Stability Control on or off in Snow?

Lammy1000 said:

When driving in snowy / icy conditions should the esc be on or off? Thanks ahead for replies.

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Off for deep snow otherwise on. If going on a steep uphill in icy or snowly roads you may have to turn off in order to actually get anywhere.

I found starting off from a stop I would sometimes turn it off just for the "spin and go" would be quicker than the system wanted me to go. 99% of the time it's turned on, and does a really admirable job. My commute takes me along one of the worst pieces of highway in this area (strong crosswinds and no wind-blocks polish the highway to an icy shine 24/7 and VERY heavy traffic) and I drive with confidence.

You still need a capable tire and sensible speeds, but the traction control has helped me out quite a few times, usually before I even knew it would be needed. That's the 'right' kind of surprise.

KiaTech is there any problem with turning off and on the TCS while driving? Thought I read in the manual to not switch it if it is in effect or something. Currently I only switch it if I am coasting or stopped at a light.

Would you not have a whole lot more traction in deep snow with it on, wouldn't both wheels be pulling you instead of just one spinning. Might want to turn it off if your stuck and want to rock it a bit to get traction.

Having lived in Michigan's Upper Pennisula for longer than I wanted to (26 years), turning it off in deep snow is hit or miss. Turning it off is more on how your car "feels" under you. With experience, you can get yourself out of some tough situations, like going uphill in a manual on black ice. The trick with the deep snow is to know when to rock it and when to hit it with the traction control turned off. This is simply a matter of experience and you won't know how it behaves for you until you've done it a number of times in the specific vehicle and gotten yourself really stuck at least once. I recommend putting a bag of kitty litter and a child-size shovel in your trunk for the winter.

if you actually have to ask this question, I dont think you should even be behind the wheel.. Why the hell would you ask someone else about how YOU are driving? Every one is different, so go to a big lot, whip some shitties and see what works for you...

I live in Northern MN so we get PLENTY of snow.. All "assists ( stability Traction control etc are always off ) on every car ive ever owned..

Traction control is a PITA, all it does if your in deep snow is slow your tires from spinning, and spinning gets you out of a deep situation 99% of the time

Titanium said:

Would you not have a whole lot more traction in deep snow with it on, wouldn't both wheels be pulling you instead of just one spinning. Might want to turn it off if your stuck and want to rock it a bit to get traction.

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TCS doesn't cause both wheels to start pulling instead of just one. It tries to make it so that the wheels don't spin and therefore have "traction". What is needed many times in deep snow is to be able to spin the tires so they throw the snow away from the front of the tire so you can get some traction plus using momentum to keep the car going forward, usually called "gunning it" to those that experience it a lot.

You may be thinking that TCS is an 4x4 mode but it definitely isn't. I find it useful for icy conditions where you don't feel that the tires are slipping and the TCS assists in letting you know by slowing the spinning tire and usually slowing you down a little.

I love how some people in here are so rude! It's just a damn question if you feel like you are tough shi* then don't answer and that's it. Didn't your mother teach you any lessons as a kid? guess not.

olla said:

I love how some people in here are so rude! It's just a damn question if you feel like you are tough shi* then don't answer and that's it. Didn't your mother teach you any lessons as a kid? guess not.

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Rarrrrr

Simma down now, simma down