Northeast Winter driving

[jonnysan]

Just a quick post (hard for me to do) about the Smarts handling ability in snow, sleet and freezing rain. We had all of the above this morning as I drove to work with around 3 inches of snow on the side roads and just grooves and some slush on the main roads.

I don't have Winter tires on it yet and I am absolutely awestruck over how well the car handles with the stock Conti Summer tires it came with. Any of you out there who don't have your cars yet but are concerned about Winter traction......don't be.

The Smart handles very well with marginal tires (marginal in the sense that they are not snow tires) so with snow tires on it or even studded snow tires, the car will go extremely well in the snow or other slippery road conditions.

OK....already NOT a quick post so I'm out of here....

John

[SmartCard]

Yes, it seems like all posts to date suggest both the 450 and 451's are troopers in light snow...good to know, esp since a couple of inches is what we usually get here in Kentucky on a bad day.

BTW, the Contis are rated M+S, they're all season tires.

[smart y pants]

I agree the smart does well on moderately snowy roads. I have put 240 miles on my smart so far (1 tank of gas...32mpg?...outside temp 10) I expect better as it warms up. Last night I was attempting to park my smart out of the way so I could plow my yard this morning and discovered it doesn't like to move in the following snow conditions; my driveway iced over last week followed by 2'" of snow, a light crust of ice followed by 1" of snow...total depth 3+" not much by my standards. Backed the smart into the 3" of crud and tried to back further but couldn't, moved ahead an inch or two and then was stuck, on level ground!!! the esp then decided to take control, each time the wheels spun in either 1st or reverse the esp stopped the wheels from turning at all. All I got was a whining and clicking sound with the wheels doing nothing! Impossible to spin the wheels enough or at varying speeds to rock the car out. Must say I have never experienced any thing like it, and have been driving on and off road in winter for over 40 years. Calling the dealer today, and pulling it out with my tractor tonight. Disappointed to say the least.

[canon1753]

Is there anyway to disable the esp and traction control?

Thats certainly a hmmmm.... moment.

[vonbugburg]

Wow, one in Vermont (smart-y-pants). I spent most of the AM on the tractor blowing snow, so I was wondering about the smart in the snow. Also, I am a 1188 and looking forward. What are/was your numbers up here in the North country? Where was your dealer? If I ever get the smart, it might hide in our 10 foot snowbanks!

[smart y pants]

Located on the Canadian border, 1 hour from Montreal. Lots of smarts up there, not sure if theirs have the same esp. Called the dealer, (smart Latham, Albany, NY) he is going to speak with one of the techs to see why the esp is kicking it out of gear. #1174 arrived in Latham on 2/5 and made ready for pick-up on 2/9 after sticker placement and correction of other smart bugs. Latham is 200 miles south of me, next closest dealer is in Boston 250 miles away.

[smart y pants]

Update... a couple of quick shovels of snow removed and I drove right out. The esp decided not to take control.

Spoke with a MB tech in Montreal yesterday and he said everyone there adds weight to the rear of the car when traveling alone and real snow tires are a must to keep the esp under control by limiting the wheel spin.

Still very happy with the car.

[Karl Roth]

Haven't gotten stuck with the all season tires yet. Would like a set of steel wheels and dedicated snow tires.
karl

[Wizco]

I'd like to pick up a set of real snow tires for mine. Since the only tires I can find in the factory size is the Continentals that came with car, what sizes are people using for snows?

[mvukovich]

FastEddy has a sale going on, 4 x steel rims mount/balanced conti winter tires $800.
4 x new wheel covers $198.02
free shipping
www.flyingtiger.ca
I'm going to try and hold out until next year.