Driving in the winter with your TT...
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New Member
Joined: Oct 2001
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Driving in the winter with your TT...
I'm a new owner of a 2001 225 TT here in Chicago, so excuse my 'newbie' questions. 
Has anyone driven their TT's in the snow with your stock tires?
I have Michelin Pilot Sports on my TT right now. And I do plan on purchasing either Pilot Alpins or Dunlop M2's to put on my stock rims. I'm just curious to see how the vehicle performs with quattro and stock tires in the snow. I know the tire will harden and the grip will suck, but is it bearable?
I don't plan on speeding or taking corners too fast during the winter months (although it sounds like fun); I may end up driving like a 'grandma' just to protect my investment.
I appreciate any advise or information! Thanks.
Has anyone driven their TT's in the snow with your stock tires? I have Michelin Pilot Sports on my TT right now. And I do plan on purchasing either Pilot Alpins or Dunlop M2's to put on my stock rims. I'm just curious to see how the vehicle performs with quattro and stock tires in the snow. I know the tire will harden and the grip will suck, but is it bearable?
I don't plan on speeding or taking corners too fast during the winter months (although it sounds like fun); I may end up driving like a 'grandma' just to protect my investment.
I appreciate any advise or information! Thanks.
Elder Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 11,381
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See my post below...with added comments here -->
avoid sliding and wrecking your TT...if you get any snow (which you do in Chicago) you'll have to either park the car, or get snow tires. michelin PS are better than potenzas OEMs...but beware, the quattro works in the snow, but not with OEM tires.
what's with that!? plan on playing hockey with your TT otherwise. i wrecked the driver side corner tapping a curb when i slid...but the cost of repair was beyond belief...didn't look bad...just cost bad. the front bumper is one piece...i thought the bottom part was separate, but isn't and i crack the bottom driver side and alien.
i hope you don't have to go through my ordeal. there was about half and inch to an inch of snow on my driveway...so i thought, well, i have quattro, this is nothing. problem was it was very cold that morning...snow dust from overnight covered hardened icy asphalt (i think)...slid and cracked the driver corner below bumper.
what's with that!? plan on playing hockey with your TT otherwise. i wrecked the driver side corner tapping a curb when i slid...but the cost of repair was beyond belief...didn't look bad...just cost bad. the front bumper is one piece...i thought the bottom part was separate, but isn't and i crack the bottom driver side and alien.
i hope you don't have to go through my ordeal. there was about half and inch to an inch of snow on my driveway...so i thought, well, i have quattro, this is nothing. problem was it was very cold that morning...snow dust from overnight covered hardened icy asphalt (i think)...slid and cracked the driver corner below bumper.
Elder Member
Joined: Mar 2000
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Stock tires a no no. After people being shocked that they needed
to purchase winter tires, Audi has now made the disclaimer a little more visible on the new TT portion of their site....here it is.
*****************
Performance Tire Disclaimer
For models and option packages including high-performance tires. These tires are designed for optimum performance and handling in warm climates. They are not suitable for cold, snowy, or icy weather conditions. If you drive under those circumstances, you should equip your vehicle with all-season or winter tires, which offer better traction under those conditions. We suggest you use the recommended winter or all season tire specified for your car or its equivalent. These high-performance tires also have a lower aspect ratio that aids performance and handling; however, in order to avoid tire, rim, or vehicle damage, it is important that the inflation pressure is regularly checked and maintained at recommended levels. Please also remember in making your selection that, while these tires deliver responsive handling, they may ride less comfortably and make more noise than other choices. Finally, these tires may wear more quickly than other choices. For further information on all these topics, please consult the owner's manual, your local dealer or call 1-800-FOR-AUDI.
*****************
Performance Tire Disclaimer
For models and option packages including high-performance tires. These tires are designed for optimum performance and handling in warm climates. They are not suitable for cold, snowy, or icy weather conditions. If you drive under those circumstances, you should equip your vehicle with all-season or winter tires, which offer better traction under those conditions. We suggest you use the recommended winter or all season tire specified for your car or its equivalent. These high-performance tires also have a lower aspect ratio that aids performance and handling; however, in order to avoid tire, rim, or vehicle damage, it is important that the inflation pressure is regularly checked and maintained at recommended levels. Please also remember in making your selection that, while these tires deliver responsive handling, they may ride less comfortably and make more noise than other choices. Finally, these tires may wear more quickly than other choices. For further information on all these topics, please consult the owner's manual, your local dealer or call 1-800-FOR-AUDI.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2001
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Re: See my post below...with added comments here -->
Thanks for the quick response guys. I need to hear real stories like that (or actual disclaimers from Audi) to push me into buying snow tires.
I know I don't want to be over-confident because of the quattro! Thanks.
I know I don't want to be over-confident because of the quattro! Thanks.
Elder Member
Joined: Oct 2000
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Stock tires + snow = this future post: "any good body shops near Chicago"?
The stock tires will "freeze". The compound hardens significantly in cold weather and loses most of it's traction. Winter tires are a MUST (especially in your region.
New Member
Joined: Aug 2001
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Bite the Bullet
This, too, is my first winter with the TT. I live in Ohio. I just picked up a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks (sp?). Very highly recommended. I got the "Q" rated tires, though the "H" rating is a higher performance tire (and more expensive) -- I wasn't too concerned with dry pavement performance during the winter months. Cost me about $650 for the set. Based on all I have heard and read here, it's well worth the investment.
If you really want to cut through the snow, you can drop an extra $1K and put 16" rims on the TT.
If you really want to cut through the snow, you can drop an extra $1K and put 16" rims on the TT.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2000
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And for the frugal amongst us...
Anybody besides Exttreme try these? I don't like the slip/slide characteristics of my Amigo, but I'll take its ground clearance any day over the TT, and I didn't mind as much when the Amigo slid off the road, but I'd have cried if it were the TT...<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/tt/msgs/159119.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/tt/msgs/159119.phtml</a</li></ul>
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