Traction loss …… how do YOU deal with it (T6.1) ?

[chockswahay]

In view of all this recent snow I wondered how do other deal with loss of traction seeing as the traction control can’t be turned off ( I am only referring to pulling away in slippery conditions). No need to refer to winter tyres etc, just wondering what people who like me (at this time) have standard summer tyres.

I do carry an electric pump, so I s’pose letting the front tyres down to around 15 psi to help get out of a situation might be a plan (then of course re inflate before continuing)

?

 

[yossarian]

Mine's got a traction control button. Front right.

Edit, position 1 in the photo.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Have you tried letting the vehicle creep forward before applying the gas…?
DSG will creep and can start the movement and avoid wheel spin, there’s a bit of delay so timing is important at junctions. If it’s stuck on a campsite or snow, carpet under the drive wheels can get you out of trouble

 

[yossarian]

It's really quite astounding that dsg has no manual clutch control for low and reverse gears.

A potentiometer on a little paddle and dsg would be perfect for every situation.

 

[Alan Andrews]

Have you tried letting the vehicle creep forward before applying the gas…?
DSG will creep and can start the moment and avoid wheel spin, there’s a bit of delay so timing is important at junctions. If it’s stuck on a campsite or snow, carpet under the drive wheels can get you out of trouble

Agreed. I have also used the 'manual' side of the dsg gear stick. I was always told to use 2nd gear in snow/ice/mud to improve traction.

 

[Herman]

Y

Agreed. I have also used the 'manual' side of the dsg gear stick. I was always told to use 2nd gear in snow/ice/mud to improve traction.

I was told to start off in 2nd too. It’s b*ll*cks, a hang over from the 1920s. The best way to avoid slipping is be gentle; once things are sliding the friction between tyre and ice (there is some) becomes less and the problems increase. The best advice that I had was to imagine that you have a full bottle of milk with the top off in the footwell. Your mission is to drive so that it doesn’t fall over. This really works.

 

[Alan Andrews]

Y

I was told to start off in 2nd too. It’s b*ll*cks, a hang over from the 1920s. The best way to avoid slipping is be gentle; once things are sliding the friction between tyre and ice (there is some) becomes less and the problems increase. The best advice that I had was to imagine that you have a full bottle of milk with the top off in the footwell. Your mission is to drive so that it doesn’t fall over. This really works.

Well I must disagree.

It works in our 2WD T6 Ocean with 17" Goodyear Ultragrip Mud+Snow winter tyres.

First gear via the DSG auto drive just slips. Knocking it in to manual mode and going in to 2nd, allows the tyres to grip. Going in to first and trying to get out again creates too much slip.

Give it a go.

 

[chockswahay]

Mine's got a traction control button. Front right.

Edit, position 1 in the photo.

View attachment 103165

Not on mine

 

[Herman]

Well I must disagree.

It works in our 2WD T6 Ocean with 17" Goodyear Ultragrip Mud+Snow winter tyres.

Each to his own.
Michelin Cross Climates, dsg in auto and a very gentle right foot seems to work very well for me in the snowy highlands.

 

[yossarian]

Not on mine

Maybe coast Vs ocean thing. I'd imagine the button is 10 quid worth.

 

[scabrero]

In view of all this recent snow I wondered how do other deal with loss of traction seeing as the traction control can’t be turned off ( I am only referring to pulling away in slippery conditions). No need to refer to winter tyres etc, just wondering what people who like me (at this time) have standard summer tyres.

I do carry an electric pump, so I s’pose letting the front tyres down to around 15 psi to help get out of a situation might be a plan (then of course re inflate before continuing)

?

ASR can be deactivated in the infotainment unit, car setup menu.

 

[babble]

Each to his own.
Michelin Cross Climates, dsg in auto and a very gentle right foot seems to work very well for me in the snowy highlands.

i specified it for €28 for my coast, but there is a way to deactivate traction control without the button. some series of button presses if i remember - fairly simple

 

[chockswahay]

ASR can be deactivated in the infotainment unit, car setup menu.

Maybe in the Ocean but there is no mention of it in my Coast manual

 

[babble]

Maybe in the Ocean but there is no mention of it in my Coast manual

try this. (no idea if it will work)

 

[chockswahay]

try this. (no idea if it will work)

Thanks for the suggestion but it didn’t work…..ah well, back to basics

 

[Corradobrit]

Plonkers. 4WD was not helping anyone in these conditions

 

[Corradobrit]

Wrong clip

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Mine's got a traction control button. Front right.

Edit, position 1 in the photo.

View attachment 103165

Mine too.

 

[jqp]

Wrong clip

Disturbing! Back in the 60s when I used to drive from Nottingham to university at Manchester, I got quite good at cadence braking to slow down and keep control on snow/ice. Looks like no-one does cadence braking these days - does it work if the vehicle has ABS?

 

[yossarian]

Disturbing! Back in the 60s when I used to drive from Nottingham to university at Manchester, I got quite good at cadence braking to slow down and keep control on snow/ice. Looks like no-one does cadence braking these days - does it work if the vehicle has ABS?

If you have 4 locked wheels ABS can't be a factor.

 

[ArunAlec]

Disturbing! Back in the 60s when I used to drive from Nottingham to university at Manchester, I got quite good at cadence braking to slow down and keep control on snow/ice. Looks like no-one does cadence braking these days - does it work if the vehicle has ABS?

As I understand it, when emergency braking in a car with ABS you don’t try to cadence, just brake as hard as you can. The ABS will “cadence” for you so that you are still able to steer. I’m not sure cadence or ABS would work on ice. Interested to hear views.

 

[Alan Andrews]

Wrong type of rubber. Snow tyres make a huge difference.

It is not just about how much tread you have.

Winter tyres are a very different compound to summer tyres.

All season tyres are a compromise between summer and winter.

I did not understand it until caught out with standard Conti (summer) tyres coming over Snowdon in cold/wet/muddy roads. That was scary.

Same trip with Winter S+M tyres and no incidents at all.

Now I have two sets of wheels and tyres. Change end of October and End March.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Interesting comparison of stopping distances (summer, all season & winter):

 

[Peter David Morton]

Wrong type of rubber. Snow tyres make a huge difference.

It is not just about how much tread you have.

Winter tyres are a very different compound to summer tyres.

All season tyres are a compromise between summer and winter.

I did not understand it until caught out with standard Conti (summer) tyres coming over Snowdon in cold/wet/muddy roads. That was scary.

Same trip with Winter S+M tyres and no incidents at all.

Now I have two sets of wheels and tyres. Change end of October and End March.

I find the Michelin 215 65 16c Agilis crossclimate the best of all worlds . Good grip summer winter , grass , kerbs and rough gravel . Fuel economy good but they are a slightly harsh ride .
Durability excellent

 

[pluc99]

I keep 2 small traction tracks in the boot for emergencies and have a small shovel and small bag of salt with me in winter just in case. You could also use your rubber floor mats but they will probably need replacing afterwards. This is all theoretical as I've never gotten stuck.