Driving on Ice and Hard Frozen Snow

[majordad]

Mrs. Majordad asked me which car is better on ice, my Cayenne or her Ford C Max Diesel. Say on the same tyres. I'm talking about driving on almost black ice, sometimes down a hill, on an ungritted/unsalted road. The reason I ask is my brain tells me the Cayenne yet my recent experience suggests my seat of the pants result to be her C Max. The Cayenne seems to slide early because of it's weight. Any ideas ?

[sneaky schnell]

I would suggest the Ford due to lower mass and narrower tyres.

ETA: By same tyre I assume you mean the same brand but of the correct size for the car.

[dazco]

I would opt for the car with a narrower tyre. Having said that, on ice and hard frozen snow most normal tyres will be as useless as the next one, regardless of what vehicle it is on.

I have seen tanks fall off the road because of ice.

[majordad]

Both on summer tyres ( C Max standard 215/50/17 and Cayenne 255/55/18)

[chris_w]

In those conditions I'd definitely plump for the C-Max.... it'll be cheaper to repair

[doneitnow]

Black Ice, down hill, not gritted, I think I would just stay indoors, wouldn't fancy my chances in either

[MDahmen]

probably neither one would move. i once slipped down a hill backwards, while my tyres were all four spinning to go forwards. car had 4x4 and winter tyres and it was not even proper ice, just very compacted snow.

[TISPKJ]

You really cant play down the importance of proper winter snow tyres on a car, never took much notice until spending more time in swissy where it is compulsory to fit winter tyres, up the mountain snow skiing and you never seem to see even normal cars get stuck, we have a set of spare rims with snow tyres on our Cayenne and its superb.

Black ice however, forget it in anything, if you have to the smallest and lightest I guess as above.

[doneitnow]

TISPKJ said:

You really cant play down the importance of proper winter snow tyres on a car, never took much notice until spending more time in swissy where it is compulsory to fit winter tyres, up the mountain snow skiing and you never seem to see even normal cars get stuck, we have a set of spare rims with snow tyres on our Cayenne and its superb.

Black ice however, forget it in anything, if you have to the smallest and lightest I guess as above.

It is the same in Japan, as soon as snow falls it is compulsory to fit winter tyres.