Snow tire size 4KQ/quaiffe on front of a Q

[Larry C Leung]

Handling is a little like a combination of both FWD and RWD, though
mostly
FWD, in positions 0 and 1. I could RARELY get my rear diff to lock (not
enough
vacuum/sticky mechanism) but as Audi states in the owner's manual, you
use position 2 ONLY to get out of a really stuck position, then switch to
0 or
MAYBE 1. I've only used position 2 to get out of a ditch that I
accidentally parked
over, although I think I would've had no problem even in position 1 (0
probably
wouldn't have worked). For nearly ALL driving, except in really slick
(i.e. icy)
conditions at slower speeds, I just left it in position 0. I did use 1 at
icy intersections
to beat those SUV's off of the line. Torsen takes care of that now,
although the weight
and turbo lag of my 200Q makes that a harder task to do, especially in
the world
of 300+ HP 5k pound trucks that don't suffer from traction problems. Once
moving, they
don't stand a chance, but they have an edge in hole shots on slick roads
against the
turbo.

But, snow tires beat all on ice, and few SUV drivers think to get them.

BTW, I had my 4KQ dig out of (okay, I went out on purpose) some very
heavy, very deep
wet snow, on uphills (we're talking 25+%) from standing start on position
1. No REAL
problems (though a sideways slide at the top of that hill at the stop
sign where you could
only go left or right. Neat part was I was the ONLY car to even attempt
it. I went through 8+
inches of virgin snow at the top of that hill. It was fun, especially
when I had to stop behind
some guy with an Accord halfway up the hill. He gave up, backed down the
hill to a crossing
road, and looked WIDE eyed when I just took off from where I had stopped
to let him back
down to the crossing road.

Sigh, those were the days, don't live in Binghamton anymore....

LL - NY


On Sun, 29 Sep 2002 01:08:31 -0400 "Brady Moffatt" <bradym at sympatico.ca>
writes:
> Hi Larry/All,
>
> Re: snow tires, hadn't thought of rim width issues on the 175/70-14
> option.
> Looks like 185/65-14 is the way to go though.
>
> Re: the Quaife (or Torsen), FWD or RWD experiences are also all I
> have to
> draw from. I am having a tough time imagining what the handling
> would be
> like in positions 0, 1, and 2. My guess is that pos. 0 would most
> resemble a
> FWD. That's about all I can come up with, and even that's just a
> guess.
>
> Any experiences out there?
>
> Cheers,
> Brady Moffatt
> Montreal, Quebec, Canada
> 86 4ksq, 296,000km
> 86 4ksq, 208,000km parts car
> 72 Datsun 240Z, 180,000 miles
> 92 Golf, 191,000km FOR SALE
> In early stages of quattrosis accumulatus
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry C Leung" <l.leung at juno.com>
>
>
> > Brady,
> >
> <snip>
> > If you have A LOT of snow, try the 175/70's, BUT, you'll have to
> search
> > high and wide to find a 5.5 inch
> > rim width that will take them.
> <snip>
> > As for the quaiffe, if it's anything like a Quaife equipped VW,
> the
> > handling becomes, well, interesting.
> > It's like torque steer, but but different. Wherever the wheels
> are
> > pointed when you hammer
> > the throttle, the car goes, whether or not you are turned or
> straight.
> <snip>
> > Bear in mind, this is FWD experience, although
> > IMHO
> >
> > LL - NY
>
>
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