driving in snow...help!!!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

davestlouis · #1 12-08-2005, 11:57 PM

I have historically driven FWD cars, and my blushing bride has had several
4wd SUV's but these Mercedes are the first rear wheel drive cars I've driven since the 1970 VW Beetle I drove in high school...I drove the 420SEL today, and we got 2-3 inches of snow. It has Michelin MXV4's, 50-60% tread, and it was a handful in the snow. I had to dump a whole bag of playground sand on the driveway to get in the garage. What can/should I do to improve performance in the slippery stuff?

Aaron · #2 12-09-2005, 12:06 AM

BY FAR the best thing you can do is put four snow tires on that car. Take it from me, I grew up in Cleveland, right on the north coast where we got horrible weather fronts rolling down from Canada right across Lake Erie which tended to magnify the effects tenfold!

I highly recommend the Michelin Pilot Alpin A2. Very competent tire. Alternatively, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2 is an awesome snow tire. Made in Finland, so you know its designed well. Only problem with the Hakkas is their rather limited availability. Go to http://www.nokiantyres.com and do a dealer search in your area.

Oh, weight in the trunk wells helps too. I use bird seed so when spring rolls around I can keep our feathered friends happy

400E · #3 12-09-2005, 08:12 AM

I had a similar experience the first winter I had my MB. We've gotten used to getting away with "all season" tires on other vehicles, so forget that there are dedicated winter tires.

Aaron is right on the money -- invest in four (4 -- not 2!) winter tires and you'll be happy again.

Might want to poke around the wheels and tires section of this site. Lots of options in winter tires.

bonita · #4 12-09-2005, 08:31 AM

Good morning,

i just slapped on 4 blizzaks and man what a difference! its like night and day.

that bird seed idea is awesome! i gotta do that too. thnx

halman2228 · #5 12-09-2005, 09:26 AM

...couple sacks of sand does double duty - weight for moving & traction when stuck.

Spent a couple of winters on the shores of Gitchigoomee (Lake Superior) and learned that real quick (had a '72 Vega - picture that baby in the snow...)

Kevin

Pete Geither · #6 12-09-2005, 12:14 PM

Tires, tires tires .

jlomon · #7 12-09-2005, 12:19 PM

Definitely snow tires, and four of them. Don't just put them on the rear wheels and figure you'll be ok. Asking for opinions on specific brands will bring as many opinions as there are different brands. As long as you have four good snow tires, it will help you out a great deal.

manny · #8 12-09-2005, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonita

that bird seed idea is awesome! i gotta do that too. thnx

Too expensive.
Get a couple bags of Kitty Litter.
Works really well when your stuck.

MikeTangas · #9 12-09-2005, 05:09 PM

Blizzaks are great on the 126. I have them on the 560, it handles snow and ice great!

Moneypit SEL · #10 12-09-2005, 05:13 PM

I'm running Hankook W401s. Snow is truly a non-event. Snow tires pay for themselves the first time they keep you out of a ditch.

Bob Weir · #11 12-09-2005, 05:16 PM

It all depends on how often your roads are snow covered. I've done the 4 snows and the 2 in front definitely make a difference when you want to turn in the snow.

I put 2 Nokian's on my 94 e320 Wagon last year. Great in the snow but lousy on dry turns. I got a quick reminder this year in skid control from the back end breaking away. We get minimal snow here and the road crews do a reasonably quick clean up, so I need the snows primarly for unplowed street parking and snow drifts across the road. Michlein Alpines have best dry road handling per TireRack, so I'm putting them on my daughter's Scorpio.

Bob