starstylers01

I am from the New England area and we have just been getting some snow lately. This is my first winter in my S-Class 4 Matic, and this is also my first 4 wheel drive car.

I was wondering if any of you out there have any experience driving it in the snow. How good is it? On a few turns I lost traction and slipped a little. Dont know if this is normal because I have never owned a 4 wheel drive before, but I imagine them to be pretty solid in the snow.

Also does the sport package tires have anything to do with it maybe?

IDriveAnM5

If your experience is similar to mine, the car will do fine. We just had an ice storm 2 days ago and I've driven regularly with no problems. I do have winter / snow tires mounted on 18 inch rims because my summer set is the AMG +1 package with summer performance tires. I'm very pleased with the performance, hopefully you will be too. If your car has summer tires, I'd recommend a second, winter-only set.

NuMBS500er

Don't confuse traction as control. 4 matic are no good unless you have good winter tires to go with it, at least some good all season tires.

AMGJared

Agreed, 4MATIC is pointless with 4 summer tires. Having the finances to be driving a W221 should give you no problem in picking up a good set of all season tires or a set of winter tires.

malahhaor

Even with winter tires, awd will help you move, it will not have any extra traction on turns or when stopping. Big mistake that many people make. Yes you have more control and wheels don't slip as much as just rwd but you still need to be slow on corners and allow for extra distance to stop.
If you take two identical cars with same tires but one with awd the other is rwd the only difference between them will be off the line grip and less wheel slip when accelerating out of corner (I'm talking slow speeds here not rally style). Awd will still slide as much when stopping and around corners if you are going too fast in these conditions.

I'm fine with rwd and snow tires, you'll be even better in awd. Relax and worry about everyone else being stupid while driving in the snow

starstylers01

yea its the corners and stopping that i lose traction usually. I dont think i have summer tires, just the regular all season continentals on. I might look to invest on a set of winter tires if the snow picks up more

malahhaor

Yeah, those contis are not that good. Maybe fine for summer, not too good in snow. I drove on mine through one snow storm and don't want to do it again.
I had a set of 17 inch rims from previouse cars and got firestone winterforce on them. I usually use nokians but these were only 100 each decided to take a try.

new550

I have found the s550 4matic to be great in the snow....I have Continential Extreme Contact DWS all season tires and have been amazed at how well the car does. We had the 28 inch snowfall last winter (unusual for Philly, but there you go) and I was out driving in snow that easily was axle deep and never had a problem or got stuck. Other than the ground clearance, it was easily as good as the full size SUV I had before in the snow.

I do agree with the comments above, any car or SUV without traction (ice, tightly packed snow, etc.) requires a lot of care to avoid slipping, but with care, you can be very comfortable driving on snowy roads with this car...

Em Bee Lover

Bump +1.

I live in Green Bay, WI. Light winter this year, but we have snow.

The Extreme Contact DWS are superb on my AWD. First season w/ them. Got the stock 18" on line, laid in to my mechanic, mounted and balanced by him for $850 total.

starstylers01

thanks for your input guys... i am looking at getting a new set of tires and rims on ebay for the winter

IDriveAnM5

Don't forget the TPMS sensors!

derrick_lui

My 2012 4matic was awesome in the snow.
Altho snow tires would be better, the 19 inch conti all seasons (came with the sport package) on were still pretty good.

IDriveAnM5

If anyone cares, my OEM winter wheel & tire package from Mercedes-Benz was the 18" S600 Rims with TPMS sensors and a set of Pirelli Sottozero snow tires.
I've never had Pirelli winter tires before, mostly Michelin and Bridgestone. So far, no complaints at all. These snow tires are very, very good.

krazy3281

I'm in Chicagoland area, and the snow gets pretty bad, I have the 20 inch AMG wheel on a 4matic, I swapped the Conti Summers for Michelin Pilot Sport A/S's, and the car is significantly better, it drives seamlessly through snow. I'm sure it can get better with snow tires, but with the A/S's it seems to do pretty well.