I've never had any trouble here in CO with snow tires. I do carry a snow shovel just in case. Also, for digging people out of avalanches (it's an avalanche shovel for skiing).

 

Hmm.. I'm really not sure if that would help or not. I hope I don't have the opportunity to find out this winter, but if so I will definitely give it a try.

 

The TC control procedure is to first apply braking at the wheel or wheels presumed to be slipping and then if the condition persists the "engine" is dethrottled.

Since FWD and F/AWD vehicles are so much more prone to loss of directional control in this circumstance the dethrottling will be much quicker, and prolonged/persistent in those vs RWD or R/AWD.

"Would it work to gently press on the brake to hold the spinning tire to let the one with traction turn?"

If we were discussing RWD or R/AWD this would be, Mostly, how TC would work. But were TC to be allowed to differentially brake a front wheel could be desasterous, enough torque stear to yank the stearing wheel from the driver's grip.

The result being that TC does exactly as you suggest, lightly brake both front wheels even if only one is slipping.

 

As a temporary measure you could always pull the ABS pumpmotor fuse. But keep it TEMPORARY.

 

I agree with your statements above, but I was asking the question in response to someone being stationary on an ice patch and not being able to get moving at all. Still not advisable? could it mess up the computers? valid thing to try?

As I said, my only TC in the past has been 'switch it into 4 high and go', so I need to learn about my options to keep moving this coming winter

 

No question about that! I think the stability control / ABS is a huge safety feature. I'm talking about only the circumstances where turning it off is the only way to get you unstuck. I'll have to locate that fuse now, so I don't have to hunt if/when I need it. Thanks.

 

Most cars will disable all of the ABS pumpmotor "features", excepting ABS itself, if there is a CEL. You can "force" that by disconnecting the MAF/IAT while the engine idles. The engine will quit, reconnect the MAF/IAT and restart the engine and drive away. You now have a CEL and no TC, etc. The CEL will automatically clear, re-enbling the extra "features", within a few drive cycles.

 

That's a lot of TLAs for my poor brain to digest. MAF/IAT? CEL?

 

There are several hills in my town where the top of the hill there is a light. Without snow tires I cannot make it up the hill without turnning OFF my TC (called DSC on the Mini). With it on, eventually I lose all forward momentum because the tc kicks in and stops my spinning tires. With it OFF, the tires spin ever so slightly but I get some traction and I'm able to climb the hill.

With snow tires on, I have enough traction that TC can remain on without any worries of my forward progress being stopped.

 

MAF....Mass Air-flow sensor.
IAT....Intake Air temperture.

Both of the above mounted in the engine intake ductwork downstream of the air intake filter.

CEL.... Check Engine Light.