MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: geordie56 on March 12, 2013, 07:15:08 pm

Title: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: geordie56 on March 12, 2013, 07:15:08 pm
Just before I make my final decision, what's peoples opinions on rear wheel drive in the snow? I know from all the cars I've passed etc that I see stuck a lot is mainly your mercs and bmw's etc rear wheel drive basically. If I use winter tyres will it make much difference to this and have many people tried this on a rear wheel drive, if so how did you find them? Cheers.
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: Squeeguk on March 12, 2013, 07:35:34 pm
Here you go............

Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: tony_danza on March 12, 2013, 07:45:06 pm
Everyone in Europe seems to cope ok with RWD and winter, just buy the right tyres.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: jhtrophy on March 12, 2013, 08:21:17 pm
I have cheap winters on the winter steelies and although they are horrible in wet they are great in snow, so winter tyres work fine but maybe get good ones to run for a few months :signLOL:
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: jhtrophy on March 12, 2013, 08:27:59 pm
I'm sure someone will come on saying rwd is fine in snow but fwd is better in bad conditions no doubt, took mine to alps this year and very few bmw's compared to summer, but as said with winters it will be fine.
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: mad_pete on March 12, 2013, 08:40:48 pm
My RWD jag couldn't even get on the drive in the snow with summers on. But with winters I'm sure it's all fine.
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: rob_e on March 12, 2013, 08:49:58 pm
i used to have a 318i touring that would get stuck on level ground in 2 inches of snow with it's summer tyres on.

fitted some bridgestone blizzak winters and it was fecking awesome - much better than any fwd car with summer tyres.  very soft tyre though so it was very squidgy on warm days..  worth it though!

with winters on:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.staticflickr.com%2F4112%2F5191562065_177950e13d.jpg&hash=bcf797acef05fbb881befb735dbd797b97568bd9) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lotus-gt/5191562065/)
DSCF0160 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lotus-gt/5191562065/) by lotus-gt (http://www.flickr.com/people/lotus-gt/), on Flickr

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.staticflickr.com%2F4148%2F5191562059_70ccc16a20.jpg&hash=b1d9db018e8ac04187800a73154b830609cfbab3) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lotus-gt/5191562059/)
DSCF0156 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lotus-gt/5191562059/) by lotus-gt (http://www.flickr.com/people/lotus-gt/), on Flickr

cost 200 quid off ebay (wheels and tyres) used them for two winters then sold the car.. and sold the winter wheels and tyres on ebay for 200 quid.  can't argue with the maths!

;)
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: wigit on March 12, 2013, 11:26:12 pm
Having had to drive on the M2, M20, M26 and M25 in awful conditions last night i think it's down to the right tyres, plenty of fwd cars facing the wrong way after offs and only an SLK in the rwd front, right tyres and a modicum of sense

Main issue was people driving to slowly and so losing momentum in whatever car they had
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: WhiteGTI on March 13, 2013, 08:03:43 am
Put a couple of sand bags in the boot and it'll make a massive difference. More weight over the driving wheels =  :driver:
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on March 13, 2013, 12:05:31 pm
Honest John (Telegraph motoring) hears nothing but good things about winter tyres on RWD cars.

Makes the car almost as good as a 4WD on summer tyres.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: Squeeguk on March 13, 2013, 12:09:08 pm
You mean like this????



 :happy2:
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: Stevoraith on March 13, 2013, 01:53:34 pm
Honest John (Telegraph motoring) hears nothing but good things about winter tyres on RWD cars.

Makes the car almost as good as a 4WD on summer tyres.  :happy2:

A RWD car on winter tyres will get further on snow than a 4x4 on summer tyres (assuming it's not deep enough to make ground clearance an issue!).

I put winter tyres on my 330d and it felt invincible!  My street is quite steep with an almost hairpin bend in the middle.  In the bad snow we had in 2009 my neighbour got stuck in his Nissan Navara.  I drove straight past in the BMW on winters.

And don't forget winter tyres help you corner and stop better when it's cold too.....
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: geordie56 on March 13, 2013, 09:21:07 pm
Cheers for all the informative comments been very helpful and put me at ease now as to my decision. Winter tyres it will be then! Anyone know what a good place is for 255/35/19 Michelin alpine 4's? :happy2:
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: Andy on March 13, 2013, 09:24:17 pm
It's surprising what a difference snow tyres make in the winter
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: geordie56 on March 13, 2013, 09:30:26 pm
Shall find out next winter then! :happy2: :driver:
Title: Re: Rear wheel drive in the snow etc...
Post by: Andy on March 13, 2013, 10:31:03 pm
Shall find out next winter then! :happy2: :driver:
Get some steel rims also to put the tYres on