300E Feels like Floating on icey roads

First time driver in winter with my 300E. I have stock size, All Season Tires that have a very aggressive tread. Nordic IceTracks. Lots of weight in the trunk. The problem is when driving on certain road conditions, that we experience up here in Canada, mainly to say slightly polished from snowfall but not packed. The car is scarey to drive, it mindlously floats from side to side with some noticed unresponsiveness when trying to correct the inadvertent direction change. First thing that comes to my mind is incorrect winter tires for the conditions. Has anyone else expereinced this type of behavoir with their 300E's. Could a wheel allignment be in order? It's fine in packed snow and wonderful on dry roads, but let them roads get that wind polished glaze on them and it's white knuckles all the way. Any suggestionsd with what others run for tires and sizes in winter would be greatly appreciated, or if the problem could be something else? Thanks in advance.

[renyf1]

i also experience the same thing, but that is because i have all season tires and never had a rear wheel car before

i find that once in awhile u get the feeling the back end is about to come out or feels very light at times eventhough i have two wheels in the trunk for added weight

my only work around for this is just take it easy and slow down

i've driven the same car with winter tires and same thing and i had gotten a 4 wheel alignment in the fall

hope this helps,
reny

[hawkpfc2]

I believe this may be an idiosyncracy of the suspension which is definitely biased for handling over comfort. Mercedes generally used super soft shocks on these cars I believe.
Ben

[Luke@tirerack]

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do I need to say more

In the past I've used Michelin Arctic Alpin. This year I went with Goodyear Eagle Ultragrip. I love them. They're H rated too so I don't have to slow down much. With my Passat, I did experience the feeling you describe. It turned out to be a broken upper strut mount. I would periodically feel or hear odd behaviour when going over medium to large bumps. Ask me about the 92 BMW E36 I totalled because I went cheap on tires....

Thanks for all your insight, Ive moved some of the truck weight (sand bags) out of the low points in the truck, to the most forward point in the trunck. Also lowered the tire pressure, both seemed to help.

[Lou Nielsen]

Another cause of that disconnected feeling on slippery surfaces is caused by insufficient toe in on the rear wheels. Make sure that it is in spec.

[intruder]

Remember, tread pattern is only PART of the solution. True winter tires have a different, usually silica based, compound that stays pliable a very low temperatures. I'm gussing that since you said the tires are "all-season" they don't have the winter compound. And, that's also why the tires wear out so quckly on dry roads.

Good Luck,

Intruder

Well Gents, found out the problem with the handleing on icey roads. The sway bar was damaged and in need of bushings on the ends. This was giving it the uneasy feeling when driving on compromised road surfaces. Thanks for your responses.

[psfred]

Spencer:

Just saw your post. I was going to suggest examining the rear suspension, as these cars are usually immune to cross-wind, even on icy pavement.

My 87 300D is currently exhibiting torque steer and groans/squeaks on dips, both signs of bad bushings in the rear links, probably the torque rod or tie rod.

If the swaybar link replacement doesn't fix the problem, have the links examined for bad bushings.

Peter

The sway bar repairs did wonders for the handling. Winter is in my neighborhood with a vengence and the roads are as bad as they come. The car is handling them better than my truck. $110.00 for parts.

[psfred]

Spencer:

Yeah, I lived in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario for three winters -- I'm familiar with the road condtions! I had a Dodge Aries while I was there -- did fine except on black ice, where nothing works very well!

Peter