This will be the second winter for my 80 240d. Last year, starting traction in the snow was not a problem but stopping this tank was. I put snows on the back and have pretty good all seasons on the front. Last year I turned the idle down also because it seemed that the back brakes could not completely hold and kept it sliden along (at real low speeds). Has anyone used snows on the front also and was it worth the $$s?

Thanks in advance.

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1980 240d "Mercedes Buddy"

yes...the front handles the lions share when stopping (about 75% of braking is on front wheels) 4 snows will help steering and stopping.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Putting snow tires on the front only will make your car tail happy. Put them on all 4 or not at all.
Prestone makes a spray on ice traction goop that works for ~20 miles.

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

I would consider putting last years snows on the front and new snows on the back. I think 4 snows is a good idea in Green Bay. I would take a look at the rear brakes as well, they should be able to hold the wheels from turning at idle. If your rear brakes aren't working you will end up going backwards when you stop in the snow, regardless of tires.

I'm gonna assume that you have an AT, best to put it in neutral in such situations.

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Cheers,
Robert

MSN had an article dealing with this recently. All 4 or none

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

My brakes can't quite hold it sitting on snow/ice in D either, I can sense the sliding because the car begins to slide to the left in the back (not forwards) so I usually just go into neutral and it will sit there. Ah, the joys of snow....its supposed to begin this week onward (temps have fallen rapidly....sigh)

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

another vote for all 4 - steering is a factor as well....

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Rob M
Norwich, VT USA
1980 240D Euro delivery 4 speed manual silver/blue
~160K miles

For a long time, I just ran studs on the back, without any problems (mostly in Maryland). When I moved to Utah, studs on all 4 corners was nice to have, but not a real requirement as they don't get much ice there, just snow.

However, when I moved to Maine, being studded on all 4 corners was NICE as they do get their share of ice, and it made a big difference. This was on various FOMOCO products, a couple Volvo 240s and a Saab 900 Turbo.

Here in Kentucky where we get limited snow, I just run all seasons with no real problems.

BTW, I don't use my 4x4 that much in bad weather either, as it's locked up on both axles and is hard for the inexperienced (i.e., my wife) to handle as it'll swap ends in a large hurry. Then again, it'll drag itself out of a bad ditch as well, lol. Don't ask. The winch don't hurt, either.

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In the house of the hanged, nobody talks about the rope.

1973 Ford Maverick
1977 Ford F150 shortbed stepside ripping 429
1978 Ford F150 shortbed stepside 4x4
1979 Ford F100 'Free Wheeling' shortbed stepside
4 more 73-79 Ford parts trucks
1988 BMW 735iL
1994 BMW 540i
1992 Mercedes 190E 2.3

http://www.backwoodsmanmag.com

I have a 4 wheel drive truck but I can't drive it to DC....all the streets near my office are snow emergency routes adn it won't fit in the parking garage due to height or maneuverability.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Absolutely!!

When I was younger, dumber & broker I ran 2 studded snows - rears on the truck & fronts on my plymouth.
The truck once lost front traction (massive understeer) - slid & ended up in a hay field - no damage, lucky.
The plymouth "shanty" wasn't so lucky.
I crossed a town line where they didn't salt or sand. Me and Shanty slid for 1000 feet. We slid past 2 telephone poles - but not past the 3rd.
RIP 1993 Sundance - 1/1/1993 - 12/21/2001

Buy 4 or not at all (take your chances being that guy in a ditch making the 911 call)
I run 4 studded Nokian Hakka-2 here in NY now

Good luck.
PMU

__________________
Phil
Previously loved
variety, but I miss the 99 F350 PSD- 37k, traded, damn

Current stable
98 E-300 TurboDiesel, 253k
http://www.facebook.com/people/Philip-Underwood/762882374

4 studded all around on the TE,,, 4 dedicated snows on the 400E.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K