After almost getting killed earlier this week in road conditions I would not consider even mildly hazardous with OEM Michelin tires, I called a friend who recommended Hakkapellitta snow tire. Cost was $130 each. Amazingly enough, we had a 6" snow within 12 hrs of getting new tires. I was told by the dealer they would make the Audi run in the snow like a "Jeep". This tire certainly is noisy, compared to Michelin, but has a tread that pulls the car through 12-15" mounds of snow like it is an SUV. My friend was right, the high performance tires that are OEM are picked without regard to the geographic destination of the car. Most users never ride in unplowed streets like today. I did not even feel the snow at times. Braking was improved too, with less dependence on the ABS system.