I'm looking at the Yokohama dB tires. Have looked at them before, they look real sweet. The chances of getting caught in the snow in Seattle are real slim. When it does snow I always use the pickup truck anyway. (I'm too afraid of some idiot hitting the nice car. Seattle snow drivers are truly amazing).

Maybe I'm worrying too much about my "perceived" poor snow performance of the Yokohamas. Only hitch I have is the mandatory trip to Portland every Christmas.

I really, really don't want to buy a set of snow tires and wheels. Maybe if I could get some really cheap, plain steel wheels for $20 a piece. I'd even paint them bright green and red. Yes, in a spiral pattern or checkers or stripes.

Anyway, I know you (Muhammand) hit the snow pretty hard this year. Looked like you did OK.

Another "driver" is I was thinking I'd get the Dunlop SP 5000s but only the symetrical version is available in my tire size. Well, the snow rating isn't to good for that tire either.

I don't know if I could find worse tires for the snow than the continentals on the car now, and that were on the car through the winter. I didn't have any problems... and I drove in snow probably 20-30 days this past winter. Climbing plenty of hills, and as you saw, having some fun in the driveway.

Remember that Quattro is simply the best AWD system and unless you have a ton of power going to the wheels (a problem we don't have to deal with, as you know) you will do fine in the snow provided you know *how* to drive in the snow. Avoid sudden movements, in turning, accelerating, or braking. Take it slow/easy and even if you are driving in snow, you won't have any problems, even on a tire that isn't the best for snow.

I would also consider the SP Sport 5000 a little more carefully, if I could get the asymmetrical. If you ran a 215/55/16 you could get the asymmetrical, I think. 215 will work fine on your stock wheels.

i use BF Goodrich Touring T/A tires. 205/55/16

i'm in New England. we had a very tough winter this year. there was one strom that shut down the schools in my area for 3 to 5 days. never had a problem driving any where.

drove through about a foot of snow to work one morning. i had to stop on this country road for a truck stuck in the road. figuered i was going to be stuck. moved right on out when they moved out of the way.

in the snow without an M+S rating for 17 years. (Not "snow" tires)

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/10404/mvc-002x.jpg"></center><p>...and I commute from Salt Lake City up to Park City, 22 miles, through a mountain pass. No problems, and I blast past 90-100% of the traffic in the snow. Muhammad is right: quattro is simple the best AWD system extant. Combined with safe driving practices (high speed notwithstanding!), the Dunlops are fine in the snow. And they absolutely ROCK in the dry! Much quieter than the POS Goodyear GA's that were on the car previously.

The tires don't rub, ever. One thing I had to do is add front spashguards (done after I took the picture.) Can't find rear splashguards, though.