Are small cars harder to control on ice?

You overestimate the grip summer tires have on snow and ice. The cars are typically set up for the typical conditions they see there and so they likely have much less grip than you do. Or you're actually going too fast for conditions. It could be either one.

 

I haven’t found any car that handles ice well..

Now snow that is a different story, Audi Quattro all day long.

 

If you want to handle ice well you need studded tires. Snow is mostly up to the tires. I've never had in issue with my FWD cars with good snows on.

 

I ran all seasons in the winter on my A6 and S4.
They did remarkably well in upstate NY winters.
Always wanted to try Blizacks or however you spell it ! Never tried studs.

 

One of the best cars in the snow I ever owned was a FWD Ford Taurus SHO.
Not quite AWD good, but very solid.

 

I've always liked Blizaks, but I broke the bank to get the highest rated Nokian Hakkapalitas for my new car and so far so good. The all seasons that came on it are worthless in snow. Though growing up in the north east I know how to handle it I'd rather not be driving on the edge all the time.

 

The deal with the south is the rapid changes of temperature during winter months. Ice, snow, water on the highways, then it warms enough to thaw. Now the road is wet, then comes the quick freeze and the road is black ice that you can't see.
Look at the tags on the cars that have spun out and in the ditch; lots of yankee plates on those cars because the drivers aren't use to black ice. One time I counted 11 cars in the ditch with Illinois tags.
Sometimes black ice is so clear you can't see it. That's very common in southern states.

 

Currently running Dunlop winters on my B5 S4, they are OK. With ice I can accelerate np, just stopping and turning is problematic. I can almost drive on the snow like I would normally on dry pavement. I'm going to replace them with the Blizzak WS-80's for next season.

And yes smaller wheelbase cars can be tricky even on slightly moist pavement, but I think a lot of it has to do with the people freaking out. I was on 77S in Ohio last week for their snow/ice storm and people were literally driving 15 mph on completely clear, dry, salt and sanded pavement. Whats worse is when they get in a long line and just WILL NOT PASS the person in front.

 

It's not good to go out on any ice. Even Armored tanks have to slide on ice. You Tube Marine tanks with German tanks exercise in Norway where they did sliding drifting with main battle tanks on ice. 70 tons sideways around the rink there.

I generally say if you can walk on it you can drive on it generally with a loaded semi. I actually prefer to be in a semi heavy on ice.

I can handle ice with one of our cars provided the speed is about 24 or so to provide traction for the AA traction and Nitrogen premium tires on it. We do not skimp on car tires. It's like a thousand dollars for a set and good for several winters. 30 would be our max speed on dirty ice. She will handle 2% on slush a foot deep and that's about all you will get out of it. (US 67, McCain Blvd SB at the traffic light on top of the hill there.)

Certain rules go out the window on ice, you don't do stop signs, stop lights etc where possible. If no one is around. Espeicaly on a hill.

You do not take a car next to a tractor trailer on ice because the very slope to one side or the other will induce a jackknife and crush your car especially on bridges.

It is best absolutely in a car to stay home. However.

The older cars of say a 302 ford maverick with 135/70/14 tires were very good in snow due to it's weight being on the rear axle. The Torino had top notch Michelins at 225/60/15 which were equal to that of the State Police and were able to handle 2 feet of wet snow on I70 several times due to it's hard tread compound.

Front wheels are pretty good, but not the be all end all. My Tahoe is actually very bad in snow and ice right now because it does not have the right tires for that work. Here in Arkansas we are sort of in the Bayou land, meaning clay and mudder more than ice and snow. With the set I have on there now, it will get stuck in a heartbeat so I don't take it out into snow and ice. It's a 4x4 but means nothing with bad tires. Tread is like 5/16 and it will take a little more than a thousand to fit new tires to it.

I occasionally order chains online for ice purposes from Austria. It will be about time to get a set for next winter. Throw that onto the car for added beef.

With a semi loaded on ice, the word is be gentle with the cars. Absolutely gentle and EASY with them you can slip and mash them so easily.