Useless

[Ant FR]

Quote: Originally Posted by JAMIE1131 (original)

Steady on with safe driving lessons! I'm only trying to find out if other people are getting better results with different tyres. Frankly I don't like being called a pratt by someone who has never met me or seen my driving. I'm talking about driving down clear, straight roads, not exceeding the speed limits or breaking the law. I don't find the car lacking in lateral grip or when under braking, maybe I do need to be a little lighter with the right foot when accellerating. I never said anyone didn't like to have fun because they are a girl, or they have small todger. All I asked was does anyone bother with winter tyres because I find the Dunlops aren't great.

You Pratt........ just trying rile you up a bit more,,,,,

No that was a good point, i got caught out yesterday and i poodled everywhere because i was aware of the amount of Mobile speed cams out recently. But i had to put my foot down in the outside lane to get round a lorry as there was a police car fast approaching from behind, yet all i got in 3rd gear at 40 ish was the traction control flashing. i was shocked as it looked dry on the road and i was in 3rd and did'nt nail it completely. I have'nt bothered with winter tyres, but do have winter wheels, i have bought a second hand set of s-spokes so that i don't ruin my lovely burnished R105 JCW's. stay safe out there

[miketheman2k]

Quote: Originally Posted by pappillon (original)

Or be a little less concerned about "getting power down" in rubbish weather/road conditions

That's the easy, non-technical answer. But like Jamie says, he's after advice and comments about the lack of grip, not his driving style. I went out in the mini at the weekend, and it was a cold but dry day. Going down some roads I know well the car felt really good, very planted and grippy, suddenly the roads were 'moist' and the car immediately felt unsettled even in a straight line, and corners had to be taken much much slower so it wouldn't understeer off the road. This is all down to the Dunlop runflats. I have owned many fast cars including a Westfield with road-legal slicks that offered more grip than this in damper/colder conditions, I'm 100% sure its the evil tyres. People say that T1-R's or Yoko Parada's are not good in the damp, but I can guarantee they're better than the Dunlops.

[Fin]

My MCS had Dunlops and my GP has Dunlops. I've read many posts where people have told of the poor grip they provide but I don't think they are bad at all.

The only time the traction control has flashed at me (ooooh, kinky) is if it is wet/icy at 1 roundabout. In the morning I have to cross it, and you have to nip out between the mad mums on the school run. I have been left, powerless, with the front of the car stuck out in the roundabout as the traction control is reducing the torque. The junction with the roundabout is on a bit of an incline which is what causes the problem. So, for this one instance, I turn the traction control off to cross the roundabout, then turn it back on the other side.

Perhaps you should change your tyres. With me, I like the safety that run flats provide in the case of a 'blow out', and the convenience (as I can be a lazy git) that I can drive with a punctured tyre to get a new one.

When it's raining, or icy I am just much lighter on the accelerator. I have always been of the opinion that runflats provide perfectly good traction when driving on the road. If I was to take my car to a track, then I would definitely change the tyres as I would be driving the car in a fashion that was not acceptable on the road, and runflats would not be adequate.

Each year at this time of year, for the past two years near where I live there have been fatalities (all men aged 17-22) due to driving too fast in bad conditions. The first guys lost the back end on a corner and impacted with a wall. My friend was one of the first police officers on the scene. The driver and passenger were killed on impact. In the second accident the roads were icy, the driver was going too fast and slid off the road on a bend into a road sign.

Makes you slow down

[Harpo]

All valid points, but there is still fun to be had as you caress your car along your chosen route, especially when you manouvre with the confidence that your Mini allows you.

[Nath316]

its not just JCWs my 07 MCS has the same problem, yes I am running runflats but am not changing them at this time of year have more important things to spend my money on

lighting up in 1st 2nd and 3rd and its not from the off its actually while I am moving as people have said

Problem is damp, cold conditions and all the disels out there

[Ant FR]

surprising too how much the DSC comes in useful in this weather, one of the best ESP systems i have ever used, and at this time of year a godsend of an option to have.

[Paul@1320]

The first thing I do when I start the Mini is to turn the asc / dsc off and enjoy the Mini and the power its got even on A048even in these conditions.

it teaches you throttle control but also I think the asc / dsc is dangerous when pulling out of junctions if it starts contollling the engine instead of the driver.

I do have the advantage of having a quaife fitted though

[JAMIE1131]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1320autos (original)

The first thing I do when I start the Mini is to turn the asc / dsc off and enjoy the Mini and the power its got even on A048even in these conditions.

it teaches you throttle control but also I think the asc / dsc is dangerous when pulling out of junctions if it starts contollling the engine instead of the driver.

I do have the advantage of having a quaife fitted though

I couldn't agree more about the danger of ASC/DSC when pulling out of junctions. Not so much in the MINI but the 147 is terrible, it cuts the power when the wheels start to slip (fair enough), but the delay to re-instatement is awful.

[Ant FR]

the mini ones not too bad, to be honest it never kicks in pulling from junction for me. My old Ibiza 1.8t was the worst one i had, but the best was the ibiza tdi which almost worked like launch control, was amazing

[Jaw_F430]

It an automatic thing everytime I get in my mini, seat belt on,ASC off good to go!! Also have a LSD. I didnt bother with the DSC option as I knew it would always be switched off because it is too anoying cutting in all the time.

Jamie: regarding your first post I find it hard to get good traction with DSSTs but the roads are very greasy at the moment


Regards


James

[Fin]

Are there any insurance implications if you crash after turning off ASC/DSC?

If you have DSC on your car and the light flashes when the wheels spin, it is the ASC component of DSC which has been activated. If you go around a corner too fast and feel the back end slip out a fraction and the DSC flashes again, that means that the DSC system has cut in to keep you on a straight line.

It's quite a clever system really.

[3rdpillar]

The road conditionare very strange at the moment. We have had no rain for, well days and days, BUT the roads are wet, glistening and making the MILTONS bum very, very dirty.

Yes the ASC is comming on in a straight line, Ive noticed a few poeple taking about "stuttering", I wonder if it is due to the current conditions.

Its Very Dangerous out there at the moment, keep you eyes wide open for others not being as carefull, or for those who are not fortuate enough to have ASC / DSC.

Safe Driving everyone!

[Vitesse]

I had DSC on my last Works but only ASC on my current one an R53.

I didn't like the DSC, as when it did cut in it just didn't feel right, used to make me feel like I wasn't totally in charge of the car. I remember one morning overtaking a bus and as I past it and came back over the damp white line, I could feel the DSC cut in and it scared the life out of me.

ASC is much more natural because it will apply to the whole axle as opposed to individual wheels. So it feels like you are more in control because it is similar to the intervention you could apply.

It's all personal choice really.

[MINI-Morgan]

I have problems in 2nd and 3rd with 215/40s as well but you have to expect it with the amount of salt and grit on the road. It can be fun sliding around though