Being a 4x4 I did think the rrs would be great but the car is really having problems with keeping any traction when braking, even slow speed braking I get abs going mad and no grip! Is the problem just as simple as the continental's are just not up to the job of cold weather? I live in Hampshire that is getting 1 foot of snow tonight and seeing as I just went across 2 lanes of traffic trying to stop at a junction just missing on coming cars, I'm not to confident in using it.

Being a 4x4 doesn't help when braking on ice. The 4x4 will help you get going but for stopping you're no better off than anyone else. In fact its probably worse as you're stopping such a large weight.

As said in the previous post

But try Reading the road and slow down with the engine if possible first, loads of 4x4 drivers road my way IMO are driving too fast, nice and stead is the way to go

My FL2 has conti's and they have have been great on the 5" we had today, but still had a little ABS going down a hill, but gental braking stopped that and command shift 1st gear brought the speed down

got to agree, the mechanics and electronics are probably second to none, but 3 tonnes of metal going at 30mph on ice aint gonna stop. We do seem to have forgotten how to drive on ice and snow, its down to driver skill and common, dont rely on the vehicle to do it for you. Keeping going it can, stopping it cant (as photos on other posts evidence) purple people eater

There are no good days, just some days that are not as bad as others!


Gone RR 4.0 P38 Autobiography MY99 Red ( money pit)
Gone RRS MY06 2.7TDV6 HSE Rimini Red
Gone RRS MY10 3.0TDV6 HSE Bali Blue with lots of bits (never grew to love it)
Here Now - 3.6 TDV8 FFRR OVERFINCH Stornoway Grey - loving it x
My work car Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDci Zetec auto Estate in Silver

Being a 4x4 doesn't help when braking on ice. The 4x4 will help you get going but for stopping you're no better off than anyone else. In fact its probably worse as you're stopping such a large weight.

The tyres make a huge difference. Also, are using GGS mode? Lo range can also help in same cases, but if your tyres aren't gripping then there's nothing you can do other than brake earlier, accelerate gently etc.

Try driving it with the HDC and Grass Gravel and Snow setting turned on on the TR, if that doesn't work then try going into low box to keep going and shift the gears manually in commandshift mode, but as said before if you get onto ice then there isn't much you can do - it's all down to physics! 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

worked well tonight in GGS mode and HDC retarding the vehicle instead of breaking experienced no real problems, nice and easy does it, more time to wave at the Renault Clios  purple people eater

There are no good days, just some days that are not as bad as others!


Gone RR 4.0 P38 Autobiography MY99 Red ( money pit)
Gone RRS MY06 2.7TDV6 HSE Rimini Red
Gone RRS MY10 3.0TDV6 HSE Bali Blue with lots of bits (never grew to love it)
Here Now - 3.6 TDV8 FFRR OVERFINCH Stornoway Grey - loving it x
My work car Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDci Zetec auto Estate in Silver

How does HDC work? Does it only kick in when going down hill?

Once switched on it works up hill and down dale, in reverse and forwards motion too, it monitors wheel slip and uses TC and ABS to keep things in check in the background, but if left on at low speeds it can eat your pads and discs 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Last edited by Tim in Scotland on Tue Jan 05 2010 9:47pm. Edited 1 time in total

dont be asking technical questions in this direction, when its on you literally "drive" down hill, gas on it moves, gas off it stops (well sort of) but dont hit the brakes! purple people eater

There are no good days, just some days that are not as bad as others!


Gone RR 4.0 P38 Autobiography MY99 Red ( money pit)
Gone RRS MY06 2.7TDV6 HSE Rimini Red
Gone RRS MY10 3.0TDV6 HSE Bali Blue with lots of bits (never grew to love it)
Here Now - 3.6 TDV8 FFRR OVERFINCH Stornoway Grey - loving it x
My work car Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDci Zetec auto Estate in Silver

it "feathers' the brakes for you too and by using the cruise +/- button you can increase or decrease the speed that it cuts in at

dont forget that in snow its possible a car without abs will actually stop in a shorter distance than a car with abs. The former builds a dam of snow in front of the tyres whilst sliding and this can substantially aid retardation.

If you do get to the stage of getting stuck also remember to disable the DSC. With DSC engaged you cannot give lots of wheel twirling to use the tyre shoulders a chance of biting into the snow as it will think you are about to have a smash and will cut the engine power............................... mind you most of the very low profile and wide tyres in use by some members are such that there isn't a lot of grip to be got from the sips on the shoulders! 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

That sage piece of advice from Scottie out of Startrek applies here - ye cannae change the laws of physics!

A colleague at work got stuck in his RRS in the previous snow before Xmas and was very disappointed that his "best 4x4xfar" wouldn't get him through the snow and ice but then he does have 22s on it and 35 profile tyres  

2009 Outstanding Contribution Award - Joint Runner Up
2009 'Tech-Head Of The Year' Award - Runner Up

Like it here? Then Donate to RRSPORT!!