Snow Chains

The RR is immense in snow, unless you expect it to be really deep snow I wouldn't put them on, they may interfere with the ETC?

Dan_UK_1984 said:

The RR is immense in snow, unless you expect it to be really deep snow I wouldn't put them on, they may interfere with the ETC?

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Good advice but I think its a legal requirement to carry them on certain mountain roads/passes. I will not use them unless absolutely necessary de to very deep road snow which is very unlikely.

Dan_UK_1984 said:

The RR is immense in snow, unless you expect it to be really deep snow I wouldn't put them on, they may interfere with the ETC?

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Maybe so, but more important than the car are the tyres fitted to it.
Over here it's easy to tell when it starts getting frosty/ icy on the roads
as the 4x4's start ending up in the ditch.
It's a myth that a big burly 4x4 offroader is good in snow. Only when
it has proper tyres.

A bit of Ice coming out of a roundabout

Use your brakes like there are rotten eggs under the pedal, and be cautious
with your steering.

Have fun skiing.

q-rover said:

[quote="Dan_UK_1984":344ndzlv]The RR is immense in snow, unless you expect it to be really deep snow I wouldn't put them on, they may interfere with the ETC?

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Maybe so, but more important than the car are the tyres fitted to it.
Over here it's easy to tell when it starts getting frosty/ icy on the roads
as the 4x4's start ending up in the ditch.
It's a myth that a big burly 4x4 offroader is good in snow. Only when
it has proper tyres.

A bit of Ice coming out of a roundabout

Use your brakes like there are rotten eggs under the pedal, and be cautious
with your steering.

Have fun skiing. [/quote:344ndzlv]

Good advice from a Country that knows a bit about snow & ice! Out of interest what snow tyres do you recommend. I have a bit of a rubber fetish

I use Cooper Discoverer M+S, mainly because there aren't that many options
in the size 265.75x16
Havn't had a chance to try them properly yet though, I live in the wrong
part of Norway. :lol:

q-rover said:

I use Cooper Discoverer M+S, mainly because there aren't that many options
in the size 265.75x16
Havn't had a chance to try them properly yet though, I live in the wrong
part of Norway. :lol:

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And I have a set of General Grabber AT2 for summer use.

I use 18" Nokian (with studs) and have never got stuck in snow. I drive quite often in snowy mountains and snow chains are really only needed for two wheel drive cars.

The danger with a heavy 4x4 on ice or snow is that you will lose grip at a higher speed than a ordinary two wheel drive car. Four wheel drive does not help braking, but the weight will increase the braking distance. Therefore if someone loses control it will more often end up with an accident.

Remember that snow chains only help you to get started or up a slippery hill. They will not help you braking or down the hill.

A couple of tips if the conditions are very bad. Keep long distance to the car in front of you. At least 200 meters. If he gets stuck, then you can choose where you want to stop and don't have to stop where he got stuck. The other one is easy to forget. Drive slower than the locals.

The absolute best thing you can do is have a play in the snow in a safe place with plenty of run off space (I'm not talking fast, but its amazing how far they slide even at 5mph if they want to!) Get to know the limits of your tyres and the car.

I found that using HDC was a great help in Jan/Feb in all the snow, but sometimes it would loose directional control so a very slight blip on the throttle - it doesn't speed you up, but it disengages HDC for a split second enough for the front wheels to regain grip. Even on sheet ice HDC on hills is fantastic (search for my posts and snow for pics/vids).

Also, this may sound odd, but I found if you're sliding forwards and you need to turn a corner then brake - the Cornering Braking Control treats it as if you have under steer on the road and brakes the inside wheels to sling you round in the direction you want.

Again, have a play around safely and see what works for you!

I have everything crossed for snow!

D

le25dse said:

I use 18" Nokian (with studs) and have never got stuck in snow. I drive quite often in snowy mountains and snow chains are really only needed for two wheel drive cars.

The danger with a heavy 4x4 on ice or snow is that you will lose grip at a higher speed than a ordinary two wheel drive car. Four wheel drive does not help braking, but the weight will increase the braking distance. Therefore if someone loses control it will more often end up with an accident.

Remember that snow chains only help you to get started or up a slippery hill. They will not help you braking or down the hill.

A couple of tips if the conditions are very bad. Keep long distance to the car in front of you. At least 200 meters. If he gets stuck, then you can choose where you want to stop and don't have to stop where he got stuck. The other one is easy to forget. Drive slower than the locals.

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The studs may increase road noise on the M25.... :lol:

Just remember that all cars/trucks have always had 4 wheel brakes... And stopping is were I see people getting into trouble around here with their AWD vehicles. Next its just staying on the road, funny how people forget or can't tell were the side of the road is. They hook a wheel and slid off or into the ditch. (By the way nothing slows you down faster on a snow/ice day then seeing a neighbor, who knows how to drive in these conditions, setting in the ditch).

Drive Safe, Happy Holidays All.

Mark.

Moto One said:

Just remember that all cars/trucks have always had 4 wheel brakes... And stopping is were I see people getting into trouble around here with their AWD vehicles. Next its just staying on the road, funny how people forget or can't tell were the side of the road is. They hook a wheel and slid off or into the ditch. (By the way nothing slows you down faster on a snow/ice day then seeing a neighbor, who knows how to drive in these conditions, setting in the ditch).

Drive Safe, Happy Holidays All.

Mark.

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I guess the Downhill Descent tool/button may come in useful!

Gazellio said:

I am driving the TDV8 to France soon for weeks skiing in Morzine and was wondering if my Snow Chains that I purchased for my LR3 (Disco3) with its stock 255/55 R19 will work with my current TDV8 255/20/50. My guess is that they will as the rolling radius must be the same or similar?

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As no one has replied yet, your tire sizes are within 1/100" of an inch of one another and both König and Thule Chain-Fitment charts show the same size chain for both, you ought to be fine. Still, check w/the manufacturer. Isn't there a size chart with the chains? Mine have them.

Stevemfr said:

Gazellio said:

I am driving the TDV8 to France soon for weeks skiing in Morzine and was wondering if my Snow Chains that I purchased for my LR3 (Disco3) with its stock 255/55 R19 will work with my current TDV8 255/20/50. My guess is that they will as the rolling radius must be the same or similar?

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As no one has replied yet, your tire sizes are within 1/100" of an inch of one another and both König and Thule Chain-Fitment charts show the same size chain for both, you ought to be fine. Still, check w/the manufacturer. Isn't there a size chart with the chains? Mine have them.

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Thanks for that its always good to get an answer - eventually

I will check box to see if there is size chart but based on your answer they should fit perfectly.

I have put some wintrac M&S tyres on it ,and by god it makes a change.

had the car three times up the alps for wintersport, and even with 5 inch of snow worked perfect and you can keep some fairly good speed (not possible with chains)

currently in the netherlands with 10 inch of snow and i had to pull 4 colleques out of the snow 8)

I also have the same tyres uner the merc r class these are exceptionally good tyres,

I personally wouldn't go on wintersport without wintertyres ..... never.

Chains are no option

I guess the Downhill Descent tool/button may come in useful!

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Surprisingly little in fact. We got a little snow here (southwestern Germany) recently and country roads tend to remain quite icy.

Earlier in the week I brought my youngest son to school driving up one of these country roads that is actually rather steep and narrow. No problem whatsoever. Driving back however I suddenly realized that the car was essentially on something like a skating rink. I engaged the Downhill Descent Tool and found that it felt like it was engaging the ABS and releasing it every second or so. Fine on sand I guess, but not the best of strategies on ice since if 2 1/2 metric tons of metal break lose on a narrow road, you need to be rather lucky to regain control. I deactivated the DDT and drove down slowly, just braking very gently.

Driving on snow and ice is all about being gentle.

HDC performs exceptionally well on snow/ice, you cannot always rely on engine braking to keep you going slow enough. HDC can monitor which wheels have the most amount of grip and apply the brakes there to slow you down to a crawl. Snow, Ice and Mud is exactly what it's there for, not so much sand :?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycUQNtqzwiM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88UkKg1w1mo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WycNOq9J1U4

Dan_UK_1984 said:

HDC performs exceptionally well on snow/ice, you cannot always rely on engine braking to keep you going slow enough. HDC can monitor which wheels have the most amount of grip and apply the brakes there to slow you down to a crawl. Snow, Ice and Mud is exactly what it's there for, not so much sand :?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycUQNtqzwiM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88UkKg1w1mo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WycNOq9J1U4

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On my 2007 I also have the Terrain Response dial and can set it to Snow & Ice which allows better grip/control going up or down hills....