Rear wheel drive on snow/ice

[DonkeyRhubarb]

The only road out of where I live is a steep hill covered in snow/ice. It's been an absolute nightmare getting out in my old merc auto estate.

I have read that the following could improve traction with RWD. Anyone tried either of these with any success?

a) deflating rear tyres
b) loading the boot eg. with paving stones

Thanks
DR

[Troll]

4WD all the way

[original PM]

well anything which increase the road/tyre contact area will increase grip so both of the methods you suggest would work.

[DimPrawn]

I found hiring an X6 solved the problem.

RWD was totally useless in snow and ice.

[Troll]

The only road out of where I live is a steep hill covered in snow/ice. It's been an absolute nightmare getting out in my old merc auto estate.

I have read that the following could improve traction with RWD. Anyone tried either of these with any success?

a) deflating rear tyres
b) loading the boot eg. with paving stones

Thanks
DR

Why not buy snow chains?

[suityou01]

I found hiring an X6 solved the problem.

RWD was totally useless in snow and ice.

No so! I had a Sierra that was RWD. 'Kin awesome in the snow.

Couldn't hold a straight line for toffee, but it was awesome fun.

HTH

[scooterscot]

Jus drive in reverse.

Another great idea brought to you from MaCheapMota.com

[Moscow Mule]

RWD are loads of fun in snow and ice.

FTFY - as long as there are no solid objects to impede your fun...

[SuperZ]

Driving a RWD car backwards is not like driving FWD forwards, there's still less weight over the driven wheels and the reverse gear not ideal. Reversing with people sat in the boot might work but the same would help going fowards also.

Yes, reducing the tyre pressures will help, but not by much if the tyres have really stiff sidewalls. Seeing as it's an estate it probably has all-seasons or at least non-sports orientated tyres so yes reducing the tyre pressure will help as the tyres won't have such stiff sidewalls. But pump them back up again quickly afterwards or you risk damaging the tyres if you lower the pressure too much
Yes, paving stones or people sat in the boot temporary will help if you just have one icy stretch to get past.

Another option is to buy some winter tyres to help in the future in such condtions, I've just purchased some myself and expect the car to be better on snow/ice than a non-winter tyred 4WD once fitted. I used high performance summer tyres (worse than all-seasons on snow) and that was an experience.

Another thing that might help is to disable the traction control. Sometimes, depending on the car used and the tyres, the best grip might be with the wheels spinning more than what the traction control will allow.Ie, if traction control kicks in at 15% slip but ultimate traction onsnow with the car and tyres fitted is at 25% slip then you'll never reach ultimate traction with it left enabled.

[Paddy]

Jus drive in reverse.

Another great idea brought to you from MaCheapMota.com

I beleive that is only for FWD.

Tip. Buy two cheap rubber chain-link mats. Tie the mats to the rear bumper on a long tether. When you get stuck place the mats under the rear wheels. Once you get going the mats are dragged along so there is no need to stop getting up a hill.