The only thing I found when using the Traction Control in Snow is that it allows you to move away in Second Gear easier than you can in Auto..

I cant say that it helped with the actual Traction on the road as I had a few near misses and it didnt feel like the car was compensating for the conditions or situation I found myself in..

I'm still waiting for snow/similar to test out my Traction Plus on a Cross Plus TWO wheel drive vehicle.

Last time I wanted Traction Plus to do its' "Thing" I had to be rescued/towed out by a Ford! (Posted back in time if you search).

I think we need little qualification around Traction Plus when it comes to two wheel vs four wheel drive. Also Auto Gear Box changes the game/operation significantly so this is of importance/clarity as well.

It would seem that, overall, the tyres make more difference than the number of driven wheels:
[ame]https://youtu.be/7l2cMlNRX_A[/ame]

TrevC said:

It would seem that, overall, the tyres make more difference than the number of driven wheels:
https://youtu.be/7l2cMlNRX_A

Click to expand...

...or maybe a 4x4 on winter tyres!

My 500X 4x4 felt nothing like as secure as the RAV4s I've had and to say I'm disappointed with that is an understatement. In fact I'd prefer if the Fiat had a sensor system to detect slip and beef up drive to whichever corner was losing grip than me having to decide when and if.

I'll be looking for cross-climate type tyres when it comes to a change being needed. Should I invest in 4 at once or would just front only be safe?

R-V-M

You should fit 4. If you only fit them to one axle, then that end of the car will have more grip than the other end in adverse conditions, causing imbalance and serious oversteer or understeer depending on the "grippy" end.

Just found what I said is supported here, under the "All or Nothing" question:

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/h...ohns-motoring-agony-column-03-12-2016-part-2/

Out of interest, I just fed my 500X details in to the Michelin tyre finder tool, specifying occasional winter use, and it came up with Cross Climate + to fit my 18" wheels.
https://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/mi...-289156-493402&originalFitment=225-45-18-91-V

I'll get another summer's worth out of the Goodyears, then put some Michelins on for next Winter.

Sorry, that link doesn't seem to work, but anyone can do what I did from the Michelin UK website.

Red Van Man said:

...or maybe a 4x4 on winter tyres!



My 500X 4x4 felt nothing like as secure as the RAV4s I've had and to say I'm disappointed with that is an understatement. In fact I'd prefer if the Fiat had a sensor system to detect slip and beef up drive to whichever corner was losing grip than me having to decide when and if.



I'll be looking for cross-climate type tyres when it comes to a change being needed. Should I invest in 4 at once or would just front only be safe?



R-V-M

Click to expand...

As I posted earlier I was more than impressed with the performance of mine in the snow. I can't speak for individual corners but the display showed the drive varying back and front, and overall I suffered no slippage or loss of traction at all. Peculiar

Red Van Man said:

...or maybe a 4x4 on winter tyres!

My 500X 4x4 felt nothing like as secure as the RAV4s I've had and to say I'm disappointed with that is an understatement. In fact I'd prefer if the Fiat had a sensor system to detect slip and beef up drive to whichever corner was losing grip than me having to decide when and if.

R-V-M

Click to expand...

It does. From the fiat500usa link above it says:

"Electronic Traction Control: The Fiat 500X uses its braking system to enhance its AWD capabilities. For example, the Brake-Lock Differential System (BLDS) offers similar performance as a locking differential. If one wheel starts slipping, the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) slows the spinning wheel. This automatically transfers more drive torque to the wheel with traction."

Like I said before though, and even though that link infers differently, I am sure in traction plus the car setoff in first and was reluctant to change up, in fact it reminded me more (in terms of automatic gear selected and engine revs) of sport mode than the relaxed characteristics of auto mode.

In my opinion next time it snows just keep it in auto and see how you get on.

Next time im out (quite rare) I'll do a yardstick test of when the car automatically moves into 6th gear. I know in auto mode its about 34mph but I bet in traction + mode and sport mode their maybe 45mph.

I tried to some extent my gut feeling the other day while in the car. Only issue is I wasn't on a proper run so was testing at 30mph. My car is the 2l AT9 4*4.

In auto at 30mph ish the gearbox is in D5, change the mode selector to sport and it changes to D4 and up's the revs as you would expect. Then if you change it back to auto the process reverses.

However if alternatively you change from sport to traction + the gearbox holds D4.

So that leads me to believe that sport is essentially traction + but with faster throttle response. 4wd will be permanently engaged in both cases.

I didn't check if there was any steering difference between sport and traction + as i was driving in a straight line.

TrevC said:

Just found what I said is supported here, under the "All or Nothing" question:

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/h...ohns-motoring-agony-column-03-12-2016-part-2/

Click to expand...

Haha more laughable 'advice' from HJ. I would suggest that on a front drive, 2wd car the difference between leaving decent standard tyres on the rear and changing all 4 tyres to cross climates, is marginal bordering on non existent. I've seen some real twaddle on this site, it can be entertaining though... and the short reviews by the Geordie/Macam lad are entertaining.

robotdancer said:

Haha more laughable 'advice' from HJ. I would suggest that on a front drive, 2wd car the difference between leaving decent standard tyres on the rear and changing all 4 tyres to cross climates, is marginal bordering on non existent. I've seen some real twaddle on this site, it can be entertaining though... and the short reviews by the Geordie/Macam lad are entertaining.

Click to expand...

On my old Croma 2005 with the then standard tyres (as opposed to all weather) I had just one occasion where due to surface compacted snow she would not ascend the modest 1:5 or 1:10 slope on our road.

Problem solved by going back down to bottom of slope and reversing up. Some 200m+ negotiated where only 5 or 10 were previously covered.

Not joking but if stuck don't change your tyres just change your direction

I've always found the advice given by HJ himself to be pretty sound. I used to like the straightforward video reviews he did, too, but I can't watch the later ones as they give me a strong urge to punch that Mark idiot.
The video below shows the massive difference in grip between summer tyres and all-season and winter, in snowy conditions. I wouldn't want to mix tyres from the car on the left with any of the others, although I concede that if you mixed Cross-Climates and summer tyres in drier, warmer conditions you would probably be ok.
Oh, and Michelin don't recommend mixing Cross-Climates with other tyres.

[ame]https://youtu.be/2cgtmmtsqFA[/ame]

Thats pretty impressive - Thats the Tamworth Snowdome - we go there every year and that bits pretty bloomin' steep!

Yes, I think the full winters are the ones on the right. Cross-Climates are certified for use in Germany when it snows - you have to use winter tyres there by law if there has been a fall. This indicates they must be pretty good. I'm sure a quality winter tyre is better in snow, but I'd bet the Michelins are better than a lot of the budget winter tyres that are on sale.