revtothelimit - motorbike forum

dern wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 11:08 am

Mr Moofo wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 9:05 pm

636mick wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 8:42 pm Dumped a load of snow here, rural Northamptonshire, snowed from1800 until 2030, now fine rain. I’ve bought a company car, radio etc home and on call from midnight. Looking at motorway cameras and the chat on teams it’s moving away eastwards but extends from Northamptonshire up to Derbyshire and across to the A1, diminishing all the time it’s moving though.
Hoping my phone doesn’t ring overnight, but if it does I’m ready!!
Stay safe all,
Mick.

It’s stunning how Britain grinds to a halt with a few cms of snow … it’s 2025, you would have thought that we might have discovered winter tyres

Yeah, it's crazy how everyone in the UK hasn't dropped a grand on a spare set of wheels and tyres for each car for a small chance of 1 or 2 days of snow each year, given how loaded everyone is.

What - even on commercial vehicles, buses etc ...

All it takes is one person at the front to not have winter tyres to make them pointless for everyone else

I'd be curious to see how the mighty Duster would cope in snow and ice.
The 4WD system is fab and copes with all the various surfaces over here.

My Audi TT 4WD was good in snow.

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:12 pm I'd be curious to see how the mighty Duster would cope in snow and ice.
The 4WD system is fab and copes with all the various surfaces over here.

My Audi TT 4WD was good in snow.

They are brilliant on snow - with winter tyres. The best 4x4 makes no difference on a decent amount of snow with "normal" tyres!

As I've said before, solid ice is a loser for anything!

The gendarmes, police municipale and most other "authorities" have quite a few Dusters - the other thing being Panda and Suzuki SX4, both 4x4s

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:35 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:12 pm I'd be curious to see how the mighty Duster would cope in snow and ice.
The 4WD system is fab and copes with all the various surfaces over here.

My Audi TT 4WD was good in snow.

They are brilliant on snow - with winter tyres. The best 4x4 makes no difference on a decent amount of snow with "normal" tyres!

As I've said before, solid ice is a loser for anything!

Yup. Makes me laugh how some people think 4WD can cope with absolutely anything. It's not magic! They're good at finding grip where there's grip to be had but even with the best tyres on the best 4WD system - if there's no grip to be had it's as much game over as with anything else.

Same thing with tyres and mud. If the tread is clogged you may as well be on slicks and wide tyres are worse than narrow ones.

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:35 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:12 pm I'd be curious to see how the mighty Duster would cope in snow and ice.
The 4WD system is fab and copes with all the various surfaces over here.

My Audi TT 4WD was good in snow.

They are brilliant on snow - with winter tyres. The best 4x4 makes no difference on a decent amount of snow with "normal" tyres!

As I've said before, solid ice is a loser for anything!

The gendarmes, police municipale and most other "authorities" have quite a few Dusters - the other thing being Panda and Suzuki SX4, both 4x4s

Not sure about snow, but the secret here on the big sand dunes is to turn off the Traction Control.
Then the 4WD and diff locks can do their job.
I've amazed many folk at how it goes up sand hills on standard tyres.

Count Steer wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:49 pm

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:35 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:12 pm I'd be curious to see how the mighty Duster would cope in snow and ice.
The 4WD system is fab and copes with all the various surfaces over here.

My Audi TT 4WD was good in snow.

They are brilliant on snow - with winter tyres. The best 4x4 makes no difference on a decent amount of snow with "normal" tyres!

As I've said before, solid ice is a loser for anything!

Yup. Makes me laugh how some people think 4WD can cope with absolutely anything. It's not magic! They're good at finding grip where there's grip to be had but even with the best tyres on the best 4WD system - if there's no grip to be had it's as much game over as with anything else.

Same thing with tyres and mud. If the tread is clogged you may as well be on slicks and wide tyres are worse than narrow ones.

The other thing that people don't know/don't believe is that traction control is usually absolute garbage on snow

VW made the mistake of building the T6 with no off button for the TC - most transfer companies here used them and I know one of the companies was in talks to get VW to agree to the mechanic turning off the TC without invalidating the warranty; not sure of the outcome but many more companies are using Mercedes now, including some of the electric versions!


Tyres make the win possible - 4x4 and snow/winter tyres are the big win but rarely is there is enough snow to actually NEED 4x4 because actually how you drive means as much or more than 4x4 !!!

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:59 pm

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:35 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:12 pm I'd be curious to see how the mighty Duster would cope in snow and ice.
The 4WD system is fab and copes with all the various surfaces over here.

My Audi TT 4WD was good in snow.

They are brilliant on snow - with winter tyres. The best 4x4 makes no difference on a decent amount of snow with "normal" tyres!

As I've said before, solid ice is a loser for anything!

The gendarmes, police municipale and most other "authorities" have quite a few Dusters - the other thing being Panda and Suzuki SX4, both 4x4s

Not sure about snow, but the secret here on the big sand dunes is to turn off the Traction Control.
Then the 4WD and diff locks can do their job.
I've amazed many folk at how it goes up sand hills on standard tyres.

As posted - TC is asolute shite on snow or sand, and probably mud!! Not sure why some manufacturers make it so hard/impossible to turn off but hey ho!!!

white van at the end of the video - winter tyres and (cos its a local VW) I'd guess 4x4 !!

This is, I think, at about/just before turn five of the 21 turns up to La Plagne (we count down, so number 5 is near the top!)

This is mild compared to most snowy saturdays People think they have the skill to outdrive the conditions

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 1:01 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:59 pm

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:35 pm

They are brilliant on snow - with winter tyres. The best 4x4 makes no difference on a decent amount of snow with "normal" tyres!

As I've said before, solid ice is a loser for anything!

The gendarmes, police municipale and most other "authorities" have quite a few Dusters - the other thing being Panda and Suzuki SX4, both 4x4s

Not sure about snow, but the secret here on the big sand dunes is to turn off the Traction Control.
Then the 4WD and diff locks can do their job.
I've amazed many folk at how it goes up sand hills on standard tyres.

As posted - TC is asolute shite on snow or sand, and probably mud!! Not sure why some manufacturers make it so hard/impossible to turn off but hey ho!!!

A few years one of Pen's pals was over. He's ex car racer.

We went out for day to the sandy bits. Left TC on and sent him up a hill.
Failed 4 times.
Turned TC off and sent Penny up. She sailed up.

Much piss taking that evening

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:35 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:12 pm I'd be curious to see how the mighty Duster would cope in snow and ice.
The 4WD system is fab and copes with all the various surfaces over here.

My Audi TT 4WD was good in snow.

They are brilliant on snow - with winter tyres. The best 4x4 makes no difference on a decent amount of snow with "normal" tyres!

As I've said before, solid ice is a loser for anything!

The gendarmes, police municipale and most other "authorities" have quite a few Dusters - the other thing being Panda and Suzuki SX4, both 4x4s

In theory the 4wd grip thing is true but in practice I can get up inclines on summer tyres in a range rover where I'd get stuck in a 2wd on summer cars. It doesn't help with sideways grip but engine braking is more evenly applied. I'm picking up some AT all season tyres on some spare wheels at the weekend as they do make a dramatic difference... and I want to go green laning.

Also my old impreza turbo was a massive laugh and hugely capable on snow covered back lanes on summer tyres. Not completely in control I grant you but huge fun.

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 1:04 pm white van at the end of the video - winter tyres and (cos its a local VW) I'd guess 4x4 !!

This is, I think, at about/just before turn five of the 21 turns up to La Plagne (we count down, so number 5 is near the top!)

This is mild compared to most snowy saturdays People think they have the skill to outdrive the conditions

That video reminded me of something else. Lots of people try and drive constantly in the tracks of previous vehicles where the snow is compacted but, provided you keep the treads and wheel arches clear, you often find more grip on the fresh stuff just to the edges of the tracks. (Actually got up an icy slope once with two wheels on the snow on the pavement ).

dern wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 1:35 pm

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:35 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:12 pm I'd be curious to see how the mighty Duster would cope in snow and ice.
The 4WD system is fab and copes with all the various surfaces over here.

My Audi TT 4WD was good in snow.

They are brilliant on snow - with winter tyres. The best 4x4 makes no difference on a decent amount of snow with "normal" tyres!

As I've said before, solid ice is a loser for anything!

The gendarmes, police municipale and most other "authorities" have quite a few Dusters - the other thing being Panda and Suzuki SX4, both 4x4s

In theory the 4wd grip thing is true but in practice I can get up inclines on summer tyres in a range rover where I'd get stuck in a 2wd on summer cars. It doesn't help with sideways grip but engine braking is more evenly applied. I'm picking up some AT all season tyres on some spare wheels at the weekend as they do make a dramatic difference... and I want to go green laning.

Also my old impreza turbo was a massive laugh and hugely capable on snow covered back lanes on summer tyres. Not completely in control I grant you but huge fun.

On the mountain, control is the thing really!! I've not seen a 4x4 on summer tyres get up the mountain!! But hey, up for being proven wrong. I guess I'm talking about a different kind of road, condition and driving to the UK !! And TBF, I am talking about snow and winter tyres - I've got very little experience worth talking about of any other conditions, but a lot of experience on snow!! And not may of our roads could be called "inclines"

And vehicles like the Impreza would be amazing - but very few could control something like that on our roads, and it still won't go up the mountain on summer tyres!!

Count Steer wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 2:27 pm

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 1:04 pm white van at the end of the video - winter tyres and (cos its a local VW) I'd guess 4x4 !!

This is, I think, at about/just before turn five of the 21 turns up to La Plagne (we count down, so number 5 is near the top!)

This is mild compared to most snowy saturdays People think they have the skill to outdrive the conditions

That video reminded me of something else. Lots of people try and drive constantly in the tracks of previous vehicles where the snow is compacted but, provided you keep the treads and wheel arches clear, you often find more grip on the fresh stuff just to the edges of the tracks. (Actually got up an icy slope once with two wheels on the snow on the pavement ).

100% - there's always tricks (and. you need to turn off TC!!). I hate driving on a road that 'just' had the snow plough over it because there is a very thin film of very compacted snow which feels like ice to drive on! But once it starts to loosen up it's fine again

Noggin wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 2:51 pm
On the mountain, control is the thing really!! I've not seen a 4x4 on summer tyres get up the mountain!! But hey, up for being proven wrong. I guess I'm talking about a different kind of road, condition and driving to the UK !! And TBF, I am talking about snow and winter tyres - I've got very little experience worth talking about of any other conditions, but a lot of experience on snow!! And not may of our roads could be called "inclines"

And vehicles like the Impreza would be amazing - but very few could control something like that on our roads, and it still won't go up the mountain on summer tyres!!

For sure, I live in Norfolk and wouldn't take anything on summer tyres to Oxfordshire, let alone the alps

I'd love to turn off the TC in snow but the car is designed to always have it on, the back end breaks free on even slightly damp roads.
It has a snow mode so I just hope the designers did more than add a placebo to sell more cars.

Count Steer wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 2:27 pm

That video reminded me of something else. Lots of people try and drive constantly in the tracks of previous vehicles where the snow is compacted but, provided you keep the treads and wheel arches clear, you often find more grip on the fresh stuff just to the edges of the tracks. (Actually got up an icy slope once with two wheels on the snow on the pavement ).

I have always driven in the fresh stuff when i can. One year what i think was beast from the east we had the snow plough up the street a few times. I had to take the wife to work and was the only car to leave the street. Her little Fiat Seicento just pushed any snow and ice aside and took us to her place of work with no issue. As folk were to scared to move i even got my parking space when i got home

Mussels wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 3:46 pm I'd love to turn off the TC in snow but the car is designed to always have it on, the back end breaks free on even slightly damp roads.
It has a snow mode so I just hope the designers did more than add a placebo to sell more cars.

Does it not have and what would happen if you pulled the fuse? Only had it in two cars and thankfully could turn it off. I just never felt in control when it was on.

Mussels wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 3:46 pm I'd love to turn off the TC in snow but the car is designed to always have it on, the back end breaks free on even slightly damp roads.
It has a snow mode so I just hope the designers did more than add a placebo to sell more cars.

I have to go into the screen and settings and then find traction control to turn it off. Might be possible in yours that way? When I restart I would have to do that again as it doesn't lock.

Bloody stupid that manufacturers don't still just have a button to make it simple!!!

A few years ago my Velar went up our hill in snow mode like it was a sunny day on shell grip and that was on summer tyres.