A new scary experience

L

Lowrider

New member
I have a heavily sloping drive and this morning as I decided to go for a newspaper the drive appeared to have a light covering of snow. I started my ftype and engaged snow mode as I approach the top of the top of the slope the car started skidding under its own weight and the drive has stones on each side ( the car was out of my control). I arrived at the bottom of my drive sliding on to the main road as a car was going past , my car just stopped in time avoiding a collision.
Not one of my best driving experience.
 
UK weather has been off the scale this week. Many of us are used to getting through the winter on "summer" tyres and they really aren't suitable for these temps and conditions.

I did 350 miles yesterday on P-zeroes but took it very carefully even on the motorways.
 
My car has P zeroes and through this cold spell on the start of journey until they warm it’s like driving on nails.
 
I had the same with the PS4S’s too - I reverse out of my drive on lock and they feel so hard and skippy first thing - the difference once swapped a week or so ago for the SottoZero’s is massive. You still need to respect the conditions but you can still drive around in dynamic mode and although they are recommended for temperatures below 7 degrees they are fine up into the teens too.

As a side note I engaged the rain/ice/snow mode on the motorway this morning (I try to use it once a year just to make sure it works, but hate the disconnected feel to the accelerator pedal) on the way to Parkrun and the heated rear screen appeared to stay on for much longer than it’s customary few minutes. Didn’t check if that was true, and related to mode switch, on the way back as I had the roof down 😎
 
Been driving careful… ish on PZeros myself, well until I had a puncture on the near side front on the M40 last week and had a budget tyre fitted there and then to get home quicker!

Actually chaps am I ok with one budget which is exactly the same 255 35 20 97 Y and one PZero on the front? If so my plan was to replace both with new PZeros whichever wears first.
 
MArtyn Veg said:
Actually chaps am I ok with one budget which is exactly the same 255 35 20 97 Y and one PZero on the front? If so my plan was to replace both with new PZeros whichever wears first.
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MArtyn,
Budget tyres should really be used for low mileage, low speed, lack or performance applications, not 400hp performance cars. Of course there are many colours of budget and you don’t specify the make and model.
For the majority of driving I’m sure you’ll probably not notice the difference,. Bit more noise, vibration, steering a bit more vague, etc.

Issues are more likely to arise on the limit. Emergency braking being an example where the budget tyre won’t have the same braking performance, longer stopping distance, off balancing the car, etc. similar with aquaplaning and cornering on limit, where the tyres are acting differently.
If cost is prohibitive stick with it. If you drive enthusiastically or are concerned then swap it out. I for one would never run a budget beyond what you’ve done as a get you home measure.
 
Scary stuff sliding with no control.

I once had an excursion in our Nissan Quasqui on a cold Xmas winters night and as we approached a roundabout downhill we went straight across and into the kerb. That was with cross climate all season tyres.

Glad no harm done.
 
I let 10 p.s.i out of our loaner V6S when it was icy and -3C, seemed to cope just fine...need to be on the lookout for pot holes of course!
 
Indeed, when you get into a situation like that, experience, 4wd, etc, count for nothing and you’re just a passenger.
No injury is always the important thing, but with the love that people can have for their cars it’s tragic if they get damaged like this too, with all the hassle of the insurance claim and sourcing the parts.
Heavy rain and standing water next week!
Stay safe everyone.
 
Thanks for the advice CJ. Will go careful for a month or two and then get rid as soon as the weather allows some better driving conditions. Cheers
 
The problem with low speed manoeuvring on ice is that the abs is useless. Unless the wheels are turning you have no directional control. If you do start sliding and the car is just pushing itself along with the front wheels locked, you have to let go the brakes to let the wheels turn.
 
Tel said:
I let 10 p.s.i out of our loaner V6S when it was icy and -3C, seemed to cope just fine...need to be on the lookout for pot holes of course!
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...and police too given potentially a £2,500 fine and 3 points for each such underinflated tyre :o
Fully understand though why you'd do it as I do exactly the same off road seeking extra grip, but reinflate before hitting the tarmac
 
With rear wheel drive, I always take it carefully in this sort of weather, rear of car has slid a couple of times at very slow speed going on gentle bends. If you do get stuck in the snow, look at the handbook on disabling the dynamic stability control, otherwise the car won't let you move off if the wheels spin. I thought you only have to briefly press the button in the centre console, but to fully disable it requires holding down the button for 3 seconds. You always find the relevant handbook information an hour after you needed it, but switch the DSC back on once you get moving.
 
GARETH said:
The problem with low speed manoeuvring on ice is that the abs is useless. Unless the wheels are turning you have no directional control. If you do start sliding and the car is just pushing itself along with the front wheels locked, you have to let go the brakes to let the wheels turn.
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Spot on in that almost all folks in a slide situation on snow or ice plant their floor on the brake and hope, usually adding a bit more lock for good measure. From that point you're a passenger as the wheels are locked.
Lesson 1 in off roading to avoid sliding is that there is no brake pedal, engine running, wheels rotating ideally under light power and you can generally go down any muddy slope, wet grass bank, ice snow, etc.
Very hard to do though without practice in low speed road situations.
 
:shock: Good to hear it ended well. Always thought you guys keeping the summer tyres on in sub 7 degree temps are quite brave. Winter tyres do make a massive difference.
 
Also if you have a manual gearbox, in those circumstances push the clutch pedal to minimise the time it takes for the wheels to turn.
 
cj10jeeper said:
GARETH said:
The problem with low speed manoeuvring on ice is that the abs is useless. Unless the wheels are turning you have no directional control. If you do start sliding and the car is just pushing itself along with the front wheels locked, you have to let go the brakes to let the wheels turn.
Click to expand...

Spot on in that almost all folks in a slide situation on snow or ice plant their floor on the brake and hope, usually adding a bit more lock for good measure. From that point you're a passenger as the wheels are locked.
Lesson 1 in off roading to avoid sliding is that there is no brake pedal, engine running, wheels rotating ideally under light power and you can generally go down any muddy slope, wet grass bank, ice snow, etc.
Very hard to do though without practice in low speed road situations.
Click to expand...

I can absolutely recommend a go on a Land Rover Experience course to practice this. I know this is a Jag forum, but most Jag dealers are also Land Rover, and could possibly sort an experience. I got one with my Defender, and whilst to some it’s just a good bit of fun, they do teach you about the laws of physics and the way a car performs is governed by them.
 
Yes, the Land Rover experiences are a good way to learn the basics of off roading and by implication low speed car control in adverse circumstances, in a safe environment. You can also be surprised how capable the vehicles are. Of course the courses are constructed to be just below the limit of the vehicle so you can 'play' and learn in safety.

Be warned though - it's addictive..
 
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