why is my t/c rubbish

[mrk]

1.9cdti 06 with t/c.first bit of snow doesnt want to know,tyres all ok pressures ok ,just wont grip.had the car 2 1/2 years and always been rubbish in snow/ice i put it down to the falkens i had on but now the khumos are the same.both sets of tyres A1 inall weather barring snow .any thoughts?techniques? thanks

[Graham]

Any summer tyre are rubbish in the snow, its the direction of the tread pattern.

That's why winter tyres are best in snow, the tread pattern in 90 o to the tyre, rather than length ways with the tyre.

Also will help if you reduce the tyre pressures slightly, give it more grip.

[mrk]

will have to put up with tyres this year and get x2 for next year and stick them in the shed till req. just wondered if i was doing something wrong,my old pug 405 diesel was great in snow couldn't understand why having t/c made a car of similar size with same size tyres was so much worse?

[Handyandy-UK]

When you encounter 'proper' snow and ice conditions, you can utilise various techniques specifically for 'slippery' conditions. In this case the most useful to you might well be simply using 2nd or even 3rd with required revs to pull away rather than 1st. It's all about using the torque of the engine in a better way to reduce wheelslip/spin.

Have a dig around online as there's bound to be all manner of websites with advice for better driving techniques for snow and ice conditions (rather than the normal bit of a frost that causes so many people to panic).

[John Bishop]

Got TC and ESP on mine. Always been crap in the snow even when changing technique.

[mrk]

not sure if i've got esp,dont know how to check.if t/c is switched off is it any better as i believe a quick off/on of the key can disable the t/c ,sure i read that on here ages ago

[John Bishop]

No switch to disable TC in mine. Bought one as it had the blue plug behing the blank but it's obviously not wired in and only lit up when the driver's door was open lol

[mrk]

mines the same got a switch and wasn't too suprised it didnt work.will have to try the on/off/on with the key to see if it works though,whilst engine running obviously lol

[rich r]

Those of us who learnt to drive before all these 'driving aids' don't seem to have an issue with traction control. Just adapt your driving style - be gentle on the accelerator, driving in a higher gear to reduce torque, avoid braking etc. If you drive such that you're not likely to lose traction, the traction control system won't be an issue. Ultimately as said above - summer tyres aren't designed for snow and ice, so don't expect them to perform well.

Besides, my Vectra is a 1.8, so doesn't have TC anyway

[mrk]

Those of us who learnt to drive before all these 'driving aids' don't seem to have an issue with traction control. Just adapt your driving style - be gentle on the accelerator, driving in a higher gear to reduce torque, avoid braking etc. If you drive such that you're not likely to lose traction, the traction control system won't be an issue. Ultimately as said above - summer tyres aren't designed for snow and ice, so don't expect them to perform well.

Besides, my Vectra is a 1.8, so doesn't have TC anyway

i've been driving since 1982 when driving aids were the steering wheel and the x3 pedals lol