manual modulation of stability control on/off switch

[2o6]

This is completely false.

It is sometimes needed to spin the wheels in snow, to both claw your way to more solid stuff and to spin the tires fast enough that they clean themselves off.

times a billion.

[Speed_Racer]

I wouldn't mind the option of traction control on my motorcycle, or an adjustable throttle map for those wet days.

[hotrodalex]

This is completely false.

It is sometimes needed to spin the wheels in snow, to both claw your way to more solid stuff and to spin the tires fast enough that they clean themselves off.

Or you just dig yourself into a hole and get more stuck.

Like I said, I've just never been in a situation where my particular car was better with TC off in the snow. Maybe you guys just have.crappy systems.

I've been on ice with 1/100 the amount of traction of a dry road and with TC off you just spin the tires. With TC on it will start to crawl after a few seconds and then you can give it a little gas to go faster.

Another example. Went to a frienda house who had a gravel driveway covered with snow/ice. Could get 10 feet up the driveway with TC magic, only 5 feet without it. Would end up spinning the tires and then start sliding backwards.

[GoCougs]

I've put a lot of snow miles on cars with TC and I've found TC to universally suck in snow/ice when starting out, buried, or going really slow. It simply doesn't allow enough (any) wheels spin. TC systems specifically designed for such situations are rumored to work well (and they work well by allowing a fair measure of wheel spin) but they're usually only on the hardcore off-road rigs like a Discovery or FJ Cruiser.

[Northlands]

Add my post to the pile of people saying TC doesn't do shit when you are stuck in snow. Tire spin is essential. Pedal modulation via the human foot is the best way.

[Soup DeVille]

Or you just dig yourself into a hole and get more stuck.

Like I said, I've just never been in a situation where my particular car was better with TC off in the snow. Maybe you guys just have.crappy systems.

I've been on ice with 1/100 the amount of traction of a dry road and with TC off you just spin the tires. With TC on it will start to crawl after a few seconds and then you can give it a little gas to go faster.

Another example. Went to a frienda house who had a gravel driveway covered with snow/ice. Could get 10 feet up the driveway with TC magic, only 5 feet without it. Would end up spinning the tires and then start sliding backwards.

Or, maybe it's you that's the crappy part of the equation.

I mean, you've repeatedly been confused about the difference between snow and ice...

[MrH]

Or you just dig yourself into a hole and get more stuck.

Like I said, I've just never been in a situation where my particular car was better with TC off in the snow. Maybe you guys just have.crappy systems.

I've been on ice with 1/100 the amount of traction of a dry road and with TC off you just spin the tires. With TC on it will start to crawl after a few seconds and then you can give it a little gas to go faster.

Another example. Went to a frienda house who had a gravel driveway covered with snow/ice. Could get 10 feet up the driveway with TC magic, only 5 feet without it. Would end up spinning the tires and then start sliding backwards.

Sounds like you just don't know how to drive

[Cookie Monster]

I probably have the least amount of snow driving skill/experience here, but when the MDX got snowed in one night when we went skiing, I was able to rock it out with a lot of wheelspin. I think TC would've just left me stuck there.

[ifcar]

Or you just dig yourself into a hole and get more stuck.

Like I said, I've just never been in a situation where my particular car was better with TC off in the snow. Maybe you guys just have.crappy systems.

I've been on ice with 1/100 the amount of traction of a dry road and with TC off you just spin the tires. With TC on it will start to crawl after a few seconds and then you can give it a little gas to go faster.

Another example. Went to a frienda house who had a gravel driveway covered with snow/ice. Could get 10 feet up the driveway with TC magic, only 5 feet without it. Would end up spinning the tires and then start sliding backwards.

But with traction control, giving the car gas when the wheels are spinning has no effect because it works by cutting power. It's not doing anything you can't duplicate, but it takes away your ability to get power and spinning that is valuable.

[SVT666]

I probably have the least amount of snow driving skill/experience here, but when the MDX got snowed in one night when we went skiing, I was able to rock it out with a lot of wheelspin. I think TC would've just left me stuck there.

Don't "think"...."know".

[r0tor]

I drove a rwd sporty car for 7 wintets in the snow and never had problems with traction or stability control.  Actually, it probably saved my ass a handful of times.  On slick uphills I use to just floor the gas and let the tc limit the throttle to the point where you had the most traction and let the stability control take care of the wagging tail... no problems

[SVT666]

I drove a rwd sporty car for 7 wintets in the snow and never had problems with traction or stability control.  Actually, it probably saved my ass a handful of times.  On slick uphills I use to just floor the gas and let the tc limit the throttle to the point where you had the most traction and let the stability control take care of the wagging tail... no problems

Ice and snow are two very different things.

[hotrodalex]

But with traction control, giving the car gas when the wheels are spinning has no effect because it works by cutting power. It's not doing anything you can't duplicate, but it takes away your ability to get power and spinning that is valuable.

I have no ability to brake individual wheels in quick bursts like TC can. And I've had TC off plenty of times when doing donuts in a parking lot. Much easier to get going with TC on. Spinning tires to clear an area should be the last resort.

Antecedent #3: guy in a Mustang got stuck in front of my house in half a foot of snow and couldn't get out because he refused to do anything but spin the tires. Tried digging him out, but he'd just get stuck immediately after getting out. Also tried putting carpet underneath for traction, but again he would just end up spinning the tires and get stuck once he got off the carpet. Ended up having to be pulled out with a neighbor's truck.

I'm sure turning off TC could help in some situations, but that doesn't mean it's always the best method.

[SVT666]

Traction control helps about as much as just mindlessly flooring it.

[hotrodalex]

Traction control helps about as much as just mindlessly flooring it.

Seriously do your guys' traction control just lock the brakes for an hour every time you spin a tire? That's what you're acting like...

[hotrodalex]

Sounds like you just don't know how to drive

I learned to drive in a car without any electronic nannies and never got stuck. And I'm a much better snow driver now than I was then.

In my car, if I leave TC on I can take off fairly normally, maybe a slight delay once or twice. If I turn it off, it takes me about twice as long to get going. This is in snow, ice, whatever.

[2o6]

You lived in Kentucky.

[MrH]

You lived in Kentucky.

+1

[2o6]

+1

I'm half serious here. He gets like 1/3 the snow and ice Cleveland and Akron does, and CAK in turn only gets roughly 1/2 some of what you guys get.

[AutobahnSHO]

seen only a couple of flakes this year.  I live on the TN/KY border.

[hotrodalex]

I'm half serious here. He gets like 1/3 the snow and ice Cleveland and Akron does, and CAK in turn only gets roughly 1/2 some of what you guys get.

Yeah, I've never actually seen snow.

[2o6]

Yeah, I've never actually seen snow.

STFU. You get like an inch or so and now you're a fucking genius at everything. I know you mean well, but sometimes your posts read that way.

[hotrodalex]

STFU. You get like an inch or so and now you're a fucking genius at everything. I know you mean well, but sometimes your posts read that way.

Well this is ironic.

[mzziaz]

I only turn it off when I'm stuck. In my previous car I sometimes had to turn it off going uphill, but that was a first gen TC only system.

You guys must have shitty ESP systems, or rather shitty tires.

[Rupert]

In deep snow, spinning tires might be the only thing keeping you going. In shallow snow and on ice, spinning tires might just be spinning tires, and traction control only helps. Alex, have you ever driven through un-iced snow up to the sills of the car?

[hotrodalex]

In deep snow, spinning tires might be the only thing keeping you going. In shallow snow and on ice, spinning tires might just be spinning tires, and traction control only helps. Alex, have you ever driven through un-iced snow up to the sills of the car?

A couple times for short distances, don't think I ever bothered turning TC off (didn't get stuck)

Although I doubt most people here who are claiming to be better than traction control constantly drive through those conditions. Seems like it's been way overstated the amount the TC really sucks in the snow. For the average situation and average driver, keeping traction control on is the smartest option. Only when you actually get stuck and it's hindering motion does it make sense to turn it off. To do otherwise just seems like an ego booster.

[AutobahnSHO]

Seems like it's been way overstated the amount the TC really sucks in the snow. .

nah- the car using brakes when you're trying to move Forward really sucks.

[SVT666]

Only when you actually get stuck and it's hindering motion does it make sense to turn it off. To do otherwise just seems like an ego booster.

You couldn't be more wrong.  Waiting to get stuck before turning it off doesn't really help.  Once you've stopped moving in deep snow, you're pretty much fucked.  Unless you actually drive in snow on a regular basis you have no idea.  TC works on ice, but in snow it sucks ass.

[hotrodalex]

You couldn't be more wrong.  Waiting to get stuck before turning it off doesn't really help.  Once you've stopped moving in deep snow, you're pretty much fucked.  Unless you actually drive in snow on a regular basis you have no idea.  TC works on ice, but in snow it sucks ass.

I worded that badly. Should have just said when it starts hindering your motion.

[SVT666]

I worded that badly. Should have just said when it starts hindering your motion.

It's better just to turn it off so your motion isn't hindered, since it can happen pretty quickly.