense of maintaining them over 100k and the hit in fuel economy drove me away. Changing priorities I guess. I fell in love with RWD and the feel of uncorrupted steering. Doesn't hurt that I've been averaging 32 mpg

novae500

last year's winter dumped 25inches and two other times about a foot. I couldn't get out of my neighborhood due to clearance/street not being plowed. But once i made it to the secondary roads that had 10-12 inches of slush/snow, the 4matic was fine. I didnt slip/slide like other vans/suvs full/midsize that i saw on the roads.

E55Dimon

Once again, its all about the tires. And the ESP of course.

mkhurley

I got the AWD so the wife wouldn't have an issue when she had to get home in the snow. MPG isn't as bad as I thought it would be, she gets 23-24 around town, out of town trips we've gotten 29 on the highway, with the V8, I'm happy.

Dexion

I don't really have much problems here, never got stuck once on the roads with RWD, I can do about 3"-4" with RWD I have Michie Pilot Sport A/S's

Gersh320

I have a 2003 E320 RWD. It is absolutely amazing in snow. As long as the snow isn't more than an inch higher than the car's clearance than I'm good. I also have an X5 and I will be completely honest, I feel more secure in the Merc. The electronics are amazing in this thing!!!! I have Continental Procontact tires. Changed them this fall from MXV4 (those were terrible!!!). The dealership here uses me as an example of why 4matic is not a must here in MO. We just had 4 snow storms this season and I was out in all of them except this last 18+ inch one. I took by boss out to lunch two days ago and went though non plowed streets; we parked and started walking to the restaurant. He commented on how steady and planted the car felt while we both slipped and could hardly walk. As we turned the corner, we saw multiple cars loosing control on the same street corner we just eased though. Even an AWD explorer got stuck midcorner (did make it out after a couple tries).
Sometimes gives me a little too much confidence. Like when I'm passing everyone doing 70 while they are doing 40 to 50.

djrabbi

I have been fine here in NJ....I put the dunlop m3 snow tires on...car comes right out....a little slipping but it comes out with no problems....

LOVEMYBS

2007 E550 4Matic with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires, no problems in the NVA/DC area. I want to buy an 07/08 CLK63 AMG cabriolet but I just can't give-up my AWD for RWD. I had a bad "ice experience" several years ago with my E55 losing traction and sliding hence my decision to own at least one AWD for daily driving.

bobcatflip

03 E320 RWD with dedicated wheels and winter rubber (Bridgestone Blizzaks) in Mass. w/o any trouble at all. Still run 16" tires.