No SMs involved in this clip, but otherwise good proof of why it's worth getting a set of decent winter tires in case you need to make your way in snow sometimes...

My link

No SMs involved in this clip, but otherwise good proof of why it's worth getting a set of decent winter tires in case you need to make your way in snow sometimes...

My link

Thanks raz,

excellent clip

2 points.

All the vehicles were autos.

They might have been better using low box and the diff locks with the Range Rover!!

Hi!

I don't think it would have made any difference. If there's no grip there's no grip, and even a Range Rover cannot change the laws of physics ( the dreaded S*** C****** might have worked in this instance though!). The only thing that helps is to have decent tires created for running in winter conditions - summer tires with good thread is not enough!

I learned this lesson myself a couple of years ago when the first snowfall of the year suprised me: I was driving a BMW 3-series compact at the time (not the best winter car, I have to admit that), and had to drive a couple of miles to get to my winter tires. There was around one inch of snow on the ground, and the car was impossible to control even at 20 MPH; sideways at the smallest turn of the wheel. Luckily there was not enough grip to get any higher speeds! With the winter tires fitted I did barely even notice that there were any snow on the ground!

( the dreaded S*** C****** might have worked in this instance though!).

Took this pic specially for the next club member to mention them, even in inference

:rofl: :rofl:

Regards,

TP

Took this pic specially for the next club member to mention them, even in inference

:rofl: :rofl:

Regards,

TP

Now we know you just posted this pick to get someone's goat

But seriously, tell us two things:

1. Did you really need to put the chains on last winter - other than just to try it?

2. Do you expect they will be needed this coming winter?

And just to stall a discussion we already had: Yes they are required in some alpine passes and ski resorts, but rarely used.

Now we know you just posted this pick to get someone's goat

But seriously, tell us two things:

1. Did you really need to put the chains on last winter - other than just to try it?

2. Do you expect they will be needed this coming winter?

And just to stall a discussion we already had: Yes they are required in some alpine passes and ski resorts, but rarely used.

Hi Agerbundsen,

yes as you point out just TP being daft anyway,

1. no never used chains on the road, only ever fitted them to confirm I know how to.

2. no expectation they will be needed; as you know I have a decent set of winter wheels with 7mm of tread left.

Why do I have them; trip to Austria 18 months back in the Golf TDI 4motion. Advised by the AA at the time I would need winter tyres but I could get away with summer tyres if I was carrying chains so I bought a budget set of those more for show than anything else, as I was travelling at the very end of their winter season (mid April).

Point to note; not found a need to switch to winters with the Golf running on 205/55 R16 V tyres as standard but with the Yeti I discovered even in frosty conditions never mind snow I had limited grip with the standard 225/50 R17 W tyres.

About the only benefit you get with these 17" wheels is more sure footedness in a fast sweeping bends, otherwise I feel the 16" set up suits the Monster much better.

Regards,

TP

2 points.

All the vehicles were autos.

They might have been better using low box and the diff locks with the Range Rover!!

I'm not sure you can even lock the centre diff on a Range Rover Sport?

In any case spliting the power between the 2 axles wouldn't make too much of a difference here I shouldn't think.

If there is no grip then there is no grip, only thing you can do is take a run up at it and hope it comes to a stop outside the house rather than in it.

I'm not sure you can even lock the centre diff on a Range Rover Sport?

In any case spliting the power between the 2 axles wouldn't make too much of a difference here I shouldn't think.

If there is no grip then there is no grip, only thing you can do is take a run up at it and hope it comes to a stop outside the house rather than in it.

Correct, the RRS has an automatic set up. It'll lock up if it needs to.

All you can do is choose the surface you're driving on via a twiddly knob (techincal term) and choose if you want high or low range.

Not sure low range is better either. As that tends to encourage wheels to try to spin where there is a lot of power on a very poor traction surface.

Sure, you can argue about locking it in low box and then second or third, but then the ratio is about the same as 1st anyway and there is not a lot of drag like in sand.

As you say, if there is no grip what can you do?

Other than buy a smaller, lighter 4x4 like a Yeti that doens't need as much grip to get it going. :yes:

If it's anything like the 'automatic' locking rear diff on the Grand Cherokee then it'll do no good and it seemingly doesn't work. The car grinds to a halt and then eventually at some point in the future the back diff locks and you've got to back up and try again.

If I was in the Range Rover Sport I wouldn't bother as it clearly it isn't going to go up, which is down to the tyres.

But if I had winter tyres on I'm sure it would get up.

Driving on ice and snow does amuse me, I went to Norway a few years ago and had a right laugh driving my Grand Cherokee up to the Nordkapp.

Driving on snow is lovely and actually the lateral grip levels if you've got the right tyres are suprisingly good but trying to stop is still an issue. It's like the opposite of driving on loose sand you loose all lateral grip and the moment you touch the brakes the whole thing digs in and comes to an abrupt stop usually resulting in the car getting stuck.

I wonder if Skoda will give me a Yeti to take on a round the world adventure to prove its worth!

The whole point of the video clip that the_raz posted was about the tyres. It was not to show how a Land Rover's 4x4 system works (or does not work).

In this thread I posted a video showing how the different systems work.

But James shout when Skoda gives you the car and tell them you have plenty of people willing to drive support vehicles! Me, me, me!!!