Grip in snow

[stuarttunstall]

Just a question, what is your Leon like in snow and ice?

I have noticed that mine seems very twitchy when there is the slightest sign of ice on the road, not to bad in snow... I have been out 3 times over the festive period in ice/freezing conditions, and each time it has not been an enjoyable ride... above 25-30 mph and the car does not like to stay straight..

Maybe just my driving plus the size of the tyres.... etc or maybe the pothole I hit as done more..... although it is ok when it has warmed up a bit...

What are your opinions?

Stu

Ps Happy new year to all

 

[andycupra]

opinion is that ice will mean a loss of grip for any car.
Different cars will behave in a different manner, this is down to tyres, suspension etc. Any car that has a more sporty set up will move around a bit and communicate whats going on more than a car set up for cruising.

And yes there is the driver input also.

 

[stuarttunstall]

Never said I was a good driver

 

[FAST AL]

Snow=loss of grip.
Ice=loss of grip.
Snow and Ice=lots of loss of grip.
Especially with a performance car like ours.

 

[UltraViolet]

Wide tyres don't help in snow. Skinny tyres will cut through better and give more traction. Also low profile is bad in snow and ice - less time for feedback etc.

 

[bmb779]

never had a problem in the snow apart from lcr splitter acting as a snowplough,traction control absolutely brilliant,and we have had snow on the ground for over two weeks now.

 

[darkhorse]

Also tread depth has a massive effect. A 4wd running on tyres at minimum tread depth will be worse than a 2wd on new tyres
I was pleasantly surprised to have passed a good few cars in my ibiza cupra tdi just before christmas on a steep hill with a couple of inch of snow on. The technique is to drive at low revs and very smoothly, setting off in 2nd as slowly as possible. Build up momentum before inclines and turn the steering wheel slowly and smoothly.

 

[coggie]

Out of interest, what tyres are you running?

 

[knight]

didnt use mine in the snow,used the works van instead!

 

[MadsenTDi]

Out of interest, what tyres are you running?

Kuhmo KW17 225/40-18
I would not agress with the comment on bad grip on wide tyres. Mine hasnt gotten stuck yet, and its been trough some pretty high snow both over here in denmark, and also on my vacation in austria.
Also on "high" speed on the highway, it sits pretty tight when driving over those sloppy areas when changing lanes.

Just my 02 cents

 

[darkhorse]

I'm running on Uniroyal Rainsport 2 - 215/40/17 on my Ibiza. Only problem I've had so far is the car grounding on snow that has frozen again

 

[cuprakemp]

find mine ok as long as u aint trashing it

 

[RickyD1975]

Wide tyres don't help in snow. Skinny tyres will cut through better and give more traction. Also low profile is bad in snow and ice - less time for feedback etc.

That's why I've been using the other halfs C1 for the last four days, its got skinny elastic bands for tyres. Cupra will be coming out of the garage tomorrow as I'm back to work.

Glad I've took my 19" BBS CK's off for the winter as 235/35 won't go well in the Snow/Ice.

 

[OLDOILER]

Wide tyres don't help in snow. Skinny tyres will cut through better and give more traction. Also low profile is bad in snow and ice - less time for feedback etc.

Totally agree, speaking has a old rally/production car trialer narrow tyres win all the way - pity its such an expence to have two sets of tyre/rims for a "may be"bad weather in the UK

 

[SeatDanny]

Just snowed in NI AGAIN! and ive gota say its scary as frig driving in the snow, when it turns to ice my sphincter is doin the 50p 20p dance. Gf lives up a steep (ice n snow) covered hill which is suicidal in the leon lol!

 

[warren_cox]

I changed the OEM 18's for aftermarket 19's this summer (with 235/35/19 Toyo T1-R's).

Have to say despite finding them average tyres on my old LCR, on the Audi they have been fine. Only issue is with stopping on ice. Next to no issue getting going. Only problem encountered to date is snow ploughing the front splitter which brings the car to a halt at slow speeds. As long as you have clearance it seems to go.

Dropped tyre pressures from 42 at front to 38, and 36 at rear to 32 to provide a bit more give. Haldex might be poor mans Quattro, but TBH it's not bad.

 

[on_the_verge]

Mine is rubbish - nothing more to say!

 

[mds1256]

Mine is rubbish - nothing more to say!

+1

worst car ive ever owned in the snow.... but best car ive ever owned in the dry

think its the wide tyres, pity i couldnt get any really cheap skinny rims and tyres just for this weather

 

[Chris Bartram]

On summer tyres mine's a handful. Looking at some winter tyres.

 

[cuprakemp]

think the tdi have 2 much low down torque for the snow my brothers 2.0 sport is very poor