I was talking to a chap at work today who has a mini cooper S and he made a bold claim that when fitted with winter tyres, he would be able to drive through snow just as easily as an FL2 or a Disco 4 or RR etc. Even if the Landies were fitted with winter tyres

I tried to explain that despite the big difference the tyres make, he only has 2WD if he pushes the tyres to their limits with all that power going through the front wheels and that on thicker snow his lack of ground clearance would stop him.

He was having none of it though (Taking the pi me thinks)

Just out of curiosity, anyone driven a cooper S in snow? Winter tyres or not? I have heard they are a bit skittish at the best of times. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Methinks he is talking rubbish.

Two wheel drive, no traction control, no diff locks = not going anywhere in a hurry.

All he needs is for both front wheels to spin on ice/compacted snow and he's going nowhere while your Freelander will seemlessly transfer drive to the non-spinning real axle and push itself through the ice/compacted snow. Ground clearance will also be a problem in anything but the lightest dusting.

The Doctor wrote:

I was talking to a chap at work today who has a mini cooper S and he made a bold claim that when fitted with winter tyres, he would be able to drive through snow just as easily as an FL2 or a Disco 4 or RR etc. Even if the Landies were fitted with winter tyres

I tried to explain that despite the big difference the tyres make, he only has 2WD if he pushes the tyres to their limits with all that power going through the front wheels and that on thicker snow his lack of ground clearance would stop him.

He was having none of it though (Taking the pi me thinks)

Just out of curiosity, anyone driven a cooper S in snow? Winter tyres or not? I have heard they are a bit skittish at the best of times.

Yep, I had a Cooper, then a Cooper S. I liked the Cooper and loved the Cooper S

My last Cooper S even had a proper mechanical limited slip diff. (LSD) and traction control, combined with good condition standard 205/35 R17 tyres.

I drove it in the snow with high hopes that the LSD / TC would make a world of difference. Guess what? It was crap; no traction to speak of at all in the snow My V70 D5 was slightly better than the Cooper S was in the snow.

This was with the original Supercharged Cooper S. If he has the later Turbocharged Cooper S, it's likely to be even worse as they did away with the mechanical LSD

Interesting point there Tigger. He has the original cooper S.

What difference do you reckon winter tyres would have made to your cooper S? LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

The Doctor wrote:

Interesting point there Tigger. He has the original cooper S.

What difference do you reckon winter tyres would have made to your cooper S?

I bet that was a bit of a pain

A friend of mine had a Cooper S and she lives on a housing estate where the roads aren't gritted. She said it was absolutely awful in the snow and she couldn't even get off the flat driveway!

She has now changed her car and now owns a BMW 1 series

She said she wanted a big improvement in snow performance from her next car but still wanted a hatchback She doesn't even know the 1 series is RWD so I recommended winter tyres. She hasn't bothered though, DOH!

http://psyft.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/bmw-...ong-tyres/

 LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Any car fitted with appropriate winter tyres will cope with any snow and ice conditions, if not Norway would stand sill during the winter - which it doesn't.

If driving in new deep snow, then of course the mini wont get as far as the Freely due to the clearance under the car, but on snow plough cleared roads that are still have packed snow and ice any car with winter rubber wont have any problems.

Long before the days of before 4x4 and traction control, I was winter mountain driving with a 3 litre Ford Capri and that never got stuck either. 2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

It is clear from Andy's example that winter tyres are a key to success when driving in snow.

I can only assume that a Land Rover fitted with winter tyres and driven appropriately is the Ultimate Force then!  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

the mini is very light and with winter tyres it will make excellent progress on the snow if driven correctly.

my daughter has a Ford Ka and it is brilliant in the snow due to it's lightness.

Iain

Ultimate Force

Well certainly the last 4 winters Freely has been almost invincible and with new studded winter tyres to be fitted in a couple of days - hopefully totally invincible  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Quote:

the mini is very light and with winter tyres it will make excellent progress on the snow if driven correctly.

When it snowed I always got the Morris Minor Traveller out of the garage because it was better in the snow than the Cooper S!

Eventually I swapped my Cooper S for the FL2.

In summary:

Dry weather-
Cooper S VERY FAST & BUMPY
FL2 FAST ENOUGH & SMOOTH

Snow-
Cooper S HEART IN MOUTH, WILL IT STAY ON THE ROAD?
FL2 AMAZING, DRIVES THROUGH ANYTHING