smart Car

Winter driving

Just what does one do for snow tyres?? I have used hockies for years what is the hot winter set up.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jackb on June 15, 2008 at 9:21am

If you are in the US (your profile says you live in PA), the options look limited right now if you want to maintain the OEM tire sizes. So far, I know of two sets of rubber available from US retailers that will fit front and rear:

Conti Winter Contact 75-800 from Continental

W-190 Snow Control from Pirelli

I do not yet know how these two stack up as performers on snow, ice, dry pavement, etc. Maybe the Tire Rack web site will review them at some point.

Of course, if you want to go to a different size, your options open up. And since you posted your question about snow "tyres," you might be outside the US, in which case I do not know what kinds of winter treads might be available to you.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew D. Clauss on June 15, 2008 at 9:42pm

I am in Pa. I get this great plesure from going in snow with out 4 wheel drive. not that we get alot none to speak of this last winter. But as the boy scouts say be prepared. from my Pro rally exp. weight to foot print means traction. ie.pounds per square inch europe must have a hot set up for snow? they do get snow

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Permalink Reply by Shells on June 23, 2008 at 11:00am

So, have we found someone who has experience in driving these beauties through snow? Can we make it to work and back without getting stuck? I live in Ohio and snow can be an issue. And if you have to drive 45 min. to an hour we definately want to be able to plow right through it with our Smart.

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Permalink Reply by Stuart Berman on June 30, 2008 at 5:00pm

I am in Michigan and had my new smart since January and drove through several nasty snow storms without a hitch. I am not going to both with snow tires since the handling is very good and the stock tires do a good job.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew D. Clauss on June 27, 2008 at 8:40pm

Well with alot of thought and past dealings with snow , I am going to get a set of 4 extra wheels for my smart and run rear tyres all around in summer and fronts in winter. I will put 155/60 -15 snows all around. at 1800 lbs the tyres sould be able to handle it.

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Permalink Reply by Peter Bartlett on June 28, 2008 at 11:41am

You do not need snow tires! I purchased my smart at the end of January 2008 and drove through several snow storms ( I live in the Chicago area) ,The car handled great. There are two features that make it very safe in snow. The first is the anti-lock brakes. That alone is essential for driving in snow. The second item is the Electronic Stability Program (esp) which is an absolutely fabulus feature. It automatically adjusts the brakes and the gas if you start to slide in the snow. It makes it very difficult to screw up. If you start to swerve in the snow this AUTOMATIC feature supplies brakes to the right (correct) wheels and gas to ones that need it.
This is a very safe car to drive.

Have a great day !!!

Peter Bartlett

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Permalink Reply by Carlos on June 30, 2008 at 1:01pm

Nice to hear! My 450 fortwo also has ESP but sometimes it swerves when there is ice and snow. But i drive on summertires, so that could be a reason.

Have to say that the ESP on the 451 is much much much more "awake" then the 450. In my 450 the ESP light will almost never blink, but i had it quite a few times in the 451, and i really didn't drive strange.

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Permalink Reply by Jean-François Lamy on January 17, 2009 at 9:09pm

The 451 traction control is a bit excessive. In Montreal, Canada, we get a couple weeks every year with -27 Celcius (-17 Fahrenheit) and plenty of snow (10 inches or so). Winter tires are in fact mandatory (by law). The Continentals snow tires that the M-B dealers stock are marginal (the compound is fine for cold roads, but the thread is not deep enough for snow). Coupled with the traction control that limits slippage to nearly nothing, I find myself cursing "leave me alone, I grew up here and know what I'm doing". I really wish there was a traction control kill switch that would leave the ABS on.

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Permalink Reply by robm on January 18, 2009 at 12:53am

I am positive you do not want to drive without the ESP (electronic stability program). I am driving without ABS and ESP until I get it fixed on Monday (I am betting it is a corroded reluctor ring at one of the corners). I took the opportunity to try to spin it and it is dead easy and due to the short wheelbase happens in a flash. this is no good in this weather! I have a 450 cdi with new winter tires (contis)

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Permalink Reply by Rachel on January 16, 2009 at 10:45am

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/autosock/
http://www.autosock.us/friction.asp

I keep a set of these tire socks in the car in the winter. We live just under a ski resort and get a lot of snow here and they are great to slip over the tires for better snow traction. They don't tear up the road like chains because they are soft, but they really help provide better traction. I never saw them in the US, but the second link above is a US website so they should be available depending on where you live.

Smiles,

Rachel

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Permalink Reply by Richard D. Masters on January 16, 2009 at 11:32pm

The bird wanted to go skiing...

Bad idea!

.
We use cable or "Z" chains in the U.S. These require clearance of only 1.5 inches and provide excellent traction - unlike the Smart in the photo with street tires and 45 psi inflation!

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Permalink Reply by smarttask on January 18, 2009 at 2:24pm

Hi Rachel. I also live in Italy, (Santa Margherita Ligure) but also have a house in Madesimo SO. 1550mt which is a ski resort and only use snow tyres, these snow socks are not legal in Italy. Plus I would never think of taking my Smart to Madesimo, for me Smarts and snow don't go together especially in the mountains