Snow storm coming to IL and Wisconsin

[rwj53]

Ok folks alot of snow is coming thrusday night and into friday 6-9". I want to hear from all of you new smart owners how this little car handles the snow with just the stock all weather tires. Thanks

[SMART]

Sounds like the smart is doing great in the snow.

[ckigar]

haven't wrecked yet!

I am pretty experienced in snow (read cautious.) I saw the traction control indicator light up a couple of times and I can testify to the abs... but, am navigating!

[rwj53]

What is the deepest you have driven in?

[HGB]

I had a Beetle years ago that moved very well in the snow because of the rear wheel rear engine configuration. This is similar to the smart...however stopping the car was a whole other issue. It kept going and going. So be cautious and don't get cocky until you know the car. My two cents.

[stuberman]

We have had plenty of snow here over the last week and my 2008 handles great with stock tires.

I find that ice is the worst driving condition and from experience only Blizzaks do a decent job on ice. (chains and studs not allowed in Michigan)

Slush is the next worse condition and the smart handles slush quite well but expect plenty of slipping and sliding.

Then snow in general varies widely depending upon the type of snow. The lighter stuff is fairly easy to navigate (drove in up to 6" this week) but the heavy stuff is more like slush. This morning we got a nice layer of ice (after the weather went from 40F down to 7F) and several inches of light stuff on top of that. The smart handled the roads pretty well. I don't see a need to change tires for our winters, I'll just drive with the stock tires until the tread is too shallow for snow then probably replace with the same brand/style. I have been very happy with Continentals for years although they (CH-95 series) tended to wear very quickly.

[rwj53]

I thought about that this morning when the road was icy. I bet this little car will keep on sliding as to no weight to stop it.

[stuberman]

Originally Posted by rwj53

I thought about that this morning when the road was icy. I bet this little car will keep on sliding as to no weight to stop it.

RW - I would expect the opposite, less mass means less kinetic energy and the same "grip" if the tires were similar and perhaps better grip with smaller contact surface area on smaller tires. And if I was heading downhill I would rather be in a lighter vehicle... Going uphill I'd rather have AWD.

[rwj53]

Ya come to think of it your right.

[propes]

Snow and ice are always a big worry for me (even moreso when I'm next to an SUV - too many of those drivers think they can plow through anything, over Thanksgiving my wife and I counted a dozen SUVs, and one minivan, in the ditch along the way to Iowa - no regular cars) - thanks for the information!