Tires for icy conditions - NAC

[Suffolk GameServer LAN]

Winter tires (four) are a major advantage.
I read these post about the Hakka's and I must be missing out.
Here's my experience for comparision.
I can Echo Huw and Brett's snow grip from the days of my Pirelli W210P on my
4KQ and 10V 200 Avant,
but they seem to be on a higher level technology/performance wise.
The last three NE snowstorms Dec 20 - Jan 5 I logged ~750 miles
BOS/NJ/BOS/NH/BOSin two different Q's
Both with all seasons:
While I could get out and past anyone I wanted to, -on hills-('99 A6Q
Tip)Chrsitmas
day/Worcester hills & 84 out of Hartford, the car had little stablity at
55-60 MPH
in the road's two tires ruts.  It was like letting Down Hill snow skis swim
at speed.
Something not encountered in the past with snows on.  The ability to push an
extra 10
MPH with stablibity is so worth the price of the snow tires. IMHO
Last weekend, the snow storm in NH and Mass: 1991 200QAvant 20V,
Started Friday noon with 4 Cooper A/S at 30PSI.(RR was LOW)
70 miles later the car swam as the A6 did and pulled slightly R like the
alignment was off.
The RR tire was FLAT and further running on it, to get air, broke the side
wall thru.
The above was @70MPH in less than 1" of accumulation in Manch-vegas..
The 200 Avant seemed to have a better stablity by 5+ MPH (65/70 vs 55/60-A6)
However, the 200 speedo isn't checked for accuracy yet and the NH snow was
colder 25F and not as icy 32F FWIW.

Remember Quattro means go NOT stop.
HTH - Scott in BOSTON

Subject: Re: Tires for icy conditions - NAC

 The Hakka Q's spiral sipe supposedly makes it good on sheer ice as
> well, but it won't match the studded Hakka 1 which is the "ultimate."
>
> Either tire would be a -vast- improvement over a standard "all
> season" tire- the difference between my "all season" dunlops and the
> Hakka Q's was -astounding-.  The term "all season" is such a joke...

Let me pipe up again with my Hakka 1 testimonial.

I am simply amazed at what they do.  I mean, you can get around on
almost anything with a quattro in the snow, but I put these slightly
used hakkas on just before that big storm hit.  Driving on packed snow
is like being on pavement, unless you floor it.  Braking is really good,
to my surprise, about 1/2 as good as a dry road.  And on top of that,
there is great lateral traction too.

I expected them to help a bit, but I was truly stunned what they can do.