Turning Off Traction Control?

[Lou]

Caution, dumb question follows:

My '04 MM is my every day driver and this will be my second winter slip sliding around the Chicago area without snow tires. I've read the multiple thread here about snow tires and understand that I have to keep the same size relationship between the front and rear tires or the T/C kicks in.

Why can't I just hit the T/C control and turn it off each time I get in if I had the wrong sized tires? :help:

[Rider90]

Caution, dumb question follows:

My '04 MM is my every day driver and this will be my second winter slip sliding around the Chicago area without snow tires. I've read the multiple thread here about snow tires and understand that I have to keep the same size relationship between the front and rear tires or the T/C kicks in.

Why can't I just hit the T/C control and turn it off each time I get in if I had the wrong sized tires? :help:
You should be able to do that, but then there is an ABS problem.

[Canadasvt]

Caution, dumb question follows:

Why can't I just hit the T/C control and turn it off each time I get in if I had the wrong sized tires? :help:

Why not just get snow tires 225/60/16 front and 225/70/16 rear on 16" rims? These won't effect the T/C or ABS.

[Master]

Really should have the different sized tires, however, turning off the track works fine. Drove all last winter that way. PITA, but it works. What really works is putting the big Merc in the garage and running the contour on big luggy winter tires. BTW: I live in Canada, so snowy roads are an everyday occurance from about November to May. The ABS worked fine (or at least as well as ABS ever does), even with the with the trac off and the same tires all around.
Still recommend the mismatched tires or a winter beater, though.

All the best,
David

[jdando]

There are many choices for winter tires, 16, 17 and 18".

I currently am running 18" Hankook Ice Bear W300 on stock wheels. 235/50/18 up front and 255/55/18 rear. The rears are 10 mm wider than stock, but do not hose up the TC.

Not a cheap setup, about $180/tire + install. The tires work great and are a vast improvement over the stock tires.

jeremy

[SergntMac]

I currently am running 18" Hankook Ice Bear W300 on stock wheels. 235/50/18 up front and 255/55/18 rear. The rears are 10 mm wider than stock, but do not hose up the TC. Not a cheap setup, about $180/tire + install. The tires work great and are a vast improvement over the stock tires. jeremy How deep of snow can you manage, and do you get much "snow plowing" in front of the front tires?

[jdando]

So far we have handled about 6" on a gentle incline. I have not noticed the snowplowing effect. I do not have a frame of reference, other than the stock BFG which were very scary. :eek:

Theoretically taller/narrower tires would be better, but I tried to stay near the stock size.

jeremy

[rayjay]

Theoretically taller/narrower tires would be better, jeremy

There is no theory about it. Wider tires plow snow. Once you've worn down the ice compound from the tires, you'll be on skiis.

[blackf0rk]

"plowing through the snow, with a 460 horse blackened sleigh"... eherm :P