So how did everyone get on this morning?

I have only had my vRS for a few weeks. The wife was driving it today and she couldn't get out of the road. Every other car seemed to have no problem.

Seems the traction control wasn't doing it's job properly despite flashing madly.

I reckon it's poor performance is due to the 215 tyres. GoodYears if I remember correctly. Now I am worried about driving to the alps tomorrow.

So, has anyone else got any experience to tell or any tips other than the obvious?

In this weather traction control is useless.

Best thing to do, turn off the traction control and use 2nd gear to pull away being very very gently with the clutch. Wheelspin is bad, so keep revs very low. As soon as the wheels start to lose grip dont give it more beans just ease off slightly.

that's why the ASR has a button to switch it off, so that you can actually drive in snow etc

My mk 1 Octy RS is not very good in snow - as you say I think its mainly the width & type of tyre, plus limited clearance in the arches which does lead to some blockages. Having said that I haven't really struggled to get anywhere even with reasonably large amounts of snow.

If you are going to the Alps you need chains - normal tyres will be useless and its illegal AFAIK not to have them.

My son couldn't get his new Zafira up a slight incline behind his house, and a council waste collection lorry was likewise unable to negotiate the same road. His Audi S3 Quattro had no problems at all coping with the slippery conditions.

As has been said already. you will need chains for the Alps. Winter tyres for snow. Your car will be fitted I imagine will all season, or summer tyres, which will not perform well in snow at all, especially being 215's.

And traction control is to minimise slippage under hard acceleration, not to get you through snow. As Manny says, turn it off. ASR is pants anyway. ESP should be left on

As Manny says, turn it off. ASR is pants anyway. ESP should be left on

If you turn off ASR are you not also turning off ESP as its the same button for cars fitted with ASR & ESP?

As for Octavia mk1, turning off ESP also turns off ASR and MSR. Only EDS/EDL and MBA will still be active.

As far as I am aware, my Mk1 doesn't have ESP. I thought that TC (ASR) was supposed to help you drive up inclines in the ice:

YouTube - Jaguar X-Type Testing ABS ESP TCS on snow & ice

We have got snowchains. Usually we don't use them in resort though, this time I think it might be a bit different though.

If you turn off ASR are you not also turning off ESP as its the same button for cars fitted with ASR & ESP?

Cars with ESP do not have ASR in the sense we know and hate. If you turn ESP off, it allows the wheels to spin, but in the event you throw it round an icy bend and the rear gives up, ESP will work as normal. Spoiling all my fun, thats what it does :(.

Esp is helpful negotiating icy hills, ASR is of no use to anyone, in any circumstance I can imagine.

ESP is truly remarkable in stopping in patchy ise. Try it later anyone with ESP2. One side of the car on dry road, one side on ice, stamp the brakes on . It stops straight, and quickly.

Edit - the Jag had ESP, not just traction control.

I'd agree that ASR is worthless in snow and ice, largely cos I can react to my own wheel-spinning mistakes at least as fast as it does!

I don't agree with Shifty about ESP though; that functionality should be delivered by any proper 4-channel ABS.

Take a look at the youtube link I posted. It will change your mind about using ASR on ice.

Take a look at the youtube link I posted. It will change your mind about using ASR on ice.

The link you posted was about ESP.

parked my car on the drive last week after a bit of snow put the hand brake on, about to get out and reaslised the car was sliding down the drive....the drive isn't even steep whatso ever.

Snow is a no go in the VRS I feel.

can we possibly get thin steelies for the winter to fit?

I'm pretty sure the manual for the car will say to turn off the ASR when driving on snow, it certainly does in the VW Golf manual.

Any form of traction control or ESP will be of benefit in snow or ice, the computer can react a million times faster than any of you can.

The ABS is what stops you in a straight line.

If you've truely had your VRS sideways (which in a front wheel drive is pointless anyway) with the ESP switched off you'd know it does nothing, it only works if switched on. all VAG cars are total off not partial off when the light is on.

For what its worth, My Superb with it's 225 tyres always performed suprisingly well in the snow, although obviously narrow tryes are the preffered choice.

also try these - AutoSock/Auto Sock/Auto Socks

well just get the 4x4 elegance like me and you have no problems in the snow:) i was trying to get the car to slide around for fun on the empty street but it never worked had to use the handbrake

JJ, the sequence of events was going like this:-

Accelerate too hard and audibly break traction

Back off throttle a little

ASR light lights up amber as the wheelspin settles down.

Saying which I normally leave it on cos it picks up anything that I actually miss.

I'm an s/w engineer, and I'd allow a degree of slip in traction control cos no slip isn't always a good thing.

JJ, the sequence of events was going like this:-

Accelerate too hard and audibly break traction

Back off throttle a little

ASR light lights up amber as the wheelspin settles down.

Saying which I normally leave it on cos it picks up anything that I actually miss.

I'm an s/w engineer, and I'd allow a degree of slip in traction control cos no slip isn't always a good thing.

I believe it does allow a degree of wheelslip, Certainly the Superb did and my Mondeo does too, but they both have ESP, It sounds like from your description that the ASR also allows a small degree of wheelslip?

I think the main problem (apart from wide tyres) is that people are relying on the ESP ASR etc etc, too much, and assuming they will do the job for them, if your accelerating hard enough to activate the ESP/ASR etc, then your accelerating too hard anyway, drive to the conditions, dont try and let the car do it for you.

Even if you have to trundle along the road at idling speed in first gear to prevent wheelslip, then thats what you should be doing, people just dont drive slow enough in the snow/ice, wait for the news tonight and watch all the cars sliding about (theres bound to be loads), but look also for the car thats not sliding and see how it should be done!

P.S. No snow here :(

EddyH - Are you sure? It is designed for driving on snow.

The manual usually says that you should turn it off if you are using snow chains.

EddyH - Are you sure? It is designed for driving on snow.

The manual usually says that you should turn it off if you are using snow chains.

In the Golf manual it says to turn it off when driving on snow and loose surfaces such as gravel.

You need a little wheelspin in snow to cut through to the softer stuff, ASR won't let you do that.

Any form of traction control or ESP will be of benefit in snow or ice, the computer can react a million times faster than any of you can.

The ABS is what stops you in a straight line.

If you've truely had your VRS sideways (which in a front wheel drive is pointless anyway) with the ESP switched off you'd know it does nothing, it only works if switched on. all VAG cars are total off not partial off when the light is on.

For what its worth, My Superb with it's 225 tyres always performed suprisingly well in the snow, although obviously narrow tryes are the preffered choice.

also try these - AutoSock/Auto Sock/Auto Socks

Just to pick up on a couple of points. ABS stops the wheels from locking, it doesnt necessarily stop you in a straight line.

ESP, on my Octavia anyway, n I can't see it being any different on anyone elses, works even when swiitched off. All it enables me to do when it is off, is spin the wheels, or make faster progress on dry roads, without the traction control element coming into play.

It still won't enable a "pointless" in your words, tailslide, for example on a track. I've tried, many times, and all i get is the sound of the rear brakes pulsing. Thus, ESP is still active when disabled via the dash mounted switch.

I agree that ESP can react quicker than most humans, BUT the ASR system that the O/P refers to, as fitted to the Fabia as well, does not do a better job than most humans. It's well documented on this site as being a hinderance in most cases, not an aid.

In summary - ESP "helps" the ABS tp stop in a straight line, as well as EBD and all the other trickery. ABS alone merely prevents the wheels locking, enabling in theory to steer around obstacles as you brake.

ASR is a pointless gimmick IMHO, just so the cars fitted with it can be marketed with traction control. It stops the car so abruptly when triggered that in some instances it is plain dangerous, and in other events, it wont limit traction sufficiently to be of any use.

ESP on the other hand, smoothly limits power enabling traction at all times. Even on ice and snow. Obviously it has a host of other benefits too.

Right JJ, on that basis I'd agree with you. My usual take is "my car has ASR and ABS, but I try not to use them". My dislike of ESP is based on that, AIUI, you don'g get any audible or visual warning when you are using them, so don't/won't realise that you're pushing your luck.

My VRs is by far the best car ive had to drive in the snow. 100 times better to drive in with the ASR turned on.

I drove in the slushy stuff on the main roads, and hard compacted snow near to the school, my Vrs performed very well I left the ASR switched on.