I have new yokahama envigors and have never driven the MINI in the snow before and didn't like it. I had my DSC on and would it have been better if it were off ? I am sure snow tires would make a huge difference.

 

If the invigors are summer tires you need to get something else on and soon. Snow tires would be the best choice but a lot of western WA drivers complain that they don't get enough snow to justify them. Dont know what the geography around Marysville is like.

 

Snow tires are more important but DSC can be very useful in snow.

 

DSC is amazing with winter tires. That's what I do.

 

I used to turn my DSC off in the snow to mess around. I couldn't imagine leaving it off for normal snow driving.

 

Snows are a definite must. I had a dedicated set of wheels/tires when I lived in Colorado. I pretty much kept DSC on always. Thing was a beast with snows+DSC. But without snows...FUHget about it!!!

 

I ran All Seasons (Conti's) last year in CO, and I did just dandy in the snow.

 

Yokohama Avid ENVigor is a hi-perf all-season. They should handle light snow, but no comparison with real snow tires.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....oModClar=Hardt

To the OP's question I too would leave the DSC on in the snow. You can turn it off in the very slick stuff to get going. It at least allows the engine to rev and tires to spin, instead of all the goofy braking/cutting engine power mess with it on.

 

It can be helpful to turn off DSC when driving with chains or rocking the vehicle free. It can be helpful to turn on DTC in those conditions and when driving on snow-covered inclines, loose surfaces, or uncleared snowy roads, says the owner's manual.

If you have DTC you also have eDLC which can't be turned off. It brakes either front wheel if it spins faster than the other one.

 

Me too... except not in CO.

 

hsautocrosser, you're right... I got my acronyms mixed up. Turn off the DSC (one-push), which still leaves the DTC on, but allows a little more wheel spin than with everything on. Believe me, this was the only way I could get up my driveway a couple of times last year. It would hardly move unless I turned off the DSC. I never tried running EDLC-only in the snow.

 

While All Season tires are ok/better than pure summer, the rubber compound I've read still has issues below about 40-45.

So if you can, summer tires for summer, winter tires for winter. A/S is mediocre in both but you only have to deal with one set of rims, etc. Not everybody has a garage/storage/ability to handle a jack and a lug wrench.

Winter/snow tires do not need snow per se either. They are formulated for cold and the tread pattern is for wet/snow traction. So even though no snow, they're still a better cold weather choice.

That being said, my Eagle GT A/S did ok, but the Pathfinder 4x4 is the go to vehicle right now with 4" and 21 degrees outside right now. I need to find some winter rims.

 

Just posted on Motoring File

http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/11/...+(MotoringFile)

 

One of my favorite explanations/demonstrations of these systems…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-hHWSQhKuc

 

Turning the DSC might help you if you're stuck. Leaving it on will help keep you FROM GETTING stuck. Either way, all-seasons are still no substitute for winter tires. Your Yoko Envigors--although arguably the best all-around jack-of-all-trades tire currently out there--are all-season. Comparable tires to the Envigors (in both ratings and price) are the Conti Extreme DWS (pictured above). Although again, still no substitute for winter tires, these are known to be an acceptable compromise in light snow (if you just HAVE to stay with all-seasons in the winter).

 

I have a 4wd crewcab truck with BridgeStone Blizzaks (which they demonstrate on ice rinks for crying out loud) on it in the same area right now - 15 degrees and VERY compacted white snow/ice on un-treated roads. (Seattle area is a joke when we get our rare snows - sand the roads already DOT). We go to Pullman and back in the winter to fetch college boy, made it round trip last Friday and will do it again this Sunday. They don't just sand the roads in Pullman, they spread 5/8" road gravel !!! No problem driving there.

Anyway - I slipped around plenty today too - on the flats - in the Seattle area. I would recommend parking the MINI if you have any hills to negotiate - until the thaw that's expected on turkey day tomorrow. (The roads and the turkey).

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/bridgestone/blizzak.jsp

 

Anyone driving with Dunlop RFT all-seasons in the snow? I'm shopping for winter tires but everyone is sold out. It looks pretty light for the days to come, but I'm wondering if I should just take a bus :P

 

You mean the stock Dunlop SP5000 runflats? Yeah, take the bus!!

 

I would call in sick.

 

Haha, thanks for the input guys. They were fine on the cold and slippery road but pretty treacherous in a snowy parking lot. I'm trying to make a decision on TireRack, looking forward to new wheels and tires.

 

I've had the Dunlop Runflat SP Winter Sports and now I'm on Pirelli Winter Sport Runflats. I like them both.

 

Hey guys,

I have the Yoko Envigors and we had crazy snowfall and ice earlier this week here in Washington state. I was worried driving my car but now that I've been through the snow I have learned the handling abilities of my vehicle a little better. For one my Motoring Adviser told me to turn the DSC off when it's really icy because it can cause the brakes to overheat and the brakes will where a lot faster. Everytime I got into the car I turned the DSC off when it was snowy or icy.

I would say that overall the car is predictable in the winter weather. Meaning you know when you're going slip and it's no surpise when it happens. First gear can be too much in the "Justa" and cause the wheels to spin very easily. However I do like that when you slip at an intersection the car doesn't pull left or right because it has those equal length half shafts.

I'm happy with my car as it feels capable in many different scenarios as long as the driver has their wits about them. I just wish I didn't have to drive my car when they put the sand down on the road

 

I drive with the DSC on unless I'm messing around. I have Blizzaks on and have had snow on the road in N. Idaho for over a week now and they are great.. Not only does the DSC keep the car in check it also prevents the wheels from spinning, hopefully adding a little extra life to the soft sticky rubber of the blizzaks. Next is a skid plade to keep those ice ***** from doing any real damage.

 

You're kidding me, right? That's horrible advice and your brakes will not overheat. DSC on in the snow/ice will help you, with it off it will hinder you. The steering wheel movement, vehicle speed, transverse acceleration and yaw are all used by DSC to register imminent instability when cornering. DSC then intervenes via the engine management system, reducing drive torque and activating wheel brakes when necessary to keep the vehicle stable. These events occur within milliseconds. BMW designed them to work on your car, they wouldn't design something to cause your brakes to overheat.

My goodness.

 

+1
Sounds like an MA who wants to kill off the customer base…

MisterClean would do well to listen to Tiff Needell (former Formula 1 driver, former host of BBC's Top Gear, and current host of Fifth Gear) over that MA: