FAQ: How are the stock Conti tires in Snow?

[Hlf Pnt]

Has anyone driven on snow or ice with the stock Conti tires? I am asking because I need to know if I should invest in a separte set of really good snow tires for my Smart. I live in hilly areas so I need to know if I will be skiing or driving in the winter.

[jwight]

Here's some background info: smart in snow?

[jimvw57]

Good background on Smart in the snow but not much mentioned about tires, I'd guess you couldn't go wrong with a good set of Snow tires. Although a set of tires with good tread (like new) usually does a pretty good job in most snow conditions. The exception being 1-2 ft of snow or ice underneath snow.

Years ago when I drove Corvairs, If I got stuck, I'd just let the engine idle for a while and melt the snow by the rear tires and drive away. but in cold slushy days, the front end used to ice up. You could tell because the speedometer ran off the front wheel, when the speedo stopped, that meant the front tires weren't turning. THAT got interesting. Only happened once or twice, and on days when I shouldn't have been out driving.

[gusfraga]

Hi
I got my car back in january.
The car does very well in snow...ICE not so good.
GUS

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by gusfraga

Hi
I got my car back in january.
The car does very well in snow...ICE not so good.
GUS

NO car does good on ice.

A little fact that I wish SUV drivers would think about, as they go haughtily screaming by in the left-hand lane in bad weather with the attitude of, "I've got an SUV, I can drive like an idiot in ANY weather, bwahahaha!"

Any car (without traction/stability control) + brakes + slippery road = sliding tons of metal.

I wonder how many cops end up talking to drivers of overturned SUVs, who are saying woozily to the cop, "...but it's an SUV, I thought it would handle the weather!"

[jwight]

When I lived in Denver, the conventional wisdom was "all four wheel drive does is let you get farther off the road before you get stuck." Unfortunately, all the electronic aids do nothing for you once the tires start sliding; at that point the car is a ballistic projectile and the occupants are just along for the ride. Something to consider as we head into the winter season.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by jwight

Unfortunately, all the electronic aids do nothing for you once the tires start sliding; at that point the car is a ballistic projectile and the occupants are just along for the ride.

Ayuip, my point exactly! Too many SUV drivers think they're in a Sherman tank, and don't realize that--once you step on the brakes--all bets are usually off...

I'm very interested to see how the Smart does in the winters. As I've said elsewhere, on the one hand since the car is so light I can imagine it "snowshoeing" its way across the snow without really sinking in; on the other hand, since it's lighter, it may not hold the road as well. Being small and having the weight distributed (driver in front, engine in rear) is probably good, as is the small wheelbase (hard to get your car into a skid, since there's not much of a nose to get pointing in the wrong direction, LOL). I have a feeling that, ultimately, the biggest problem Smart owners will have is: avoiding having their car buried by the plows!

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by Hlf Pnt

Has anyone driven on snow or ice with the stock Conti tires? I am asking because I need to know if I should invest in a separte set of really good snow tires for my Smart. I live in hilly areas so I need to know if I will be skiing or driving in the winter.

I was really quite surprised at how well it handled in snow, sleet and once in freezing rain. It surpassed my expectations a ton, in fact. I was passing cars who were white knuckling it up the road and the electronic stability controls will keep you out of trouble insofar as bringing the back end around while turning.

All this here in Albany, too, where we usually get nastier weather than you do down there in Joisey.... (I talk like that because I am originally from Joisey)

[Woody14619]

I'm doubting the smart will be any worse than my Saturn. That was a toboggan when it came to snow. I plan on getting snows for it in any case, but I'm looking forward to it not sliding about quite as much as before. (I'm also looking forward to not scraping ice off my windscreen now that I can store my car in my tiny model-T garage.

[jefferios]

I was told that the stock tires are "junk" by a local care salsemen who is selling 4 electric cars (2 cars, 1 van and 1 truck) And he's getting the Electric converted smart in in two weeks.