I always assume everyone else knows these things, but, just in case there are some who don't...

If you drive your XFire in the snow, you need to be aware the way the MB traction control on this car works, if you get stuck in the snow, or even start to get stuck in the snow, the traction control will *guarantee* you will NOT MOVE!

Sometimes in the snow, you need to spin the tires a bit to get moving. The traction control on this car will not allow that.

If you are stuck, or nearly stuck, you need to turn the traction control OFF!

 

You turn the traction control off to prevent the brakes from getting over heated when you are really stuck.
Turning them of at once is defeating the purpose.
Spinning the rear wheels is a guaranteeing you will not do too well. Spinning wheels help you dig yourself deeper, glaze the snow and make it even harder.
Slow and easy rocking forward and backward using the gears is a good strategy. Keep the front wheels pointing straight forward or they will make it harder.

 

I usually have to turn off the TC to get up the hill where I live when it's snowing, If I don't turn it off it causes the car to stop and get stuck halfway up the hill.

 

You can't rock an XFire with the TC on.

As soon as the wheel starts to slip, the TC stops it.

Spinning madly on the snow, yes, will get you more stuck. The wheel not moving at all will also be a problem. You have to turn the TC off. See the above post about driving up a snowy hill.

 

Yup and it's next to impossible to get it rocking back and forth with the TC on.

 

The initial discussion was about being stuck and that is what my comments refer to. I agree that if you cannot get anywhere with the ESP engaged then switch it off as instructed in the Drivers Manual.
In another post yesterday you mention that your tires were almost slicks, presumably they were not exactly the best for driving last winter.
Balding tires are not exactly great in snow, ice or even heavy rain. If you choose to run tires to that extreme of wear then you put others as well as yourself in jeopardy.
If you get into an accident you should look at the tires of the others involved and if they are poor or do not have snow tires on in snowy conditions you should point that out to the police involved. If you can stop in fifty feet and the guy behind can only stop in sixty feet because of his tires it's his problem not yours.
The difference between 'All Season' tires and the 'Mud and Snow' tires is like chalk and cheese in snow and ice. In warm weather the 'MS' tires grip too much and leave rubber marks on the road just by turning the wheel when stationary or moving too slowly for the car to keep up with the wheel direction.
We always get a laugh each winter when we see news clips showing the result of snow in places like Atlanta, They do not slow down and it looks like ten pin bowling in slow motion, mind you the idiots here are the same for the first snow fall.
The secret to driving safer in the snow and ice is 'MS' tires and easy as you go, front wheel drive helps a lot as well.
Those with 4 wheel drive seem to end up farther into the fields when they loose control, that's because the average IQ of the 4x4 crowd is lower than the national average. Present company excluded of course.
Stay safe out there.

 

Indiana winters ours has been in storage for over a month all ready !!!!!!!! No make that 2 months !!!!

 

You should move to Canada.
It's the last week for me. HID's go on, one last wash and she gets covered for four months.

 

My Crossfires have never seen the snow. However two are equipped with auto transmission. They have a switch that is marked "W" "S". Winter summer.. What does it do?? Gary

 

The vehicle starts out in SECOND
gear, unless FIRST gear has been selected, or the accelerator
pedal is in the kickdown position. The

CAUTION!

Never change the program mode when the selector
lever is out of the PARK position. It could result in a
change of driving characteristics for which you may

not be prepared.

 

60 degrees and sunny this weekend, pull her out...

LOL I am just getting mine road worthy, she is fun in the snow with the blizzaks on, since she grips so well and is so light I can zip around the lumbering SUVs with no issues

 

I agree. I don't know if the car was driven last winter. I just bought it in July. We haven't had much rain since then, and not any snow yet. I put new Conti ExtremeContact DWS all the way around in prep for winter.

My main point wasn't to discuss tires or winter driving tips - although I am not opposed to discussing either. My main point was to make people aware that the particular TC system on this car will *get you stuck* and leave you that way. There are plenty of people who don't read the owners manual and might think leaving the TC on will help, when in reality, it will just leave you stuck - turn off the TC to get unstuck.

 

Don't all traction control systems work like this? Good with grip but useless when really slippy?

 

I agree with what your saying. I will usually keep my TC on in the winter but, if you find yourself getting ready get stuck I would quickly turn it off. Also remember if your trying to move from a dead stop to feather the throttle very gently and if the rear end starts to kick out on you then to steer into it and feather the throttle as well. This will be my first winter driving with my brand new all season tires but when I first got the car I did this with summer tires and it was completely manageable at low speeds.

 

Hey guys, don't forget 100lbs of ballast in the trunk. That really improves weight distribution.
4 skinny "Blizzak's" would be the most excellent way to go I would think.
Mine never see's snow either, but if I ever get another one as my d.d., that one just might.

 

I always keep the TC on in winter driving accept for when I have to go up a steep hill or if I get stuck. After driving it for the past 3 winters as my daily driver in some really bad storms I learned when and when not to switch it off.

 

To an extent. I wish I could find the article I originally read about something specific with this MB TC system that is a unique issue.

You should definitely drive with it on most of the time, but when you start to have a problem, turning it off it the way to go.

I grew up in Chicago, so I've been driving in snow for 30+ years. It's not as hard as some people seem to make it out to be. I've driven everything from rear wheel drive hot rods, front wheel drive econo-boxes, 4 wheel drive Jeeps, and, yes, even motorcycles (which I try not to ride in the snow, but the trip home hasn't always worked that way). In the winter of 79, one of the worst ever, I even got nailed for speeding on the night of one of our worst storms. The cop first noticed the rooster tails flying up behind my car. What can I say, there was *no* traffic! : )

I know the when I put these new tires on, I should have gone with stock sizes, or even narrower, for the best winter driving, but the car just looks too damn good with some wide meat under it!

 

Anybody know exactly how deep the sipes are cut into the Blizzacks....looks like at least 3-4 32nds. I've put > 4,000 miles on them in last 2-3 months & only worn down 1-2 32nds so far...basically, they still look brand new...I have another new set in the basement to compare them with.



The diabetic cat likes XFs.