Just curious to know whether it's just my car or the cars in general.

MY tyres have good grip left on them, but driving along on a main road today, I put my brakes on and the car began to slip and shake, I was a bit suprosed by this as it's a well gritted road.

Just curious to know is the fiesta just generally bad in ice?

My previous car was an Alfa Romeo Mito, had all weather mode, which optimised for icy conditions, so was probably more stable because of that, but i've never had a car slip like that before.

I don't believe it'll be the car at fault - it'll be the tyres, afterall they are the only part of the car in contact with the road!

I've got winter tyres and haven't slipped at all.

Just curious to know whether it's just my car or the cars in general.

There was discussion in another thread, but I can say my Mk7 Zetec is awful in snow and ice.

Traction, braking, cornering all very poor. Yes, it is on standard tyres.

Stewart.

There was discussion in another thread, but I can say my Mk7 Zetec is awful in snow and ice.

Traction, braking, cornering all very poor. Yes, it is on standard tyres.

Stewart.

Bugger, I was hoping it would be ok, will make for an intereting trip if snow comes...

Its the nature of the lower profile tires contact on teh riad, and the cold wether stop the tires flexing to teh raods surface well.

The DNA system on teh Mito was pretty useless really for such things, really it removed the Powerband setting on the engine to stop you reving to fast, it also put the traction control to a more sensitive setting, but its does nothing for braking.

Its the nature of the lower profile tires contact on teh riad, and the cold wether stop the tires flexing to teh raods surface well.

The DNA system on teh Mito was pretty useless really for such things, really it removed the Powerband setting on the engine to stop you reving to fast, it also put the traction control to a more sensitive setting, but its does nothing for braking.

The Mito Solution actually works very well, it doesn't do much for braking, but it stops skids even starting.

I started exactly the same thread, after finding my Fiesta was unstable in snow and ice, and I was completely shot down by the replies lol :D

The Mito Solution actually works very well, it doesn't do much for braking, but it stops skids even starting.

All the A setting did was limit the traction control to a higher setting, and you couldnt put the same revs down at the lower end, effectivly you can do the same thing being more gentle on the trottle when pulling away, but after say 1500rpm, it wouldnt be doing anything differently.

Focus is worst car ever in the snow, traction control crap (DSC) is absolute disaster, was skidding for a wall with the little yellow image of a car skidding flashing at me until I pressed the clutch which disengages the DSC allowing me to regain grip on both front wheels via front differential

Got stuck on hill in snow couldnt get the power to the !Removed! road because again the DSC took effect and wouldnt let me spin out of it, so left the focus at home and took my 06 Almera got stuck in the snow with it too although at least I could spin my way out of the hole it even if i was in 3rd gear at 80km on the gauge before i got grip.

Way too much safety features BP Ford could do with less safety on the cars and more safety on the Oil Riggs

;)

Edited January 10, 201115 yr by Lenny

My 1986 Mk3 Escort loved it. No problems what so ever, but i was also running 195/50/15 Toyo Proxes T1R's

I would suggest that Its your driving that's a disaster and not the DNA system as it worked very well In my last car and has been proven to be good.

Focus is worst car ever in the snow, traction control crap (DNA) is absolute disaster, was skidding for a wall with the little yellow image of a car skidding flashing at me until I pressed the clutch which disengages the DNA allowing me to regain grip on both front wheels via front differential

Got stuck on hill in snow couldn’t get the power to the !Removed! road because again the DNA took effect and wouldn’t let me spin out of it, so left the focus at home and took my 06 Almera got stuck in the snow with it too although at least I could spin my way out of the hole it even if i was in 3rd gear at 80km on the gauge before i got grip.

Way too much safety features BP Ford could do with less safety on the cars and more safety on the Oil Riggs

;)

THink thats DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) your thinking of, DNA what a physical switch beside the gear stick in the Mitos that setup the cars powerband/ traction control/ Steering wheel weight to different settings.....really ya jsut left it in Dynamic as that was the sporty mode.

I would suggest that Its your driving that's a disaster and not the DNA system as it worked very well In my last car and has been proven to be good.

Really?...by who?...certainly not owners as when I owned one for a short time it was seen as pretty pointless, and nearly everyone on the Alfa forums agreed the A setting was a complete waste...in fact teh biggest annoyence about it was the fact it would go from D to N and not jsut stay in the D mode all the time.

I would suggest that Its your driving that's a disaster and not the DNA system as it worked very well In my last car and has been proven to be good.

Fair Point well made, i didnt mean the DNA im talking about the DSC i know i previously said DNA but i ment DSC my cars a manual 5 speed gear box in both cars.

although who is an expert driving in conditions that havn't been seen this side of europe in over 30 years, and if it was my driving why would it improve when changed to another car, was doing 30kmph when car got stuck in snow on hill, came to a stop hence being stuck, put foot on accelerator to unstick myself start to spin, Poxy DSC kicks in stops the spin, wait 30 minutes for tractor to pull from the snow,

go home muttering after forking out 25,000euro for a focus that cant handle ice or snow, take out the Nissan ( alls forgiven, have i told ya lately i love ya Almera) get stuck but have un restricted power to pull myself free, saving the oZone layer dammage from more tractor fumes as i didnt need to hail one to pull me free again.

wonder what a professional driver would have done in that situation?

Well I had a mito for over a year and have been on the forum for over a year and the concensious is that DnA is a good system and the A mode works pretty well.

Well I had a mito for over a year and have been on the forum for over a year and the concensious is that DnA is a good system and the A mode works pretty well.

Sorry i ment Dynamic stability control not DNA got confused mate i have never had DNA as ive only ever driven manual ;)

THink thats DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) your thinking of, DNA what a physical switch beside the gear stick in the Mitos that setup the cars powerband/ traction control/ Steering wheel weight to different settings.....really ya jsut left it in Dynamic as that was the sporty mode.

thanks for that mate,

whats your view on the DSC is it standard on the range or optional bought mine from show room came with heated windscreen, Voice Control and Cruise Control etc, not sure if its part of one of those packages, but its doing my head in, whats so Dynamic about a system that helps send ya to the wall

and i always have the steering in Comfort mode dont know if that is better or worse,

I have to say mine is ace on ice, really grips well and cornering is great too. In snow though, its rubbish >_< I usually have to dig my car out even if there isn't much snow around.

thanks for that mate,

whats your view on the DSC is it standard on the range or optional bought mine from show room came with heated windscreen, Voice Control and Cruise Control etc, not sure if its part of one of those packages, but its doing my head in, whats so Dynamic about a system that helps send ya to the wall

and i always have the steering in Comfort mode dont know if that is better or worse,

Wet roads..its absolutly brilliant, brings in the back end should it step out ( usually with disc breaks at the back as well to in order to do this), snow, the system literlly jsut cant figure it out, each time it would correct, that would cause a counter force, and start sliding, that it would try to correct..that would create...ya get the idea, their should be a fairly obvious button that allows you to tun it off, this will only disengage the DSC, abs and all the usual safty stuff is left on, but on some cars it MIGHT turn off teh traction control...be worth checking that in snow/ ice conditions.