Driving Auto in snow

[Scott Petrie]

Hi
After last nights and todays heavy downfall of snow, its my first time in my A3 Sport S tronic in the snow. I had to turn around and come home, even then I couldnt make it back up my hill and had to leave the car at the bottom until the gritters appeared. Has anyone else similair experiences? I cant seem to get in manual mode in 2nd gear whilst sitting still, just to keep the revs down. I think thats why I couldnt get up hills as the revs are too high in auto mode and manual wont let me into other gears unless im going fast enough. This actually caused me to roll down a hill and bump into a parked car, which means a trip to chips away! Great. Any help or others experiences would be grateful.

 

[dadracer55]

Hi mate, have you considered a set of winter tyres? They will give you better traction in the white stuff than summer tyres on a quattro.

 

[Scott Petrie]

Yes looks like I may have to

 

[Tom.H]

Front wheel drive?

I find the S3 in auto goes into 2nd nice and quick after pulling away.

I had an R32 for 9 years and in the rare occasion it did snow I never struggled.

 

[dadracer55]

I think Scott is likely to see quite a bit of snow over the winter. Here is a link for some tyre tests!
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2017-Auto-Bild-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm

 

[Weeb]

Hi
After last nights and todays heavy downfall of snow, its my first time in my A3 Sport S tronic in the snow. I had to turn around and come home, even then I couldnt make it back up my hill and had to leave the car at the bottom until the gritters appeared. Has anyone else similair experiences? I cant seem to get in manual mode in 2nd gear whilst sitting still, just to keep the revs down. I think thats why I couldnt get up hills as the revs are too high in auto mode and manual wont let me into other gears unless im going fast enough. This actually caused me to roll down a hill and bump into a parked car, which means a trip to chips away! Great. Any help or others experiences would be grateful.

That 2wd or 4?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rideen]

Doesn't make a huge difference if 2wd or 4wd when it's snow and the driver is using summer tyres.

Lots of tests about the topic on YouTube, 2wd car with winter tyres goes up the hill with ease compared to 4wd with summer rubber (which gets stuck after a few meters). 4wd with winter tyres owns all of course.

 

[dadracer55]

Doesn't make a huge difference if 2wd or 4wd when it's snow and the driver is using summer tyres.

Lots of tests about the topic on YouTube, 2wd car with winter tyres goes up the hill with ease compared to 4wd with summer rubber (which gets stuck after a few meters). 4wd with winter tyres owns all of course.

Yes 100% agree. If you have no traction it doesn't matter how many driven wheels!

 

[allanmb]

Doesn't make a huge difference if 2wd or 4wd when it's snow and the driver is using summer tyres.

Lots of tests about the topic on YouTube, 2wd car with winter tyres goes up the hill with ease compared to 4wd with summer rubber (which gets stuck after a few meters). 4wd with winter tyres owns all of course.

I have to disagree. You just need to know how to put the power down. I have had Quattro Audis for the past 8 years and have never put on winter tyres. I have never been stuck in snow or ice and I drive around the Scottish Highlands. If anyone knows the Bridge of Brown in Strathdon then you know how steep it is. Quattro got me up that in fairly deep snow and ice. I have to admit that I had one hairy incident upon braking in the snow that winter tyres would have definitely helped with though.

 

[Jassyo06]

Never had problems with the SNAW...... up here Scotland....... Even on ice..... A few slips here n there but..... Got through...... It's all aboot driving skills....... Lol

 

[SteveMcB]

Agree that winter tyres would be best but IMO 4 wheel drive also makes a big difference, even without winter tyres. We had 2 very bad winters a few years back and my scoobie, which was on Goodyear F1s, never got stuck even when deep snow was scraping the belly pan. Torsen with rear bias and LSD no doubt played a big part in making it very easy to keep the power on, control the oversteer and 'plough' on regardless. Was actually quite good fun, particularly as the roads were deserted.
My FWD Honda on the same tyres was completely undriveable and was laid up for over a month each time, as was just about every other car in the street.
Bought my A4 in 2012, never had any real snow since so I don't know how it will manage.

NB : In snow I switch TC off, would like to be able to do the same with the ABS.

 

[Rideen]

Here is a reference:

 

[RS3 S.]

Snow & ice around North Yorks when I left for work at 05:30 today & I had no problem in the RS3 on the Pirelli summer tyres.

 

[SteveMcB]

At 3.56 the guy says it's not permanent 4x4 so is already stuck before rear wheels come into play, which kind of defeats the purpose of the test IMO. Would have been a much better test if they had used a proper 4x4 but then that may not have given them the results they were after?

Winter tyres are no doubt the nuts but 4x4 is better than 2wd on the same tyres. If you live somewhere regularly affected by snow it makes sense to have a set of winters but if I owned some they would probably never have left the shed for the last 5 years.

 

[Scott Petrie]

That 2wd or 4?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yeh its 2wd

 

[Rideen]

Haldex is not permanent 4wd either so it's the same.

Just took that video as a reference because 4wd system in that Ford is similar to Haldex in how it functions. Pretty sure 2wd car with winter tyres will run circles around same 4wd car with summer tyres in snow or on ice.

 

[allanmb]

Pretty sure 2wd car with winter tyres will run circles around same 4wd car with summer tyres in snow or on ice.

I'm not disputing that but, equally, a 4wd car with summer tyres will run circles around same 2wd car with summer tyres in snow or in ice ;-)

 

[rahaney]

Michelin Crossclimate+

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Michelin/CrossClimate-Plus.htm



Highly recommended all-season tyre especially in the UK

 

[Rideen]

I'm not disputing that but, equally, a 4wd car with summer tyres will run circles around same 2wd car with summer tyres in snow or in ice ;-)

That was obvious from the beginning mate.

 

[allanmb]

That was obvious from the beginning mate.

That's not what you said originally in this thread ;-)

"Doesn't make a huge difference if 2wd or 4wd when it's snow and the driver is using summer tyres. "

 

[Flying Scotsman]

There is only one one choice in REAL snow and ice.....winter tyres, and not all winter tyres are of the same quality as is the case for summer tyres. With no offence intended you Brits on the whole do not understand the benefits of winter tyres, as most of you have never tried them. Plus, most of you do not get much snow and have no experience in how to drive in true winter conditions.

 

[RSTHRILLER]

ITS ALLABOUT THE QUATTRO BABY

 

[Jassyo06]

There is only one one choice in REAL snow and ice.....winter tyres, and not all winter tyres are of the same quality as is the case for summer tyres. With no offence intended you Brits on the whole do not understand the benefits of winter tyres, as most of you have never tried them. Plus, most of you do not get much snow and have no experience in how to drive in true winter conditions.

BRITS.....Says the Scotsman that fled..... many MOONS ago....lol...l have all the experience i need living in Cumbernauld for 11 years......a wee front wheel drive car with skinny tyres will run rings round my S3 and any other 4wd car...so l have learnt....HENCE...when real snow comes....l take the Mrs car....lol

 

[cuke2u]

Quite correct, in snow it was the only occassions my a little unpowered dyane 6 overtook anything with its 125R15 tyres...

 

[Flying Scotsman]

The wifey's Renault 5 could go where 4wd cars feared to tread, also on skinny tyres. Not to belabour a point, it is not all about traction in winter weather, it is stopping and control and that is where summer tyres are

 

[SmileyS3]

Had our Golf Mk4 1.6 for 10 years and it was always abandoned by my wife as soon as any snow came down...it was useless...dangerous even....but then a few years back I treated it to Nokian WRD4 and what a difference! I really was blown away...just on the front and it went anywhere in the snow. I took it on a disused carpark at night and tried to get it to lose traction at 30mph...it just handled like a dream on the snow. Also, because my wife doesn't drive fast, I just left them on all year round. My dad has the trusty Golf off us now and is still running the same tyres after 3 years. The wear on them is good and I did lots of research before I bought them. They are one of the first tyres to get an A in snow and ice and an A in rain.

 

[SmileyS3]

I've driven my Scoob since 2008 and never put winter tyres on it...goes up crazy hills without even a slip and even with other cars sliding backwards...muwahahaha. Even helped drag an old dears car out of a snowy ditch in the hills once.
Not driven the S3 in snow yet

 

[SteveMcB]

I've driven my Scoob since 2008 and never put winter tyres on it...goes up crazy hills without even a slip and even with other cars sliding backwards...muwahahaha. Even helped drag an old dears car out of a snowy ditch in the hills once.
Not driven the S3 in snow yet

Stone age mechanical transmission - can't beat it

 

[Daz Auto]

Our A3 currently has 4 Continental WinterContact TS850 tyres. These tyres are fitted to the original alloys. Only the tyres are swapped summer and winter. Not the alloys.

In the winter I would much rather drive the A3 than any 4x4 which usually have all-season tyres fitted. It is lighter and, with these tyres, has better grip for all winter driving conditions.

Grip is provided by your tyres. That grip has three functions - accelerating, cornering and braking.

Though 4 wheel drive is useful if you are trying to pull a trailer full of cattle out of a muddy field. Also useful if you have a 300+ horse power engine.

4 wheel drive is no use on snow and ice in an emergency situation. I have yet to find any independent video or article that says 4WD is better than winter tyres on snow and ice. There is plenty of evidence that winter tyres offer the best grip for winter driving.

 

[Jassyo06]

Our A3 currently has 4 Continental WinterContact TS850 tyres. These tyres are fitted to the original alloys. Only the tyres are swapped summer and winter. Not the alloys.

In the winter I would much rather drive the A3 than any 4x4 which usually have all-season tyres fitted. It is lighter and, with these tyres, has better grip for all winter driving conditions.

Grip is provided by your tyres. That grip has three functions - accelerating, cornering and braking.

Though 4 wheel drive is useful if you are trying to pull a trailer full of cattle out of a muddy field. Also useful if you have a 300+ horse power engine.

4 wheel drive is no use on snow and ice in an emergency situation. I have yet to find any independent video or article that says 4WD is better than winter tyres on snow and ice. There is plenty of evidence that winter tyres offer the best grip for winter driving.

Even if tyres where made from Spider Mans webs....they'd still be useless on ice,The OP who started this thread where is he from Finland....or down south where they got a wee bit of Snaw this....week.Winter tyres in the UK in my opinion are a waste of money,if the Snaw is that bad....just dont travel in it simples,l aint gonna fork out £1200 plus for 4 winter tyres for highly unlikely scenario there's a blizzard coming,actually l wouldnt dare put myself or others in danger with bad winter weather

 

[Daz Auto]

Even if tyres where made from Spider Mans webs....they'd still be useless on ice...

Sorry jassay, but you are wrong. There is plenty of evidence that winter tyres will work on both snow AND ice.



I had my last car with winter tyres, on sheet ice going down a hill, it stopped. Good job, as there was a small van that was trying to get up the hill, but was sliding down it sideway. Without winter tyres, I have no doubt I would have slid down the hill into them.

 

[Jassyo06]

Sorry jassay, but you are wrong. There is plenty of evidence that winter tyres will work on both snow AND ice.



I had my last car with winter tyres, on sheet ice going down a hill, it stopped. Good job, as there was a small van that was trying to get up the hill, but was sliding down it sideway. Without winter tyres, I have no doubt I would have slid down the hill into them.

ice ice baby..LOL. especially black ice which is the most common version in the UK.....very glad you stopped in time but in general the UK's weather does not warrant winter tyres unless you stay in Emmerdale Farm territory

 

[Daz Auto]

ice ice baby..LOL. especially black ice which is the most common version in the UK.....very glad you stopped in time but in general the UK's weather does not warrant winter tyres unless you stay in Emmerdale Farm territory

We do live in the countryside. The roads around us are not gritted.

With my old job I had to visit customers in the middle of the mountains on roads that were not gritted. My wife's work was the same. 99% of the time we did not need winter tyres. 1% of the time we really did need winter tyres.

And you can not rely on the gritters. I remember seeing 3 cars in the ditch one morning on an 'A' road. They had all hit black ice and ended up in the ditch.

As it says in that video - just 1 fender-bender and increased insurance costs would pay for a set of winter tyres. See original post.

 

[Audi Bairn]

ice ice baby..LOL. especially black ice which is the most common version in the UK.....very glad you stopped in time but in general the UK's weather does not warrant winter tyres unless you stay in Emmerdale Farm territory

I'm in rural Scottish territory as you know @jassyo06 and I'm with you on the number of days per year where it would merit the additional expense (for me personally). Further north maybe it would be different. On the odd few days that may merit winters it's usually others hitting me that worries me more as I drive to the conditions.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

I do agree with the lowlanders viewpoints on number of days that winter tyres are required in their neck of the woods, but if the weather is bad, park it. It is not worth the angst of white knuckling it to your destination and with novice drivers who have never driven in those conditions and the reluctance of UK drivers to use winter tyres.
Even in my neck of the woods I do not drive on the first snowfall of the year, as you get novice drivers who peel off main roads which have been plowed and salted onto minor roads and then the carnage begins. The first snowfall is always the worst as many even experienced drivers have put off installing their winter tyres.

 

[Audi Bairn]

I suppose everybody's situation is different.
Around here, the last winter where people were genuinely "trapped" unable to get cars out, was 2010.
It's debatable if the other years since then could be classed anywhere near bad enough or frequent enough for an individual justifying to an employer that they wouldn't be coming in. Combined with the backwards thinking in some industries in this country regarding home working you then have a situation where people feel pressured to attempt the drive but can't justify the expense of winters for a handful of days a year.

 

[leosayer1]

I've got winter tyres on a separate set of 16" wheels for the A3, but they've hardly seen any snow in the past 3 years. I'm still glad I've got them because it gives you real confidence to go anywhere if the weather takes you by surprise.

Having driven front wheel drive A4s and quattro A6s I can say categorically that 4WD (permanent as on the A6) makes a big difference on snow on normal tyres. The traction when accelerating means you can get going and you can use engine braking to slow down. However, braking and steering are equally crap.

Regardless of that, I wouldn't want to rely on normal tyres to regularly get about on snow and ice, front wheel drive or four wheel drive.

 

[RSTHRILLER]

the bmw forums are shittin themselves OH NO WINTERS HERE lol

 

[Audi Bairn]

the bmw forums are shittin themselves OH NO WINTERS HERE lol

Guy at work just bought a brand new M3

I did try to warn him.

 

[Daz Auto]

Guy at work just bought a brand new M3

I did try to warn him.

A few years ago I was in Germany for the Christmas markets, with my wife. It was -25C. Gritting does not work at those temperatures. So, the roads were permanently covered in ice. Strangely there were lots of rear wheel drive BMWs and Mercedes. How are they able to manage those cars in proper winter conditions? Why are they not all driving four wheel drive vehicles? What do the Germans know about driving rear wheel drive cars in the winter, that we Brits don't know?

It's all about the tyres!

My parents own a Merc. When there is snow or ice, it does not leave the garage. The first time it snowed my dad said, "this is the worst car I have ever driven in the snow." Why do people think it's the car! IT'S THE TYRES.

Dad admits himself that his old Land Rover was also terrible in the snow. Even with 4WD. This is because the tyres where cheap 'no name' ditch finders.