I was wondering how you Snow Monster owners were coping with the Yeti like conditions.

We have been relatively lucky up in North Wales, the snow and the temperatures have been moderate compared to some parts of the country. But we have had our fair share of ungritted roads and snow on ice.

My 4x4 SE 140 with Off Road has handled the conditions well with only two minor skids. (this on "summer" tyres) I have learnt to keep the Yeti in drive at all times, avoid any braking and let the system look after itself. One of the skids, caused by me applying the brakes, corrected itself immediately as soon as I released the brake pedal. The steering grabbed and I got round the corner easily. Just the act of keeping the car going (all be it slowly) has handled the hills and tight corners without incident.

Any other users have comments or advice on driving in these conditions?

Wirral/Liverpool area. All roads un-gritted. left for work at 5.30 and started my 15 mile town drive. my monster was very sure footed, have to say that I never thought I would be testing the 4X4 so quickly. The off road button does the job too.

The highlight was being overtaken on a left hand bend by a BMW that ended up going stright on.....that put a smile on my face. Whats the differance between a Porcupine and a BMW? In the BMW the p**ks are on the inside......

All in all well pleased...........

Edited 5 January, 201016 yr by Ray_Green

We have not had as much snow as some, but did get 10 inches two weeks ago. No problem on unplowed roads and no problem on ice packed roads and roads with churned-up slimy snow. The Snowmonster gives very clear signals that traction is just about gone, so you can back-off in time.

The Goodyear Eagle Supergrip winter tyres do make a big difference. We just drive, where 4X4's on summer tyres slip-slide around. The sensitivity of the Haldex and limited slip rear axle makes it a pleasure driving around having fun. Noise leel on dry roads - even with rough surfaces is very low, much less than the Goodyear Supergrip 7+ I had on the Octy. Dry road feel and wet road performance is very good - not mushy at all.

Edited 5 January, 201016 yr by Agerbundsen

Hi Terfyn,

heavy snow here today, forced to turn for home on the run to work this morning due to blocked roads.

Monster working well, particularly after switching to winter tyres on steel rim's; Nokian WR G2 205/55/R16 94H XL, after finding the standard 17" Goodyear's do not work in snow and ice on some of the steeper hills we have round here. Also felt they were rather 'twitchy' on icy roads following a heavy frost.

Obviously the winters are not a miracle cure and you can still loose traction if you're not careful but there is a noticeable improvement in grip in all winter type conditions.

This is the first time I have done any prolonged driving on winters so I cannot fairly compare them to any other winter tyre but they seem very good value at £69.70 a corner from mytyres, although since I ordered mine the price has jumped to £82.50; must be the weather

Did consider the Avon Ice Touring ST in the same size as these were available locally but another Forum member recommended the Nokian and on further research the ADAC tests suggested the Nokian was indeed the better option. Although ADAC marked the Nokian down on wet road performance, so far I have not felt this to be the case. The only negative with Nokians and a minor one is noise on rough stone chipped surfaces but I am sure this would be the same for most winters.

Other issue is I am currently racking up 'artificial' mileage with having smaller wheels fitted. Going to ask the dealer if it's possible for them to tell the Monster she has new 'tighter fitting shoes'. I had hoped you could do this via Maxidot but the 'winter' function only allows you to set a speed warning for the tyre rating. Suppose this is to stop you 'clocking' the car as switching back to 17" will have the reverse effect.

The off-road button as Ray points out is a very useful function; followed a Landrover Discovery up a fairly steep snow covered road this morning with this selected (+ winters). On the way up we passed a couple of FWD vehicles that had given up, like the LR I had no problem at all Works very well controlling the breaking on the way down too, as long as it's not sheet ice.

Skoda really should make off-road standard on all 4x4 and consider offering at least all season M+S tyres like the Goodyear 4 Season as a factory option instead of summer sports tyres.

Regards,

TP

Mr The Plumber,

That is a good interim report on your snow tyres. I think that you ought to consider putting your wheel combination in your signature in bold red

Nice one Plumber,

I have purchased my Monster as the last new vehicle I will own and plan to keep it for 10 years. You and your Rims have go me convinced....nice one

Mr The Plumber,

That is a good interim report on your snow tyres. I think that you ought to consider putting your wheel combination in your signature in bold red

Went for blue as it's more in keeping with the (no snow emotion ) weather.

TP

Just come across an interesting ink posted by cheezemonkhai in the Octavia II forum on winter tyres.

My link

TP

That sums it up quite nicely! Good link!

Just come across an interesting ink posted by cheezemonkhai in the Octavia II forum on winter tyres.

My link

TP

I would never have guessed that within 10 days of taking the Snow Monster home I'd be driving around with the Off Road button on and testing the 4x4 in not so rural Buckingahmshire. Once again tonight the roads were going white as the snow settled. Now I'm no great off-roading super ace but the yeti appears incredibly sure footed in this extreme (for England) weather. At the weekend I was out in the Cotswolds with friends and had to go up a single lane track which was sheet ice for 30m and it scrabbled up and did it's own cadence braking type thing in hill descent mode on the way back - all very clever and at no time has it felt less than safe.

As others have said, off road button works a treat, in all aspects - pulling away, in the cruise and going up and down hills. And yes I have 's*mmer' tyres on...!

To put things into perspective. I was driving today a little old technology part time 4x4 rock hard suspension with well worn oldish all terrain tyre. I could feel the car slipping and sliding slightly in 4x4 mode, the tyres not getting the best grip. Fresh snow over compacted snow and ice. Up the hilly bends one needed just a bit more throttle than ideal to maintain way, so it crabs up hill a little but keeps chugging on. I am the only one to drive this way for a day or two. On the other side high ratio is too fast down the other side, it would be difficult to stop. I change down to low box 2nd. Still a bit too fast, I can fee it slipping but bring the speed down , slip it into 1st low box, that's better but it is still edgy, one can feel the individual wheels slipping away under engine braking. Then the engine goes to idle speed but the car is obviously going faster, the wheels are slipping. A bit on the accelerator brings the wheels up to road speed and its back under full control. I play with the accelerator picking up wheel speed or decelerating as I find or loose grip. The return is much the same. I am stopped by walkers too frightened to drive shocked that I drove over.

It is just a matter of experience but I beleive that the Yeti would have coped far better and with less little dramas. The car, a Suzuki Vitara, cheap and nasty but very effective off road but very crude and definitely not the easiest or safest of cars on ice. The complient suspension, well sorted chassis better engine and electronic controlls would make it a breeze, even better with winter tyres or similar. The older car needed a masive amount of nurturing and interpretation of feedback to keep it safe and comfortable. Modern cars have come so far in such a short time.

To put things into perspective. I was driving today a little old technology part time 4x4 rock hard suspension with well worn oldish all terrain tyre. I could feel the car slipping and sliding slightly in 4x4 mode, the tyres not getting the best grip. Fresh snow over compacted snow and ice. Up the hilly bends one needed just a bit more throttle than ideal to maintain way, so it crabs up hill a little but keeps chugging on. I am the only one to drive this way for a day or two. On the other side high ratio is too fast down the other side, it would be difficult to stop. I change down to low box 2nd. Still a bit too fast, I can fee it slipping but bring the speed down , slip it into 1st low box, that's better but it is still edgy, one can feel the individual wheels slipping away under engine braking. Then the engine goes to idle speed but the car is obviously going faster, the wheels are slipping. A bit on the accelerator brings the wheels up to road speed and its back under full control. I play with the accelerator picking up wheel speed or decelerating as I find or loose grip. The return is much the same. I am stopped by walkers too frightened to drive shocked that I drove over.

You were doing what the Yeti does for you. The only advantage the Yeti has is that it can control individual wheels.

I note that the 4x4s without Low Ratio boxes do have an exceptionally low first gear and an electronic gizmo to increase the throttle slightly when they sense movement through the speedo connection. It is like a crawler gear but without the extra torque given by a Low Ratio box.

Yes, I can not control individual wheels in the Vitara. One has to anticipate the way ahead exactly and know how it will behave on the slippery stuff. It is more fun in a rubbish bone shaker of a car. It only cost me £500. The tyres are legal but hardened with age and hard use really need new ones and the dampers are not so good but it can be crashed up and down my bottom track without a care. It is just ideal for getting in and out to the village, is very small so it can be easily parked. having a transfer box is good but the reduction is no where near as good as a Landrover or Landcruiser and the normal box ratios are poor, first is very low and second is far too high. My 4.2 VX Lancruiser is a different beast all together, no electronic gimmickry except for ABS which is only 3 channel I understand but a limited slip centre differential with a manual locking facility. It is supremely comfortable and exceptional capable with big knobbly tyres softer long stroke suspension and a wonderful tractable engine with power put down by an auto box. It would have done the same journey far more easily and is very stable. It is a true off road car with full time 4x4. It is very big, wide and long and takes up a lot of parking space. Interestingly it uses the same amount of fuel as the little Vitara. Auto boxes are great off road except for having a lack of engine braking because torque converters have a forward bias, one always has to choose the next lower ratio to keep things in check but forward autos are unbeatable in the rough. One can never stall them, always have power no gaps. I use mine like a manual and rarely use it on auto setting.

I think that electronic trickery is wonderful but one can become too reliant and fooled unless you have been brought up with lesser more simplistic machinery. I think that is the great disadvantage that younger drivers tend to have if they have been brought up with electronic aids. They rarely drive outside of the envelope and are fooled into a sense of false security. Once outside of the comfort zone when the electronics are not doing their stuff some have little experience to deal with it or to even expect that the experience is about to take place.

I am looking forward to the Yeti, I will appreciate what it has got.

I think that electronic trickery is wonderful but one can become too reliant and fooled unless you have been brought up with lesser more simplistic machinery. I think that is the great disadvantage that younger drivers tend to have if they have been brought up with electronic aids. They rarely drive outside of the envelope and are fooled into a sense of false security. Once outside of the comfort zone when the electronics are not doing their stuff some have little experience to deal with it or to even expect that the experience is about to take place.

I do agree. I cut my teeth on a short wheelbase LR with a canvas top (110?). It was second hand when I got it and lethal on ice in two wheel drive. I walked it off the beach at Mochras when it nearly dug itself in. 1st gear, LR and a bit of choke. It would do 70 for as long as the driver could take the noise and vibration. I would like to see the transfer box make a comeback.

If you have a 2wd Yeti would it be acceptable to fit winter tyres on the fronts only.

tom

I do agree. I cut my teeth on a short wheelbase LR with a canvas top (110?). It was second hand when I got it and lethal on ice in two wheel drive. I walked it off the beach at Mochras when it nearly dug itself in. 1st gear, LR and a bit of choke. It would do 70 for as long as the driver could take the noise and vibration. I would like to see the transfer box make a comeback.

If you had a short wheel base 2 wheel drive landrover It would not have been a 110 but could have been a Series 1, 2 or 3 88 inch probably a 2 or a 3. Two and a quarter petrol. Little difference between them except detail. Proper 4x4 vehicles still come with transfer boxes, high and low gears.

Transfer boxes are very useful. They double the availability of gears. Low ratio box is best for off road giving greater power but mainly control. Engine braking is magnified and towing made easier. It is also handy for parking because it lows a slow trickle speed. All of my off road vehicles to date have had a transfer box.

They do add weight and complexity.

If you have a 2wd Yeti would it be acceptable to fit winter tyres on the fronts only.

tom

In a word no! Not unless you want to end up facing the wrong way. It is imperative particularly when slippery as now to have tyres with equal properties. Of course two on the driven wheels will allow you to proceed where one you could not but it may be the fast way into the cemetery. 4 or 0.

Found this interesting discussion re the Churchill Insurance approach to putting on steel wheels and winter tyres.

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=42714&start=40

tom

Edited 6 January, 201016 yr by Sanqhar

In a word no! Not unless you want to end up facing the wrong way. It is imperative particularly when slippery as now to have tyres with equal properties. Of course two on the driven wheels will allow you to proceed where one you could not but it may be the fast way into the cemetery. 4 or 0.

...but they fit snowsocks to fronts only?

tom

Have found my 4x4 Yeti incredibly sure-footed in snow with standard tyres and 16" wheels.

For example, vistited friend in Auchterarder on Hogmanay. She had not managed to get in or out of the estate in her fwd VW Golf for several days. My sister, who got there just before me in her (BMW) Mini had to be shoved the last 100 yards or so. However, my Yeti sailed in and out twice that evening no problem both with me alone and with three passengers. Incredible. And I have not even been off-road yet(i)!

Mine's that good, the Mrs wont give it back. Gutted :S