Sometimes it is a new learning curve. I learned my lesson the first time I spun my front wheel drive car around. With a rear wheel drive car, you have weight and traction in the back - you can decelerate with the engine. If you do that with a front wheel drive car, the front will slow down and the back end will pass you.
On a front wheel drive you should never decelerate with the engine. If you need to stop, you should shift to neutral or push in the clutch and brake slowly. If you start to slide, you can accelerate to pull it straight again.
With more automatics and front wheel drives, it is common for people to let off the front wheel drive cars gas, and spin the car around. The insurance companies are now forcing tire shops to put the best, new snow tires on the back of the front wheel drive cars. This does two things. First it adds good tires to the rear with worn tires to the front, reducing the tendency to spin it around. Also, with worn tires in the front, you can't get moving in the snow in the first place. This solves most of the insurance liabilities.
Don't worry about trying to remember this. Your governments will be mandating full accelerometers on all corners of the car to detect a spinout. The vehicle will be automatically corrected to stop the spin.
There are other great things that a front wheel drive can do. If you are on a snowy hill, you can back up it. The incline of the hill will add weight to the front drive wheels. You can also turn the steering hard left and right to zigzag the car up the hill. It works like "switchbacks", making the hill less steep. It also causes people to stare at you like you are a loony.
As for tires, I have seen the narrower, soft durometer all season tires work well in New England. The studded snows are a harder tire that doesn't form well around the road surface. They need to be a hard rubber to hold the studs in. The softer all seasons form better to the road surface, sticking to the road.
Carl
On 9/28/2013 1:02 PM, Yahoo! Member Service wrote:
I've done triple 360 on the ice with front wheel drive,been driving rear wheel drive in snow now 15 years.Love it snow tires on rear goes good
Tennessee Nate
From: "jasperezra@gmail.com" <jasperezra@gmail.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2013 11:45 AM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] RE: W-I-D-E Tires
Actually I made a mistake, the tires on the Subaru ARE 205's and all this time I thought they were 225's. But I did find out from a Les Schawb they do have 195's to put on my car , but they don't recommend it.The first shop I talked to said the 205's were my only choice. Now my 240 has 195's, cant weigh any less than the Subie. I just drove down to Oregon and back, 500 miles each way. I took my Subaru because the cruise control works and it does go faster, but I really dont like these frontwheel/AWD cars ride compared to our OLD Mercedes. People just dont get this. Rear wheel drive with independent rear suspension is King. Also something people dont get. I remember being told "front wheel drive is so much better for snow", bullshit. I have all of them and have driven in snow for 35 years. These Mercedes with 200lbs in the trunk, good snow tires, are really great in snow, better than a 4WD car in two wd. Max
---In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Oh Max ;
When will you ever learn that the things the kiddies do are always the best ? .
All those smashed cars from hydroplaning in dewy pavement don't mean a single thing ~ WIDE tires show the world you're a MANLY Man , right ? =8-) .
So go find some bling bling 22" chrome rims and stop all this Old Man whining jazz .
Then : GET OFF MY DAMN LAWN !! .
-Nate
Max Griped :
I just called Les Schawb to see about tires for my 02 Legacy. It's got these horrible 225's. I told them I wanted something like 195's, which is what I have on my 240 4 spd. Nice tires. Anyway I really pissed the guy off because I told him those wide tires really suck. Of course my tires are considered all season, which is the biggest joke of all. 1/2" of snow and the Subaru turns into a sled, I can't hardly drive it with those wide boats. Of course I have spiked snow tires to put on but usually in spring and fall you get stuck with the summer tires once or twice. Anyway the narrowest tires they have that will fit my car are 205's. Better than the sled tires I guess but it's a fact in snow, narrow tires are best. Since I don't drive at Dayonta I hate those wide tires. Gripe, gripe, bitch, piss moan. Lit my stove this morning. Max
--- In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, Yahoo! Member Service <tccservice111@...> wrote:
>
> I have to replace radiator in my 300sd,then two coils in my S320.Then shop for tires for my S.the SD has new tires
>
> Â
> Tennessee Nate
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: brian's 83 300d's <bstromsoe@...>
> To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 10:57 AM
> Subject: [diesel_mercedes] To Do List
>
>
>
> Â
> Now that the temps have retreated from 100+F, it is time to do a few things. First, I need to change the oil and filter in Martha (my wifes 300D). Then I have to bang my rear view mirror into place on Mary (harder than it looks in the guys video). Next, will finish my order for nuts, bolts, diesel purge, gaskets, etc. to Autohaus. And finish up with washing & waxing both cats, maybe tackling fixing Martha's driver seat and replacing map case on the drivers side.
>
> If I get all that done, I will think about a total rehab on both A/C's, both radios, replace all muffler donuts, and tighten down the air cleaner on Mary. Whew, I am tired already and I have not even gone out the front door.
>
> brian from laverne
>
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