4WD useless without snowtires in snow?

[cellg8]

Is that statement true?

I was told the quattro or 4x4 are basically like FWD or RWD (might be a little better) in snow/ice if you don't mount the snow tires... All season will not cut it he says.... If that's true, I should just keep it in garage at all times...lol...

Thanks.

[jackitorslamit]

Really? If that was true then I am the best driver in the WORLD.!

[Audi05s4]

who ever told you that have never been in a car with quattro obliviously ive driven my car in the snow with bald snow tires and not once felt like i couldn't get where i was getting

[DubSport]

Quattro only helps you in snowy conditions when you are accelerating. It will not help you slow down or stop or steer - that's where winter tires help...

So comparing a RWD car without snow tires versus quattro without snow tires, the quattro will have better traction while on the gas. They will both be horrible for slowing/stopping traction.

Winter tires make a huge difference!

[uber_boost]

Yepp...yo u need winter tires...AWD will help you maneuver and handle the car better but you wont get any grip from regular tires after the temps fall below 2C and your ABS will be working overtime to make you stop...if you can stop ...winter tires are more flexible and will help you grip alot and will stop the car way better....

[manhattanprjkt8]

you can go like hell with the quatro in the snow with even summer tires but have fun stopping...get snows

[40valve]

I drove in small snow yesterday with my summer tires and I've not had any problems.
Now, if you live in the area where you get real snow you should get snow tires and possibly look into smaller wheels as well. Helps to know your limits

[Fizikal S4Avant]

I just put a set of Dunlop wintersport 3d on and WOW. Definitely worth the $800. I figured spend it now or spend it on a deductible...

[akaEsCo01]

ContiExtreme Contacts, best all season tire hands down. I have no problems in the snow, I had Pirelli Snowsports before I got these and these are a much better value since I can run them all yearif need be and they are cheaper without sacrificing performance.

[cellg8]

Thank you for your replies, guys!

[onemoremile]

Go put a smooth soled dress shoe on one foot and a hiking boot on the other and go for a run on a snowy sidewalk or street.

Traction is between the tire and the ground or snow. Spinning four tires doesn't do much more good than spinning one. 4 times nothing is still nothing. 4 times something is better than 1 or 2 times something.

I got caught out for a snowy week on worn summer tires and it was scary at best. Switched to the snow tires and it is incredible.

Summer tires work by having large tread blocks with a lot of surface area and not many edges. Winter tires are the exact opposite with no large tread blocks and as many voids and edges as possible.

This is my 17th year driving in West Michigan winter, 7th year with Quattro or a Subaru. AWD is not magic, it just spins four tires. Those tires are what do all the work and they are a critical component in the system. That said, AWD with good snow tires is like cheating.

[ngng]

Seattle drivers are just idiots. My buddy with his FWD civic and regular tires was outdriving everybody. People just go too fast for the conditions.

[40valve]

Seattle drivers are just idiots. My buddy with his FWD civic and regular tires was outdriving everybody. People just go too fast for the conditions.

I'm afraid that is everywhere. Work buddy told me yesterday that he was trying to pass people by going to the turn lane and being inches away from a huge ditch. I asked him if he at least had winter tires and he said "idunno"
Oh and it's a FWD.

[ngng]

I'm afraid that is everywhere. Work buddy told me yesterday that he was trying to pass people by going to the turn lane and being inches away from a huge ditch. I asked him if he at least had winter tires and he said "idunno"
Oh and it's a FWD.

oops, by outdriving, I meant, driving better than everybody (he grew up in PA)

[40valve]

^ hahah my bad. When you said people go to fast I thought you meant him

[zberch]

Speaking of the quattro system...

What car company has the best 4wd system?

[bsrpilot44]

Speaking of the quattro system...

What car company has the best 4wd system?

haha your posting this on an AUDI forum

[Quattroownsyou]

If you really wanna experience just how good quattro can be throw on some snow tires. I ran Dunlop D3 wintersports last winter and was amazed at the levels of grip.

[tatarin]

If you really wanna experience just how good quattro can be throw on some snow tires. I ran Dunlop D3 wintersports last winter and was amazed at the levels of grip.

what he said

[Dos::Avants]

Poor tires + Quattro + Snow = Grrreat accelerating uphill & DoNut/Drifting FUN

[Dos::Avants]

Speaking of the quattro system...

What car company has the best 4wd system?

This one VVVVVVVVV

[A6.S-line]

The answer (to whether you need snow/winter tires or not) depends on where you live and what kinda winters you get

[GameBreaker]

It all boils down to the driver, the quattro system just makes it a hell of a lot easier. You don't need snow tires to drive in snow, it just makes most people feel a bit safer with the added grip. After driving a RWD 12 second car as a daily driver for a number of years driving in the snow with AWD and stock tires is like driving on dry pavement. Winter tires do improve winter driving a lot, but for me the stock tires are fine and don't necesitate getting blizzaks.

[beecha91]

Ya we got another 6 inches last night, and my P6 Four Season's go NO WHERE!! I let out the clutch spin spin spin, and the clutch wont let me start in second with out slipping it or itll die on me. Any kind of turning or braking the car would slide, and the abs and tc would kick in overtime.

Don-

[sakimano]

last winter Toronto got 7 feet of snow (total snowfall...not one day!). I drove a B6 Avant on Pirelli all season 17" tires right through the winter. Never got stuck. it was amazing.

That being said, I always advise getting snow tires...can't beat them. I didn't last year because the car was going to be sold in spring, and I didn't want to buy snows for 4 months. I picked the WRONG winter to save $500 because it was INSANE the snow we got. Still...Quattro dominated. One day I blasted down my street with 8 inches of snow on it. I went right by a Volvo truck that was stuck in front of my house.

[quattroanillos5]

I've been driving a quattro for past seven years and have never had anything other than summer tires on the two cars... I have never had any problems... and i live in the northeast. You just need to drive according to the road conditions... I just can't justify spending the cash on snow tires when over the course of the winter it may snow at most 20 to 25 times...

[AudiOso]

Hankook Ice Bears are a good tire for the money too. I had a set of them on my first A4 and they were awesome.

[SuperAvant]

4X4 is not the same as AWD or Quattor

[cellg8]

4X4 is not the same as AWD or Quattor

really???!!! how so?

[ngng]

really???!!! how so?

4WD is all 4, all the time. AWD, distributes power beteen all the wheels. Quattro is the tech/brand of AWD in the audi

[EYE4SPEED]

I drove one winter with PzeroNero all-seasons with no issues (I'm in Michigan - we had close to 90" of snow last winter). I can tell you that summer tires won't get you anywhere, but the all seasons were okay.

We also tried Arctic Alpin snows and that was much improved, but all seasons will work.

[quattro.it]

I have no problem getting around in the snow with the Pirelli P6 tire including when chains are required in the mountains. A dedicated snow tire will obviously be better. I just haven't had enough of a problem to justify the hassle and expense of two sets of wheels & tires.

[DubSport]

Summer tires work by having large tread blocks with a lot of surface area and not many edges. Winter tires are the exact opposite with no large tread blocks and as many voids and edges as possible.

You missed another reason that Winter tires work wonders in cold temps...

The rubber compound of a winter tire will stay kind of gummy/rubbery even when it gets REAL cold. This helps provide traction on frozen pavement.

Whereas a summer tire turns very very hard (think like a plastic kids toy) when it gets cold out so there is very little traction on cold pavement.
I have the Dunlop Winter Sports as well and they work great, especially with Quattro!!!

[boravr6]

I was struttin like a rooster on the weekend thanks to the Quattro!!

Went to the grand opening of a new Best Buy in town. No need to say that the parking was JAMMED PACK!

The parking is a bit offset so the parking lot is about 4 feet lower at one spot. With the mild weather and flash freeze we had there was about 1 or 2 inches of ice down on the ground and with only sand laid down people were trying to launch themselves to get out of the dip but just could not make it. All they were doing was polishing the surface. The towing company had a field day!

I finally got my chance to take a kick at the cat once those FWD drivers gave up and made room for some pickup drivers with 4WD to get out. I pulled in behind them

The anti-skid light didnt even come on! Drove up that sucker in first gear NP.

Winter tires + Quattro = winter sex!

[b00st]

you can go like hell with the quatro in the snow with even summer tires but have fun stopping...get snows

aint that the truth.

i was driving the 2 days ago....snowing as all hell out. couple inches out on the floor before i left. running summer only tires (conti2s).....talk about suck.

sure i can GO....and i can GO with ESP OFF as well. however turning and stopping....to different things. I was going the same speed as a grand am next to me...i'm sure he just had all seasons on. we are coming up to this light that turned red...going at the same pace....he stops at the light...mind you this is also a down hill angle.....i blow through the light like nothing...this is a giant intersection...so i go 3/4 through. practically have my foot through the floor....had to cut the wheel...was just about to pull parking brake.

we are expecting 6-8 inches of snow today mid day...i drove the wife's lexus RX350. no slipping....i can actually stop. so come next year it will be some winter tires on a different set of rims. but all seasons or winter tires would have allowed me to stop at that light. its embrassing to have a quattro audi blow the light but the busted grand am stops just fine. proper tires are a must for any given situation.

[beecha91]

aint that the truth.

i was driving the 2 days ago....snowing as all hell out. couple inches out on the floor before i left. running summer only tires (conti2s).....talk about suck.

sure i can GO....and i can GO with ESP OFF as well. however turning and stopping....to different things. I was going the same speed as a grand am next to me...i'm sure he just had all seasons on. we are coming up to this light that turned red...going at the same pace....he stops at the light...mind you this is also a down hill angle.....i blow through the light like nothing...this is a giant intersection...so i go 3/4 through. practically have my foot through the floor....had to cut the wheel...was just about to pull parking brake.

we are expecting 6-8 inches of snow today mid day...i drove the wife's lexus RX350. no slipping....i can actually stop. so come next year it will be some winter tires on a different set of rims. but all seasons or winter tires would have allowed me to stop at that light. its embrassing to have a quattro audi blow the light but the busted grand am stops just fine. proper tires are a must for any given situation.

Ya ready for the 6-9 inches, and the ice storm we're getting? Should be fun... I sell cars and checked into dunlop M3s through tirerack wholesale at my work. I can get them for $170 a piece, or get also blizzacks for $180? Hmmm now to only decide. Im off tomorrow, and if we order soon enough the tires might come tomrrow.

Don-

[GameBreaker]

Ya ready for the 6-9 inches, and the ice storm we're getting? Should be fun... I sell cars and checked into dunlop M3s through tirerack wholesale at my work. I can get them for $170 a piece, or get also blizzacks for $180? Hmmm now to only decide. Im off tomorrow, and if we order soon enough the tires might come tomrrow.

Don-

Yeah, it will be a fun night, and morning. Luckily I get to drive up to Madison tonight so at least I will have a fun trip. I'm trying to figure out why every Christmas when I drive up there it's either black ice, snow warning, or blizzard, maybe it's because I have a black cat.

As for the tires great price! I have used both before and they both perform really well but I'll be using the stockers tonight. Hopefully I will find a good parking lot when I get there because I know I will hit traffic somewhere along the line and will end up having to let off some steam via the relaxing Donut.

[beecha91]

Yeah, it will be a fun night, and morning. Luckily I get to drive up to Madison tonight so at least I will have a fun trip. I'm trying to figure out why every Christmas when I drive up there it's either black ice, snow warning, or blizzard, maybe it's because I have a black cat.

As for the tires great price! I have used both before and they both perform really well but I'll be using the stockers tonight. Hopefully I will find a good parking lot when I get there because I know I will hit traffic somewhere along the line and will end up having to let off some steam via the relaxing Donut.

Only one way to skin a cat... a relaxing Donut haheha Have fun be safe.

Don-

[Beelzeebub]

Is that statement true?

I was told the quattro or 4x4 are basically like FWD or RWD (might be a little better) in snow/ice if you don't mount the snow tires... All season will not cut it he says.... If that's true, I should just keep it in garage at all times...lol...

Thanks.

im sorry but that was a load of bullcrap he spewed at you.

[Beelzeebub]

I've been driving a quattro for past seven years and have never had anything other than summer tires on the two cars... I have never had any problems... and i live in the northeast. You just need to drive according to the road conditions... I just can't justify spending the cash on snow tires when over the course of the winter it may snow at most 20 to 25 times...

+1.