Winter tyres?

[Daggerit]

Why I asked about declaring a change in wheel or tyre size to a 'winter spec' is because on the A3 forum it is noted that some insurance companies are stating that even factory fitted options are modifications that need to be declared. I was speculating that a change in size of wheel and tyre is a deviation to the spec the car was supplied from the factory thus this needs to be declared also. Fair enough if no one agrees but insurance companies do have a reputation of worming their way out of paying for a claim if they can.

Fair enough point. I think that in the long run you'd be able to argue if you're using factory specification tyre sizes with more appropriate tyres for the conditions that they should pay out. Plus, as I had said before, provided the sizes were correct I can't see how they'd have a leg to stand on as tyres are consumable parts and they can't refuse if you replace with a different brand for example.

 

[Thundercliffe81]

Would recommend Nokian Weatherproof all seasons as a very good compromise if you don't want to swap tyres. Having run all seasons on last three cars in Scotland cannot recommend highly enough. Mate has Michy CrossClimates and raves about them also.

Cross climates look epic. But couldn't get my size.


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[Gazwould]

What's your tyre size ?

 

[Thundercliffe81]

What's your tyre size ?

245/35 19. Seen 19s for SUVs, but not sure they'd fit mine. Besides, happy with the winters I've got now. From reading this thread, investing in smaller winter wheels is how I'm gonna go on next car.


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[Daggerit]

245/35 19. Seen 19s for SUVs, but not sure they'd fit mine. Besides, happy with the winters I've got now. From reading this thread, investing in smaller winter wheels is how I'm gonna go on next car.

That's what I did. Just kept my eyes peeled on eBay and Gumtree in case anything came up and then pounced when I saw a decent enough deal for some wheels and tyres that should fit.

 

[cuke2u]

Fair enough point. I think that in the long run you'd be able to argue if you're using factory specification tyre sizes with more appropriate tyres for the conditions that they should pay out. Plus, as I had said before, provided the sizes were correct I can't see how they'd have a leg to stand on as tyres are consumable parts and they can't refuse if you replace with a different brand for example.

Yep, my argument was only if someone fitted different sized wheels and tyres as came as standard. It has been known that some fit 16" wheels because the narrower the tyres the better they are at ploughing through deeper snow, hence my dyane 6 reference which had tyres that were 125x15.

 

[cuke2u]

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/16-wheels-and-winter-tyres-fitted.350889/

 

[RussM]

The sticker on the door gives tyre sizes for a particular model's Summer and M+S tyres so if you stick to these sizes all should be ok.
There's always this list from the Association of British Insurers
Here...
Also to note 17" will struggle to fit if at all to the larger v6 Diesel and S4, and not on the sticker for my 272 3.0tdi

 

[DEWCATI]

[photo=medium]8275[/photo]. I use 17’ on 272 as per my door !

 

[RussM]

Maybe Audi have changed the front disc size then as doesn't look to fit on my 272, appears to be less than half an inch between the caliper and the inner of an 18" Audi winter rim...

 

[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX]

Hi,
Hope you won;t but if any one does have any issues with insurance for winter tyres then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.

 

[DEWCATI]

Maybe Audi have changed the front disc size then as doesn't look to fit on my 272, appears to be less than half an inch between the caliper and the inner of an 18" Audi winter rim...

Very strange

 

[RussM]

Very strange

Maybe its a year thing, mine's a 66 plate 2017 model, 3.0tdi Quattro S Line tiptronic, with the 19" summer wheels as a factory option

 

[Deleted member 120807]

Got my B8 18" alloys refurbished in graphite last week and refitted them. What a difference. Before it was slipping and sliding all over the car park it's pictured in below. Afterwards I couldn't get TC or ABS to activate. I got the centre caps sprayed gloss black, really happy with the result.

The fitter measured the tread depth at 8mm on all for Continental wintersports - virtually unworn! These have were on my previous A4 for 3 winters, around 15K!

Having owned 2 quattro's in the past that didn't have winter tyres, I can say for sure 2WD with winter tyres beats 4WD with summer tyres every time.

 

[gone]

Wheel to caliper is tight on the S4 with 18” wheels

 

[Daggerit]

Wheel to caliper is tight on the S4 with 18” wheels

View attachment 142633

I’ve got 18” A5 wheels on mine with winter tyres and the clearance is totally fine as it’s a slightly more aggressive offset than A4 wheels.


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[gone]

I think these are offset the same as the 19” I have, there is about 5mm, it just looks awfully close but by all accounts nothing to worry about.

 

[Daggerit]

I think these are offset the same as the 19” I have, there is about 5mm, it just looks awfully close but by all accounts nothing to worry about.

Mine are 8.5j et29 for reference.


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[gone]

These are 8J ET40

 

[Daggerit]

No wonder they’re close! Standard 19” wheels are 8.5j et40, so they’re actually closer to the calliper if I’m working it out right?


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[gone]

 

[Fridarey]

The people delivering my winter tyres are delayed because of the snow I tried not to laugh when they told me but failed...

I took 3 hours to get to work today instead of 45 mins, but all in one piece and in control at least.

 

[ub7rm]

I can confirm that b8.5 S4 genuine winter wheels (ET43) foul the caliper. ******!

What have people fitted that work?

 

[ub7rm]

Just had a thought about this, radial clearance is fine - so wondering if a set of spacers would get me out of dodge. 5mm would probably be enough. Guess I would need longer bolts too. But I'm a noob with this - any good sources for info on what I need?

 

[Thundercliffe81]

The people delivering my winter tyres are delayed because of the snow I tried not to laugh when they told me but failed...

I took 3 hours to get to work today instead of 45 mins, but all in one piece and in control at least.

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[Daggerit]

Mine are A5 wheels. 245/40/18 8.5j et29 and clear just fine thankfully! I’m sure that you’d be fine with 5mm spacers as you’ve said, as well as the extended bolts.


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[gone]

I can’t get my head round this ET? Surely ET 29 would foul? I know it doesn’t, obviously. My offset is 40 so I imagine the ET43 must be 3mm closer to the caliper, I have 5mm clearance.
The diagram I posted above seems to be the opposite to how the numbers work?

 

[Daggerit]

I can’t get my head round this ET? Surely ET 29 would foul? I know it doesn’t, obviously. My offset is 40 so I imagine the ET43 must be 3mm closer to the caliper, I have 5mm clearance.
The diagram I posted above seems to be the opposite to how the numbers work?

Sounds like you’re right in your thinking. ET0 is the centre of the wheel and then by moving the hub outwards from the centreline of the car you get your positive values, so you’re spot on.

My normal setup is the standard wheels which are 245/35/19 8.5j et40 but with 12mm spacers, essentially making them et28. So the winter setup is actually 1mm further inside the arches. I’m lowered as well and there’s no fouling.


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[Daz Auto]

I’m another that doesn’t see the point in winter tyres, never used them and never will, I’ve never had a car that I’ve felt I’ve no control over in the snow or ice, it’s quite simple, drive to the conditions! If someone is behind you in their clapped out car with bald tyres and they do run into you then they’re at fault, that’s why we have insurance!

I live in north east Scotland and out in the countryside where we usually get a bit of snow and a lot of frost, even the wife manages to bring the car home in one piece during heavy snow on normal tyres and her driving is terrible! I’ve also never owned a fwd Audi and never will, terrible things even in the dry, so can’t comment on how they drive in winter conditions

My wife could not get home one winter because of the conditions. I researched getting her a quattro. All the evidence I found said that winter tyres offer the best grip for winter driving.

Her A3 currently has 4 Continental WinterContact TS850s fitted. Now I don't worry about her getting stuck again. Though other drivers are a concern.

 

[Daggerit]

My wife could not get home one winter because of the conditions. I researched getting her a quattro. All the evidence I found said that winter tyres offer the best grip for winter driving.

Her A3 currently has 4 Continental WinterContact TS850s fitted. Now I don't worry about her getting stuck again. Though other drivers are a concern.

Agreed, Quattro only gets you moving but winter tyres make a massive difference to stopping and turning which seems to be the bit that a lot of people in 4WD/AWD vehicles forget about...


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[Daz Auto]

I have watched a lot of youtube videos on the subject. Here is one I have never seen before. Like most videos, they are comparing winter tyres with all-season tyres.

 

[ub7rm]

I've found some eibach 5mm spacers and 32mm long bolts. Since there is only a clearance issue at the front does anyone see any issues in not running spacers at the back, i.e. front only to clear the brakes.

On a different note, in the summer I put Michelin Cross Climates on my golf and they got their first proper outing in the snow this week and they were brilliant. Never any issues with getting traction even when others were stuck. They are good in the warm / dry and in the snow - definitely the way forward.

 

[oliquattro]

Winter tyres are awesome. You can drive on solid ice and foot-deep snow. I've been up very steep roads with snow up to the bumper, no problems. People look at me like I'm mental but they're stuck and I'm not.

I just keep summers in a warm dry place over the winter.

Don't forget to actually check Audi for winter wheel offers. I got a full set including alloys for £500 when the weather was mild one year. A friend got a set for her A1 for £350! So sometimes Audi can be very cheap.

Remember, Quattro helps you move but it certainly doesn't help you stop or turn.

 

[ScottishA4B9]

The old ‘winter is coming. PANIC. Buy winter tyres!’ scenario rears it head again. It does make me laugh. The ONLY place in the UK where you would even need to consider winter tyres, is Northern Scotland!!! And even then you don’t need them if you stick to the main roads. I know as I lived in the highlands. I stuck to the main roads in my FWD A4B8 and never had any issues. Some of the back roads, then yeah, I see a need for them. Nowhere else in the UK would you need them as the snow fall and temperatures do not fall into the brackets that winter tyres are designed for. Good all season tyres are good enough for anywhere else.

 

[JG220]

Useful for getting up to the skiing resorts though.

 

[Daggerit]

The old ‘winter is coming. PANIC. Buy winter tyres!’ scenario rears it head again. It does make me laugh. The ONLY place in the UK where you would even need to consider winter tyres, is Northern Scotland!!! And even then you don’t need them if you stick to the main roads. I know as I lived in the highlands. I stuck to the main roads in my FWD A4B8 and never had any issues. Some of the back roads, then yeah, I see a need for them. Nowhere else in the UK would you need them as the snow fall and temperatures do not fall into the brackets that winter tyres are designed for. Good all season tyres are good enough for anywhere else.

Normally I’d agree for the main roads but they’re still proven to work far better than summer tyres in colder and wet temperatures. Braking distances and manoeuvres in those conditions as well as ice/snow are significantly better, enough that it could make the difference between hitting or missing another car in my personal experience. That’s more what I’d get them for than getting stuck to be honest.


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[Nickfrog]

The old ‘winter is coming. PANIC. Buy winter tyres!’ scenario rears it head again. It does make me laugh. The ONLY place in the UK where you would even need to consider winter tyres, is Northern Scotland!!! And even then you don’t need them if you stick to the main roads. I know as I lived in the highlands. I stuck to the main roads in my FWD A4B8 and never had any issues. Some of the back roads, then yeah, I see a need for them. Nowhere else in the UK would you need them as the snow fall and temperatures do not fall into the brackets that winter tyres are designed for. Good all season tyres are good enough for anywhere else.

Quite a definitive and sweeping statement. My experience has been the opposite in SE England. The winters had a very clear friction advantage against Supersports over the past 3 snowless winters, particularly on Surrey Hills back roads at 7.00am and/or 7.00pm where they were VERY much in their operating window, as it was a shyte fest of mud / damp / frost / leaves. That was my daily commute so winters were invaluable.

I could have chosen all season tyres instead (I have some on the kids' car) but really didn't want to as no good at the Ring !

Cost is negligible too if you buy smaller OE wheels - normally see all your money back when selling the car.

Absolute no brainer for me in SE England but I appreciate that others may have different needs/circumstances.

 

[oliquattro]

I get very deep snow and bad ice in North England, also have very steep rural roads. Winter tyres are a no brainer especially after you've experienced how good they are. I've driven to Switzerland twice with winters on at -20 Celsius.

All it takes is one skid and you've wrecked your car and lost no claims.....not to mention potentially killing yourself and or others.

 

[Fridarey]

If my tyres had arrived a couple of days early, I'd have shaved about 90 mins off my 3-hour commute last Thursday (normally 45 mins). There were three roads involved:

• The short way over a hill pass which goes from sea level to 1400 feet and back again in 20 miles: no point trying that even in a Land Rover, when it's snowy it's often impassable, and they regularly close the snow gates.
• The long way on the trunk road: this is what I had to do, nose-to-tail snail's pace traffic, and 31 miles became 62 miles. Winter tyres would have made no difference apart from a bit of extra safety for the occasional bit we got above 25mph
• The alternative route, a rural A road but which is lower-priority for the gritters (Dagger and others will know the Slug Road - it was fine early on but by the time I got there had had another several hours of constant snow). Would have been 39 miles and missed out the worst of the trunk road traffic jam. That's the road I'd have taken if I'd had my tyres changed, it was just a bit too slippy at that time without them.

So the reason I've bought them is the increased safety, which gives me more choices. We don't have that many roads to choose from up here There's only really three well-cleared roads, the rest are council-managed and their resources are stretched thin.

 

[cuke2u]

I drove around the pennines for ten years, never once used winter tyres, I actually think nobody talked about then back in 1988

I get very deep snow and bad ice in North England, also have very steep rural roads. Winter tyres are a no brainer especially after you've experienced how good they are. I've driven to Switzerland twice with winters on at -20 Celsius.

All it takes is one skid and you've wrecked your car and lost no claims.....not to mention potentially killing yourself and or others.

I managed to survive all the winters on the peninnes for ten years. Probably there was no winter tyres then, snow chains maybe but never used them either...