Winter Wheels dilemma

[mjb]

BMW + Snow = work from home

I'm betting mjb's a bit more clued up than the usual BMW "oh look at me, I've got a big willy!" brigade.

I'm right looking forward to a chance to play in a RWD car in the snow (despite being scared shitless about it)

I know the risks, where+when to take them safely and where+when it'll end badly. Hopefully after a few trips I'll be able to drive the thing at least as well as most fwd drivers do in the snow (I know, it's a low bar), even if it does mean inciting a half-spin at the bottom of every mild gradient and then reversing up it

[steve_earwig]

Wouldn't that put even less weight over the wheels?

[Doggy]

Perhaps he enjoys a challenge. Mind you I share Matt's opinion on this, give me bugger all grip and predictable handling anyday over FWD tiptoe aim & prey.
Thought the traction control on my Omega might have helped, but unfortunately, it only activated if the wheels were spinning at different speeds.
Biggest success I had at a winter rwd setup was to fit a set of skinny wheels with 165's from a mk1 cavalier to my Manta

[DaiRees]

Did have a fairly strange experience in the wife's fucus in the snow a few years ago. Was trying to descend a steep hill with lots of parked cars, I was in first gear keeping the front wheels turning and crawling along, ABS was helping to manage the speed, until I saw a bus trying to come up the hill. Tried to stop, dip the clutch and brake as gently as you dare and all 4 wheels lock up, car starts to slide down the hill (accelerating), feet off clutch and brake, regain control, brake, ABS works, nearly stopped, clutch, lock up, accelerate, and on we went..... Could get it down to below 5 mph but just couldn't actually stop it! Had no choice but to breathe in and thread the needle between the parked cars on the left and the bus that was by now slewing about all over the place but failing to make any real progress. That got the old ticker going a bit

I'm sure snow tyres would have made all the difference in that situation.

[steve_earwig]

Unless it was sheet ice, the only thing that'll help you there is studs.