Nokian NRW-H impressions

[TM]

Having just driven for about 3 hrs. in our first decent
snowfall of the season, I have to say that I'm a bit unhappy
about my snow tires.

It is quite possible that my snows are just too low-profile
and too wide, but the NRWs are awfully squirrelly and loose
in the soft, slushy stuff as well as corn snow-like marbles.
They hooked up very nicely on hardpack and fresh snow, though.

I don't think my 200 is heavy enough to put sufficient weight
down on 225/45R17 snows or the NRWs are not as good as the Dunlop
M2s. Our A4 on 205/55R16 M2s is awesome (but that's not a fair
comparison, as it is apples-to-oranges).

Anyone try weighting down their quattro with some sandbags?
Maybe an extra 100-200 lbs. in the trunk will make it less
loose.

That said, I think if one is accustomed to driving hard in
the snow, the NRWs will provide sufficient grip to drive around
rally-style in the snow. However, for everyday driving, they
are a little disconcerting when they start drifting in a rather
gentle turn- easily recoverable at prudent speeds, but not
what I was expecting. I know my mechanic would love it.

My 5ktq with 195/65R15 Firestone Winterfires was far superior
in the snow, although it understeered like crazy.

If you have NRWs, I'd like your impressions- maybe my tire choice
was just too wide. I know it wasn't ideal, but I had little choice-
I didn't have a spare set of 16s (Dad is using them on the A4)
and the crappy OEM Potenzas on the S4 Avus wheels had to go anyway,
so thus the choice of 17" snows.

Taka