Driving in the snow and ice.

PeterPassat · 03-01-2010,04:09 PM

How have members found their B6s have behaved in the b. awful driving conditions we've had over the Christmas period?

I am sorry to say I am more than disappointed with mine! It wouldn't even cope with snow and the slightest incline.

It handled as badly as my old Triumph TR6 ! ( Front and rear wheel drives I know)

Being serious, my Passat Estate (2.0 TI DSG) just could not cope with the icy conditons at all. It was a similar tale with my son's Skoda Octavia. Tyres too wide and not enough weight.

What have your experiences been? No doubt I'll be shouted down as being a useless driver, but I have driven in awful conditions over the years and previously my cars and I have coped!

**csmccoll68** · 03-01-2010,04:26 PM

mines the same even with esp switched off

even bloody transit van got up hill easier than me

worst car for these conditions

**RickT** · 03-01-2010,04:28 PM

On my A4, this winter has been a nightmare due to having only 2mm of tread on the fronts,

Last year when i had around 7mm tread i was fine in the snow... on the same roads!

I think the main issue over xmas for me was compacted snow which turned to ice, which was impossible for any road car.

It all comes down to the tyres.. stick 2 pair of studded snow tyres on the car and its like driving in the wet..

Just like when i was driving out in Sweden, 50/60mph on ice... with studded tyres in a mk5 golf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asMMRg6kdh0

Rick

PeterPassat · 03-01-2010,04:29 PM

I'm glad its not just me! And there was plenty of tread on the tyres - 5mm plus.

**nick41** · 03-01-2010,05:19 PM

Snow tyres are the answer my friends.........never thought they'd be worth the money but I'm now on my forth winter. I bought steels for them to go on at the same time so my alloys are saved from the salt. Even in wet cold weather they make a difference and really grip - mandatory in Germany and I can see why.....

PeterPassat · 03-01-2010,05:59 PM

Definitely on the agenda for next year. What sort of mileage would you expect to get out of them?

Originally Posted by nick41

Snow tyres are the answer my friends.........never thought they'd be worth the money but I'm now on my forth winter. I bought steels for them to go on at the same time so my alloys are saved from the salt. Even in wet cold weather they make a difference and really grip - mandatory in Germany and I can see why.....

**nick41** · 03-01-2010,06:09 PM

I must have covered 20k by now, they're Avons and may well be their last winter, depending how long I leave them on for. Once temperatures creep over 7-8 degrees I use a bit more fuel and they wear more quickly.

**redrolo** · 03-01-2010,09:56 PM

Peter, take it you have Conti Sport 2 tyres then! There have been many threads on here as to what the cause is. My wife has 18" Michelin on her Mk5 Gti and is great in the snow. My neighbour who is a VW employee has a 59 passat with Michelin and has no trouble at all in the snow.

I am using snow chains to get out of where I live, then when I hit the main road take them off. Luckily the roads are well gritted around these parts.

Next year I will either go for specific snow tyres on 1 bought rim/plus spare wheel, or change my conti 2's (4mm of tread still on) for some tyres better in the snow, perhaps the Primacy..

**RickT** · 04-01-2010,01:01 AM

When i was in Sweden the hire car had studded Michelin tyres on it, however when i was in Oslo, Norway, the hire car have Michelin X Ice tyres which seemed to be as good in the ice and snow.

See link below for details of tyre,

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ireModel=X-Ice

Rick

**BenR** · 04-01-2010,02:00 PM

It's all about driving technique. Our street has a hill at each end and I've had no problems apart from the first Monday when I tried to get up with the ESP still on; the car slowed and slowed and eventually stalled. Turn the ESP off, get a good speed up and keep the momentum and you can get up most hills. That may mean driving down the hill first to find a flat spot; we advised a young driver who was struggling last night to drive to the bottom of the hill and get some speed up and a minute later he shot past, waving happily in thanks for the advice.

Also try to drive on the softer, less compacted parts of the road to find grip.