I only have ASC on my '08 Cooper S. I've had some issues driving in the snow. I have the all season performance tires & after reading this forum, am seriously thinking about getting snow tires for the winter season (watch, then it won't snow here again!). My salesman mentioned he turns off the ASC when he drives in the snow. Does anyone else do this & do you find it helps??

Any other suggestions for tire websites besides TireRack??

Thanks!

I'd check local tire dealers. My local dealer (who I think gets tires from Tire Rack (and is one of there installers) was much better in price when you include shipping (we are about 5 miles from tire rack warehouse) and installation from dealer.
Tire Rack has great selection, very good prices, and experts but I'd also check locally.
I don't think you turn anything off (DSC) unless you are going very slowly like up hill.

Turning off ASC will allow you to spin the wheels which may help get you going. I find that i need to do this when it's real bad out. get the snows you'll be glad you did

Turning DSC off when in snow is a must when you're trying to get going. I do turn it back on for highway driving though. It functions at all speeds. With my winter tires on, i can spin the tires at 100km/h in 4th gear, and I've felt the DSC kick in at that point and slow the car down.

I would not turn the ASC off.

Then you will get stuck. Period.

In deep snow ,or ice, turn it off to get going, then turn it back on once your motoring along. Has worked for me for the last 6 winters, period

Mark

Nope. Period.

Drive in a lot of deep snow with uphills? Not turning off the DSC will get you stuck in that situation.

How do you determine when the ASC is actually off? There's no light to indicate on/off - I'm wondering why MINI doesn't set up the ASC button just like the SPORT button. ASC would seem to be a much more "safety" oriented button and even more important to be aware of...

My DSC has an idiot light on the tach that comes on when DSC is disabled.

Stick with TireRack. I got a really good deal on my Pirelli snow tires this month and they were shipped 6 hours after I ordered them. I got them in 2 days, and their "recommended installers" list was a huge help to finding a good price and good service.

Note that DSC and ASC are two different systems. ASC does allow you to turn it off and it will light up a warning light on the dash when you do so.

Yes, the light is on when it is off, and the light goes on when it is "active"

Mark

I'll have to check it out a little more closely next time - this idiot only looked at the onboard computer by the tach. Either I missed it there or it's on the speedometer.

The manual says:

Not Necessarily true. I live in Mass and drive in MA, NH, ME, VT all the time on steep hills with lots (12+ inches) all the time and have NEVER turned off the DSC in my car and NEVER been stuck. It all depends on your driving skill.

My MINI has ASC only (Traction Nanny) & she is always off. I installed an Ian Cull circuit with track mode to make the ASC be off by default. It can still be turned on for the rare instance it is needed by me.

My MINI wears 4 narrow winter tires. IMO those are much more beneficial than ASC.

Also... Your mileage may vary.

With all the debating going on, I'm surprised that no one has given the reason why you will get stuck with DSC/ASC on.

Allow me to shed some light and maybe this will help those that are confused, understand what's happening.

First of all, even though I don't have a MINI, I believe the DSC/ASC system works the same as in the BMW's.

When the system is on and senses wheel slippage, it cuts power to the drive wheels until traction is regained. It's human nature that when you get stuck in snow and start slipping, you apply more throttle. With DSC on, your efforts are fruitless because power is cut to the drive wheels that are slipping. That's why you can't get unstuck if DSC is on. By turning DSC off, you allow the wheels to spin and with the proper techniques, you will eventually break free.

Hope this helps.

BTW, this is for when you are stuck in snow and trying to get out. I would not recommend turning off DSC/ASC at other times unless you are tracking your car. (legal disclaimer...)

Very well said...

Agreed. I still like the way the chick in "My Cousin Vinny" explained it more. But maybe it was the chick...

Mona Lisa Vito probably has more knowledge about cars than 1/2 of us here. Please don't confuse DSC/ASC w/LSD.....

Mona Lisa Vito: The car that made these two, equal-length tire marks had positraction. You can't make those marks without positraction, which was not available on the '64 Buick Skylark!
Vinny Gambini: And why not? What is positraction?
Mona Lisa Vito: It's a limited slip differential which distributes power equally to both the right and left tires. The '64 Skylark had a regular differential, which, anyone who's been stuck in the mud in Alabama knows, you step on the gas, one tire spins, the other tire does nothing.

Except that if you are an experienced driver in snow you know not to just press harder on the throttle, as this may very well get you stuck even worse.

I was referring to mere mortal humans...we experienced drivers are in a different league....

BTW, if DSC/ASC is on, the system won't allow you to dig yourself in deeper because it will stop the wheels from spinning. If you disable DSC/ASC, thus allowing all the wheel spin you can muster, an inexperienced driver would find themselves in a worse situation.