[W126 Coupe] SEC vs SNOW

[Michael S Cosby]

I put a set of Glacier Grips from Cooper on one winter and the car did
as well as anything in it's class (rear wheel drive and heavy)  Another
thing to remember is narrow.  The wider the tire, the less PSI on the
pavement.  Higher is better, therefore, go as narrow as factory or one
step under.  Studs are the other important factor.  My road is probably
around 12 percent grade in spots with TIGHT turns and at 9000 feet above
sea level.  Here, tires are everything.  If you do not have traction
between tire and the ground, nothing else matters.  A 4X4 just has twice
as many tires spinning.  DO NOT DO BURNOUTS WITH STUDS. (I through one
through the fender of a past-owned vette once).  I also keep an easy-on
set of chains in my trunk which I have never had to use.  After that,
the only thing is clearance and I am NOT going to lift my SEC!
Mtnmike

>>> joseph.chiappinelli at mirant.com 03/22/05 11:17AM >>>
Put on a set of 4 Blizzaks, load the trunk with 100 pounds of ballast,
keep a full tank and drive through any kind of snow. Of course, its best
putting her away for the winter and driving a beater till summer.
J.Chip
 

________________________________

From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com on behalf of Vedat Iplikci
Sent: Tue 3/22/2005 3:19 AM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] SEC vs SNOW


Having always been enthusiastic for a chance to drive on snow (at least
until the SEC), I kept a set of snow tires on wheels for my
car-at-the-time ready in the garage for maybe 15 years. The last were
Bridgestone Blizzaks for my Volvo S40 T4, which have proven to be very
valuable. When I bought the SEC though, I went for Pirelli Snowsports,
because of price advantage over the Blizzaks. Two winters later, I'm now
unsure which is lousy; the Snowsports or the SEC?!?... NO, it's not ME,
for I am a very good driver on all sorts of terrain on all sorts of
vehicles. My guess would be that it is 60 SEC/40 Snowsports. I have been
in situations where there were reasonable linear stability, but there
were also cases when I kept cursing trying to start the car moving on
the slightest of slopes. Therefore, my next choice on snow tires -for
the SEC-  would certainly be one which promises extreme grip at the
expense of comfort, rather than the general winter tires which promise
traction and comfort on multi-surface conditions. Additionally I think
it would be best to keep a set of Spikes-Spiders in the trunk.
 
Nevertheless, it is for sure that a 2-ton RWD is not the best of
choices to drive on low-traction surfaces.
 
Vedat Iplikci
1987 560SEC Euro

	----- Original Message ----- 
	From: Sam Sisic <mailto:ssisic at Antunovich.com>  
	To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com 
	Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 4:38 AM
	Subject: [W126 Coupe] SEC vs SNOW

	Hallo group...
	
	I just experienced an extremely nerve racking experience on a
road trip from Chicago to Kohler Wisconsin, about an hour north of
Milwaukee.
	I was looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend at The American
Club resort in Kohler, WI with my favorite lady friend celebrating our
B-days in our P-j's... So far so good. HA!
	
	Well it's mid March near lake Michigan. I checked the weather
since I never drive the SEC in the snow. Not so much for the snow, but
the stupid salt they dump on the roads around here.
	The weather report indicated only a slight 20% chance of snow
Friday evening. I figured, big deal, a little snow dusting won't even
stick... I took the SEC and left the Jeep at home... Big mistake!!
	
	We had just passed Milwaukee heading North when snow flurries
began. As we drove further it began to get heavier. At this point it was
beginning to stick to the road. Nothing serious... I was just hoping
they didn't bring the salt trucks out at that point.
	
	Anyway, it started to really dump now... It's called "The Lake
Effect"! At this point we are riding on 2"-3" of snow in less than 15
minutes. The tires on my SEC are Bridgestone SO-3 Pole Positions, 275's
rear, 245's front, strictly summer/rain tires... I didn't think it would
be a big deal as I've driven my 91, 5.0 Mustang with V rated Good Year
Eagles year-around for 7 years in much worse conditions and never left
me stranded... 
	
	Well, the SEC is no Mustang, let me tell you... The first slight
turn in the road and this thing just wanted to keep going straight...
Surprised the S____ out of me! I'm going about 40 MPH, just keeping up
with all the mini vans and SUV's who are cooking the speed limit at
65MPH... SEC now crawling at 30-40 MPH. If I tried to speed up the
wheels would just spin and the rear fish-tail out of control. If I tried
to slow down the ABS even quit because there was hardly any traction
whatsoever. After three occasions of running down the road sideways,
literally, and almost going off the road,  I was now white knuckles on
the wheel with my hart rate in the red line driving like a grandma, no
offence to grandmas, looking for the nearest exit with services near the
highway. 
	
	We were approaching en exit to a small town of Port Washington,
which is about 7 miles to the East of the highway... May as well been
700 miles... As we approached the exit the road took a slight left turn
while the exit ramp kept straight with a slight incline. I didn't know
weather to stay on the highway where there are more vehicles making
tracks or take this remote exit unpopulated for miles. Turns out, I
didn't have a choice! The cars momentum just took it straight into the
exit ramp. By now there 4"-5" of snow and no sign of letting up. We're
sliding all over the place about half way up the ramp and the car looses
traction and won't go anywhere. Other vehicles are just going right by
me. To add to the excitement, one of the only things not working on my
car is the emergency flasher switch which had recently decided to retire
and I couldn't even turn that on to warn people behind me. I never felt
so crippled in a car before. If someone came by with a front wheel drive
Honda Civic and offered to trade me for the SEC at that point, I would
have done it!!
	Anyway, there we are stuck on the ramp in the middle of snowhere
when Jean noticed a man was trying to push us up the hill! Amazing I
thought... I told Jean to go help him push. Just kidding! HA! I asked
Jean to drive while I went out and helped the nice man trying to help
us. We tried, but there simply wasn't enough traction. I finally asked
him to push us with his van up to the crown of the hill. As he's looking
at the mint black SEC, he asked, are you sure? I said, absolutely!! Our
bumpers lined up well enough and he pushed me up the hill until I could
gain some momentum. He honked and went on his way. I didn't even have a
chance to thank him... What an incredible thing, I thought. That's why
we're still here, so long as there is good folk like that around!
	There we are barely going down the road of rolling Wisconsin
hills in a blizzard 7 miles from anywhere... The SEC is sliding all over
the road, barely making it up to the crown of each hill. I didn't know
which was worse, not making it to the crown of a hill or picking up too
much speed on the down side and not being able to stop if I had to.
	Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we start to see
some lights and signs of civilization. Seeing a Holiday Inn sign was
like a beacon in the night!! I literally slid into a parking spot on the
road in front of the Inn... As I sat there in silence with Jean looking
at each other taking deep breaths of incredible relief, I felt like I
just aged 10 years in 3 hours.
	We were so fortunate and thankful to arrive there with no
incident, thanks mostly to the kind man... We were so hungry and
exhausted, we checked in and went and had dinner at this nearby
restaurant/fishery/pub called Smith Brothers. I've never enjoyed all you
can eat, beer batter fish fry with $2 Spaten on draught like then!!
Highly recommend it! 
	
	The next morning, the roads were plowed and salted... We were
able to finish our trip to Kohler and back to Chicago without incident.
All is well that ends well! 
	BTW... Highly recommend The American Club Resort in Kohler too!
	
	I don't know how the SEC is in the snow with all season standard
size tires... I can't imagine it being much better. One thing for sure
is that thing will absolutely not be driven in the snow again. It was
downright dangerous!!! And I consider myself a good driver. I usually
have fun in the snow... This was no fun!
	
	Sam
	Alive in Chicago, 560 SEC
	
	
	
	
	
	
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