Hi all, First winter with the 250 and I've got to say, I find the car a pig to drive in this weather. As to be expected with a car lively at the front wheels, I am literally spinning through 1st, 2nd and 3rd and find not being able to properly push the car really frustrating. I'm probably leaving myself open to some criticism here, but how does everyone else find driving this time of year?
I agree with you. If the roads are greasy or wet then it can become quite difficult and I've felt I've nearly lost the front a few time. And this was driving conservatively as well.
Yeah I agree with this also (in my 225) try to pull out of a junction quick and just spin up through 1st and 2nd haha! Just have to take it easy! What tyres are you using? Since ive had new alloys that come with Michelin Pilot sports on, I seem to have less grip than I did on my old set of tyres, which were Pilot Sports 3's? May have to get them out of the shed and back on to the car!
I find my 250 sh*te in this weather!! Spins constant in the cold damp conditions. That's with 4 new PS3 all round! They are well and truly worn in now as at first I thought it was the tyres but it seems like the car just doesn't like anything but the dry. Mine spins everytime I pull out. And yes that is pulling out nice and slow I don't mean giving it some. Due to the 250 staying for the foreseeable im tempted on buying some michelin winter tyres that I'll just put on December - February.
You're right OP - very little grip. The ps2's I have aren't recommended for use at below +7 degrees. It's been below that at least all year here....
Not sure if I drive on amazing quality roads (pretty sure I don't), but I never have any issues? I have PS2's and find them to be superb in greasy conditions and still pull really well through 2nd and 3rd. I don't get slip in 1st gear as I very rarely launch hard enough to get wheel spin.. Can't fault my car or the tyres in this weather.
Maybe it's because you guys are driving on tires made for summer use. Last weekwnd I was driving my RS265 on Ice up in the North of Sweden and I was surprised how well it worked. I was faster than some of the 4WD cars and was quite surprised. Think you have to get some serious winter tires to make it work well now.
Interesting to see some people are having the same issues. I'm using Goodyear Eagle Assymetric F1 2's and I've found them to tramline quite a bit but provide quite decent levels of grip. I'm using yellowstuff pads as well which are pretty much useless when cold.
get yourselves a proper set of winter tires! all summer tires are kinda useless below 8° and driven in greasy conditions, i got pirreli sottozero 3 on clio 4 rs and michelin pilot alpin 4 on meg and for a greasy weather I would recommend the michelin
I bet I start slipping and sliding all over the place going home from work now I've said mine are fine.
I bought some steel wheels with winter tyres for my 225 of ebay.de and never experienced spinning in winter conditions. Snowwy conditions not a problem up till now and icy conditions (early morning) some grip but not slipping. I drive plenty of kms a week so had to change to winter tyres. On my Mégane and Clio always on summer tyres with very little to no grip with a lot of thread left and dancing when accellerating.
Anyone wanting a set of winter tyres I have a set for sale now the RS250 is gone and as said they make a big difference.
Get yourself a set of pilot super sports , on a damp greasy wet road they stick like shite on my R26.R, mega tyres
You could try not putting your foot down? Mine has 272/285 and doesn't spin the wheels unless I want it to, whether the roads are wet or not. I've got Pilot Super Sports too but they're nearly ready for changing with only around 3mm left. Wet snow and ice however is another matter, it is utterly utterly shite. My R26 and 225 have been the worst cars I've ever had in the snow. Two years ago I had a Jaguar X Type diesel with the same size tyres on and it was so good in the snow I was ferrying people home from work who's cars were stuck and it just went anywhere with no bother.
Yer in this weather im having to feed in 2nd or just short shifting, third and 4th no issues and my tyres will probably need changing soon. See out the winter first i think so i have a fresh set for summer!
Pish in the cold though. I'm really not sure how people think the MK3 is shite in winter weather. I've not got stuck once or had any issues when we had the heavy snow earlier this year. TC off and use the torque. You shouldn't be "pushing" in this weather anyway, drive to the conditions ffs.
Agreed with the original post. Meg 250 with 313bhp/345lbft it spins like crazy through 1st/2nd/3rd with MPSupersports.
It's not wheel-spin per se that I'm referring to. It's more like increased power understeer or sliding across negative cambers on corners that I have to watch in this weather. As expressed already, it's the temperature that's the culprit. I know ps2's are great in warmer weather.
Mine is pushing more power and torque and I'm getting next to no wheel spin whatsoever. I always drive with the car in Sport, so don't have the full systems on and even if I dump it in 3rd at 30mph to overtake etc, the car picks up no problem and I'm gone. I have PS2's with about 3mm tread on the fronts and slightly less on the back as well. ^ +1
I drive a remapped 225 day to day and you have to be very aware of its ability to spin it's wheels up when it's icy or wet. I'm using Vredestein Sessanta tyres and they're obviously not winter tyres so I'd expect it to be frisky but I try to keep it in mind. That said it can catch you out such as pulling out of the end of my road the other night. Engine was cold so no revving but when to nip out as could see a car in the distance. Probably no more than 1,500-2,000rpm and still felt the tyres slip.
Another thing I've noticed more frequently in this weather, is the grinding/tyre juddering noise and sensation on full lock. I've been told most MK3's suffer from this? Definitely more audible and noticeable in this weather though. I'm getting a company car at the end of the month, so may SORN until the weather picks up
Yeah I notice this. Seems worse when the tires are worn too. As far as the rest of the winter driving goes, just drive to the conditions. You can't expect summer tires to perform well in low temperatures. Try driving a 7 in the winter . I took mine out last month and it was very easy to loose grip on the slightest application of throttle mid-corner. It makes the 250 feel like a tank in comparison.
2nd/3rd/4th gear, no revs trying to let the torque pull the car along and it had absolutely zero traction. This was on wet snow that compacted straight into ice though, not soft or compacted snow. Cars were abandoned everywhere, at the bottom of every hill the roads were lined with them. I had to dig out the road, push the car onto a grass verge and leave it there for 4 days - this was 50 yards from my drive! My old 225 was pants too though, I couldn't even get it off the drive but got straight in my Mrs' Yaris and drove all the way to work and back through thick snow. My X Type estate with cheap 225/40/18 got me everywhere when it snowed too. Maybe it's just coincidence, but I've had two of the same car and every other car I've had but those has been fine in the snow!
glad im not the only one car is terrible for spinning up the wheels at this time of year, Obviously we can all take it more steady but still do really notice the difference. was thinking about new tyres as my front tyres arent the best brand. May wait a bit though till summer and get some decent rubber on.
