I drove my car home at night in a heavy snowstorm. I spun into a curb and bend some parts. Poor judgement on my part, as I had the OEM Contis on the car with low tread. So here's the deal, I had to replace the front cast iron steering knuckle, in the rear I replaced two upper links and the lower crossmember. Nice thing is the parts were available on line, not very expensive, pretty easy to replace and I didn't bend the frame or the wheels. Alignment dials in on OEM numbers now, too. I get my alignments done at my local Mercedes dealer and they know just how to set these cars up.

My next set of tires will be the Dunlop Sp Winter Sport 3Ds on another set of wheels.
I'll use these for winter only.
I'm thinking about getting the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires for summer, but would like to know if anyone has something good to say about them.
Melspank is correct, slow and steady driving in snow and you should have no problems. Everyone I've talked to recommends dedicated snow tires for winter.
Good luck!

 

Driving on bald tires is not smart at anytime.

 

Calgary winters can get bad and I do drive in ice and snow if I must,I drive on winter dunlops and love them I've had no problems and some sandbags help like others have said,go for it.

 

As long as you are not bottoming out in really deep snow - I think the XF is excellent in the snow as long as you have 4 snow tires (I have Blizzaks). A quick search will find some recent discussion on XF in snow.

 

I had no luck driving in the snow with my xfire, but my tires were far from optimal. Once it was moving it was somewhat ok, but it was near impossible to get it to move after a storm.


Incidentally, this has NOTHING to do with being rear wheel drive... it has to do with being lightweight with a large footprint (wide tires) and no posi =(.


PS- Rear wheel drive does not = bad in snow contrary to what so many people say.... its just that amateur drivers are so scared of the rear end fishtailing they prefer the front wheel drives... When do you need traction most? going up hill or accellerating... when going uphill or accellerating where does the cars weight transfer to? Thats right.... to the rear wheels... and ppsi = traction. There is a lot more to be said (and debated) on this subject, but I had to at least give my 15 second schpiel =P

 

Going uphill or accelerating in the snow it is better to pull rather than push. When pulling the rear end does not want to overtake the front of the car. Going downhill the reverse is true, the engine braking action of RWD keeps the front of the car where it belongs, at the front.
I would not want to drive a Xfire in snow unless it had narrow ice/snow tires, all seasons? forget about it.
Having recent experience with the FWD Concord and LHS and my RWD 300 all equipped with the same make and model snow/ice tires on all four corners, the FWD's win hands down in snow and ice. The FWD's would leave the scary SUV's with their all season tires behind or in the ditch.

 

I just squirm everytime I read these threads...I got to stay away from "snow" threads, they can be as bad as the "political" threads....LOL

 

GASP!
You disagree? I'm cut to the quick!

You have to remember that I live in Nowhereland, N.E. WI & the 55 mile drive to work every day is 90% rural backroads & highways with about half of that on no-shoulder 2 lanes. It's an evil ride when the snows a'flyin & the various counties I drive through will always concentrate on the more heavily used highways to plow first so that means my keister is stuck trying to wrestle the car through the tracks previously placed there by pick-ups & SUV's.
It's a load of laughs, let me tell ya!
That being said, I drive on A/S's year 'round. When it's really snowing or the roads are for sh_t out comes the Cougar. It already has dents on it from deer crashing into it & the paint's chipping & it accelerates like an old woman in a walker BUT it goes through anything! And I don't care if some jerk decides to go zipping down the road & whacks it. As long as the heater works & the thing can be steered I'm golden!

 

LOL! Kurts. I know exactly where you are. In my first job, my territory took me on that triangle up from madison, to Milwaukee to Green Bay and back. Man, it's open out there and those rural roads can be a living nightmare in winter. I'd be worried out there in the Cross too. But here in the Cities it's mainly dry roads, just cold, so the A/S work very well even when we do get some snows, it's a dry snow most of the time. My wife just got a new Escape so I'll put the Cross up for the winter about Thanksgiving and drive her older Tribute until about March. Then I get the bike out and use the Cross on raindays. Blesphemy of course for some folks but I think the Cross likes playing in the rain. well, alot better than the bike does-talk about a fair weather rider!

 

I would normally agree, HOWEVER, when you are young, little money and going to college , food and other essentials have a higher priority. I was buying used tires for several years just to keep driving.

 

snow? uh, no.
A little dusting not bad.
I got stuck in 2" last winter.

 

But what tires were you using? Summer tires like PS2 / AS / or dedicated snows? I'll bet it wasn't snow tires. My PS2's lose grip when the temp hits 35 degrees - forget about snow. With snow tires I have travel well in 4-5" of snow (that is about as bad as it gets in NJ) no problem uphills downhills 60+mph.

 

No not dedicated snow tires. Conti all seasons
Not far from you I'm just out of philly

 

Get a winter beater. You will learn mechanics when starts falling a part, you will get your first toolbox and all that knowledge (replacing alternator, power steering pump including high and low pressure rusty lines, starter, rotors, PCV valve, fuel filter, wires & spark plugs...you name it) will pay off on your X-fire by means of learning how to do your own oil change, brake pads, fuel filter and changing the injectors to bigger ones and improving your air box to the Mercedes E class. Learn form an old winter beater, then go for the big buck. You save $$$$ on the long run.

Cheers.

 

Do what I do. Keep the Crossfire in the garage for nice, warm, sunny days and spend a couple of grand on a beater truck or similar. I love my F-150s because they are cheap, run forever, can haul stuff, are good in snow, and I don't have to worry about scratching the paint.

 

Well, they weren't bald, just not new enough for winter.
I'm waiting for the new Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3s to become available in October. These tires have one side facing OUT, which means I can switch them across when the right rear needs it. Pretty good reviews on these.

 

Thanks! (I know, ten years later...)
It's a 2004 coupe, that light blue/silvery color. I LOVE it. I got it for a steal: less than 20,000 miles, I scored a car starter/alarm, not a single scratch, and when I went to pick it up from the previous owner he gave me a $100 bill because it was due for an oil change soon. Also, it came with a set of blizzaks on a set of 17's I think....that work wonderful. The winter is almost over, and it's made it through great. The one time I got stuck was in a neighborhood that hadn't been plowed after several bad snow falls (our state isn't too quick on snow removal). Other than that it makes it through 6 inches plus. I just make sure to keep momentum, and I followed several people's advice with the sand bags in the back. Thank you to everyone for all the good advice. I don't regret it one bit!
And by the way - I live in Alaska - so it's definitely possible.

 

A extra set of rims and snow tires, and he felt bad about it needing a oil change. Nice guy!

 

Take The Bus!!!!!

 

NO! Please don't.....