So what have the All4 owners, who have had their cars through a winter already, found to be the best setting for the TC in snowy conditions?

The snow will soon start to fly here in CO. and I just moved to where my commute will be 73 miles one way! I'm starting to sweat it a little. I work swing shift, and work alone 3 nights of my four. Calling in because I can't get to work isn't an option!

 

My preference is DTC.

 

from the owner's manual:

DTC is a type of DSC that is propulsion optimized
for special road conditions such as uncleared
snowy roads. The system ensures maximum
propulsion though with restricted driving stability.
You therefore need to drive with suitable
caution.
In the following exceptional situations, it can be
useful to briefly activate DTC:
> When driving on snow-covered inclines, in
slush, or on uncleared snowy roads
> When rocking the vehicle free, driving out of
deep snow or on loose surfaces
> When driving with snow chains

scott

 

Let the car do its normal default DSC thing if on packed snow and ice surfaces. In unplowed snow at slow speeds try experimenting with DTC. Also try DTC if you have problems starting up an incline or are stuck in deep snow and the engine power is cut too soon by the normal DSC.

I drove our 2012 for a few days in snow (mostly packed) last spring in Oregon; I never felt the need to use DTC even on the one occasion I encountered 4-5" of snow.

 

It's the deep stuff I'm worried about! My neighborhood does NOT plow the streets. I have to travel about 6 blocks to reach the roads that get plowed. From there it is almost all major HWY to my office. I had an A4 that did really well on the packed/icy stuff, but not so well in the deep stuff.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

Get real winter tires instead of jack of all trades but master of none all season rubber. Makes a world of difference, more so than pushing a button.

 

Ordered some Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3's today!

I have been driving built-up Jeeps for the last 8 years! This is the first winter I have had to worry about snow in a while!

 

Not that I'm an expert... I just ordered mine and it's not even here yet...

But, I do live in Colorado and I stayed at a holiday Inn Express last night...

All joking aside, I test drove a Countryman AWD last december right after we had that huge snowstorm right before xmas. The main roads had been cleared enough, but the back roads were a complete mess... I took the Countryman through all of those roads for about 10 minutes with hardly any trouble. none of the roads had been plowed and just a few ruts from where other cars had gone through. snow packed ranging approx 8-10 inches. It really is quite good in the snow. I don't imagine you will have any problems getting out of your neighborhood and to the main roads which should be much more clear.

 

I had the opportunity the other night, with that storm that came through, to see how she handles in the snow. The drive from Lone Tree to Loveland was a mess! All in all she did OK. I was able to move at a bit higher speed than other cars. DTC was much more stable than DSC on the nasty stuff! I still got pretty squirrely changing lanes even at low speeds! The snow tires should go on tomorrow so I'm anxious to see home much better she handles!

 

I think you don't have to be worried about it, here in central Europe there was some snow last week and Countryman's performance in snow is just breathtaking. Accelerating and braking really hard on snow with summer tires (that was the point of my test)= still stable and with safe feeling, ALL4 redistributes torque precisely.
With Michelin PA3 it si going to be even better...

 

Winter Tires. I'm sure you know about them living in a snowy state, but they do work wonders. I think I'd feel nearly unstoppable in a CMS all4 with proper winter tires.

I've had my Justa Cooper through 3-4 inches of snow with out getting stuck with my Blizzaks before, granted I had to stop and clear my lower grill after... My job sometimes requires me to go to some pretty rural areas here in mid-mich.

 

My take is this. I have an ALL4 and last winter I never touched the buttons. The default DSC does an awesome job in snow/slush.