Originally Posted by Glisse

Put it in ESC Sport mode and see if it tracks straight on an icy road. From your description the car is engaging wheel specific torque vectoring because one wheel is slipping, the system is slightly braking that wheel and sending torque to the wheel on the other side of the axle. Which is enough to affect the tracking of the car, although it is actually doing its job. You don't like the feel of it moving. Your tyres may be unsuitable to drive on snow/icy roads, but then you don't seem too sure what they actually are. Which says something. Such as not knowing that the type and quality of the tyre is more important than the drive system in these sort of conditions.

Engaging ESC Sport will relax the amount of slip allowed before the system activates, so it will feel a little more like an old RWD barrelling down an icy Minnesota road at 70mph or a FWD Honda, which aren't doing anything much to maintain traction. Although if you want to completely replicate that experience, completely disable the traction system (which I don't recommend).

You will also find, if you had read your manual, that ESC Sport is the preferred traction setting when you are experiencing very low grip. Such as on ice. But also if you are on lousy tyres which are constantly losing traction.

Audi models are calibrated to be running on summer tyres at 7°C / 44°F and above, or winter tyres below that. They are not calibrated to run on all-season tyres. That Audi of America choose to fit them just tells me they are happy to support those drivers who couldn't be bothered changing tyres between a real summer, and a real winter. Fine, but don't complain about grip, or an intrusive traction control calibration. Or perhaps do complain, to Audi of America for choosing a lousy tyre that doesn't work properly with the car, and to the dealer for selling it - they should know better too. They should tell you "If you are buying an Audi because you value traction, then don't put tires on it that compromise traction"

And get the dealer to check your brakes, sounds like you have an issue with one of them. That you have driven 35,000 miles without addressing whatever this issue is that appeared at 20,000 miles seems odd.

And spend a moment re-reading your original post. You really think "quattro" is some scam that has been allowed to run for a few decades, despite it being dangerously unstable compared to a FWD Honda and some old RWD bangers from the past. Or that something isn't right with your car, and you need to do something about it? Which might include changing to a dealership with decent technical staff and the ability to offer some sound advice.

Originally Posted by KevinGary

Originally Posted by Glisse

Put it in ESC Sport mode and see if it tracks straight on an icy road. From your description the car is engaging wheel specific torque vectoring because one wheel is slipping, the system is slightly braking that wheel and sending torque to the wheel on the other side of the axle. Which is enough to affect the tracking of the car, although it is actually doing its job. You don't like the feel of it moving. Your tyres may be unsuitable to drive on snow/icy roads, but then you don't seem too sure what they actually are. Which says something. Such as not knowing that the type and quality of the tyre is more important than the drive system in these sort of conditions.

Engaging ESC Sport will relax the amount of slip allowed before the system activates, so it will feel a little more like an old RWD barrelling down an icy Minnesota road at 70mph or a FWD Honda, which aren't doing anything much to maintain traction. Although if you want to completely replicate that experience, completely disable the traction system (which I don't recommend).

You will also find, if you had read your manual, that ESC Sport is the preferred traction setting when you are experiencing very low grip. Such as on ice. But also if you are on lousy tyres which are constantly losing traction.

Audi models are calibrated to be running on summer tyres at 7°C / 44°F and above, or winter tyres below that. They are not calibrated to run on all-season tyres. That Audi of America choose to fit them just tells me they are happy to support those drivers who couldn't be bothered changing tyres between a real summer, and a real winter. Fine, but don't complain about grip, or an intrusive traction control calibration. Or perhaps do complain, to Audi of America for choosing a lousy tyre that doesn't work properly with the car, and to the dealer for selling it - they should know better too. They should tell you "If you are buying an Audi because you value traction, then don't put tires on it that compromise traction"

And get the dealer to check your brakes, sounds like you have an issue with one of them. That you have driven 35,000 miles without addressing whatever this issue is that appeared at 20,000 miles seems odd.

And spend a moment re-reading your original post. You really think "quattro" is some scam that has been allowed to run for a few decades, despite it being dangerously unstable compared to a FWD Honda and some old RWD bangers from the past. Or that something isn't right with your car, and you need to do something about it? Which might include changing to a dealership with decent technical staff and the ability to offer some sound advice.

Originally Posted by pdaugh

Brand new Pirelli Centaur? Less than 5000 miles.

Originally Posted by bob m

Well stated and very informative. I did not think about ESC Sport mode, sounds like a good idea. Regarding the summer tires and winter tires being the prefered/recommended offerings in the good ol' USA that just ain't gonna happen.Most people are not going to spring for 2 sets of tires. And I think it's not the best answer because summer tires are crappy at around 40 something degrees. And around here in NE NJ, that would be around late October/early November, but what happens if you get an early cold snap or happen to drive to Maine for example, where it gets colder earlier?
I'm extremely happy with my Michelin's.