(T) Autobahn experience

This weekend we took the Panda Cross and drove from Lausanne (Switzerland) to Stuttgart to visit the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz museums. I highly recommend both for any petrol-head, both were awesome.
However, the next day, we drove to Dusseldorf in crazy blizzard conditions on the Autobahn. All the usual BMWs and Audis were sitting timidly in the middle-lane while our amazing little 1.3 turbo-diesel was hammering the outside-lane at 145 km/h. Why?
Two weeks ago I replaced my Conti's for Vredestein Snowtrack 3 tires, due to lack of stock. I made sure they are ok for summer use too, as the tread is very chunky.
My friends, these tires are awesome! Absolute true tracking through the worst possible conditions at high speeds! No wiggle of the steering wheel even when driving through sizable puddles of water at 140 km/h+. We were the kings of the autobahn, mainly because of these tires. I highly recommend them.

You're mental?

Is there a noticeable increase in road noise with these Tyres?

On rough/abrasive roads yes they are a bit noisier but on smooth surfaces they're quiet. I've got Snowtrac 3's on my 500 and in the snow, ice and slush they were great. I was able to overtake slow traffic going uphill by going in the snowy lane, others tried to follow me but just couldn't get the power down to follow me. Awesome tyres

Waste of money using them in the summer though as they're so soft they're just going to melt when it starts getting above 15-20 degrees. Cheaper just to get a second set of wheels like I did.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~fenix19...0/Wintertyres/

Despite the fact that I am the previous owner of two Porsches and currently a Lotus Esprit Turbo, I am by nature an over-cautious 40-year-old driver, and always adjust speed to conditions.
The fact that I felt comfortable cruising at 140 km/h should be a testament to the abilities of both the Cross and those tires. And I have to admit that I still had to give way to large German SUV's doing up to 170 km/h in those conditions.

Just remember though that 4wd's don't brake any better than 2wd cars and don't handle any better. I had fun doing 50-60mph in the snowy lane on the dual carriageway yesterday overtaking cars doing 30 or 40. No way i'd do 80 or 90 like you were doing though.....

I have found there is a very, very faint zing on smooth tar that I didn't hear with the Conti's. But you can hardly hear it, and far from from intrusive or irritating, it is in fact a reassuring sound. Maybe it is because the MJ engine is so loud anyway.

Ok. Let me then say that despite me driving like a mad, lunatic, irresponsible driver, those tires were still excellent. So, the message is friends, if you are like me, there is no better way to risk life and limb in marginal conditions than with Vredesteins.

Vredestein. The lunatic's choice.

Also remember that your tyres are probably only t-rated. This means that they're rated to do 190 kph for 10 minutes at which point they may just fall apart. Perhaps it's just me but I wouldn't be doing 145 on them....

Good tyres though and I'm happy with them too.

Odd it should be mentioned about 4x4's not stopping any better than 2x4's on the slippy stuff... After the recent round of snow and ice I was amazed at how many 4x4's I saw driving around with the front ends caved in !..

Steve

People get a false sense of security because they don't get the feedback of low grip from getting wheelspin when they set off.

And of course few people driving these School-Run-Mum cars have the slightest clue about driving technique nor road-surface awareness these days.

Only slightly related but...... A few years ago I went to a November bonfire display where the carpark was a muddy field, on a slope. Local AWDC (All Wheel Drive Club) offered to do the carpark patrol, to help anyone inevitably stuck in the muddy, slippery grass. At the time, I was in my original Classic Panda 4x4, which of course was fine.

Nasty wet night and as a result, the AWDC boys were busy pulling Mondeos, Vectras and all manner of family wagons up the clope and onto the tarmac. Anyway, dude next to me was in a brand new (at the time) Shogun, sat there spinning one rear wheel, going nowhere. It was one of those NON-permanent 4WD versions, that needed selected before it became 4x4.

Anyway, he asked for help from a wise old chap in an ancient Series-3 Landie, only to be told that he ought to read the manual and work it out for himself, him being in an offroader too..... Shogun dude got more and more annoyed, digging a bigger and bigger divot in his stationary Shogun until he was up to his axle one side in goop.... he didn't have the slightest clue. But I'm sure Mrs Shogun looked very smart outside the school gates....

And an ex-colleague of mine with an early Discovery ground to a halt on the hard shoulder of the M3 once with terminal transmission wind up. He'd pushed the centre diff-lock lever over, wondering what it did, and left it there. He tried to sue Land Rover for making a dangerous vehicle.....

Give me a Panda 4x4 any day of the week.

Back on topic - am very impressed with the reports for the SnowTrac3's. Has anyone tried to use tyres like this all year round? Whilst I fully accept that a heavy car will destroy a Snow tyre quickly when the tempts get up in summer, might a lightweight like the Panda make them last do you think?

Phil G

Well you can get Fiat steelies on ebay for not much. Just buy a set of crappy steelies and run them for the winter. With the Snowtrac 3's being very much a winter tyre you will have WORSE braking, handling and traction with them in summer than with normal tyres.

I am thinking of purchasing some snow tyres next winter and putting them on some cheap steelies, i was wondering when you swap them over, wouldnt you have to get them balanced and alligned each time?

Also, how do i know what steelies will fit?

cheers

yes, you'd have to have them rebalanced. Silly to change tyres over!