Tyre opinions....

[AG1996]

Hey guys, new to the forum and looking to get some opinions on tyres. Still a while away from needing to change but just wanted to do some research.

The S3 came with a set of Pirelli P Zeros fitted and so far I've been impressed with their performance, the only thing is they are a little uncomfortable and I've read they can be bad on wear. On my A3 I always used Conti Sports Contact 5's and was happy with their performance.

Just wondering what everyone else has fitted and their opinions.

Also, need a set of winters and just going to go for Michelin Cross Climate's unless someone has experience of a better tyre?

 

[Adam14]

Welcome! This is worth a search on the forum mate! There's a fair few recent threads on this topic. Common theme are Michelin PS4(s) and P Zeroes, the former being more popular.

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[AlS3BE]

I’ve got Pirelli sottozero 3 on my s3 and so far they are pretty good. Dry, wet and a touch of snow they grip well. Compared to the pzero summers they are comfortable but dry grip and cornering grip is where the summer pzero excels. Wanting a chance to test these sottozero in heavy snow to see how they fair.
Had Dunlop winter sport 3d on my last car and these were great. Comfortable and grip on all weather was great. Heavy snow was not an issue even when snow was at the headlight level.

Know a few folk with cross climate and they are generally pretty good but they are not a performance tyre so personally wouldn’t want to be using them especially in the summer for a spirited drive.

 

[AG1996]

I’ve got Pirelli sottozero 3 on my s3 and so far they are pretty good. Dry, wet and a touch of snow they grip well. Compared to the pzero summers they are comfortable but dry grip and cornering grip is where the summer pzero excels. Wanting a chance to test these sottozero in heavy snow to see how they fair.
Had Dunlop winter sport 3d on my last car and these were great. Comfortable and grip on all weather was great. Heavy snow was not an issue even when snow was at the headlight level.

Know a few folk with cross climate and they are generally pretty good but they are not a performance tyre so personally wouldn’t want to be using them especially in the summer for a spirited drive.

Will look into Sottozero's, would buy a dedicated winter and summer tyre set so not too worried how they perform in dry conditions. I just know if we get any snow, even with quattro the grip will be non-existent on these summer boots.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Jassyo06]

Pzeros are also phenomenal tyre in wet weather and replacing AO1"S are as rare to find as a Nun that's been Vagazzled

 

[Ormesome]

Ok so to be frank, a set of Cross Climates as a separate set of tires is silly! Sorry! But why? if they are separate then go for winter tires. I had Pirelli All Season tires on my diesel A3 but they were my main tire. I would never fit summer tires and then cross climate in the winter. Cross climates are a good summer and winter tire combo, not a perfect winter or summer tire. It is a comprimise tire, a good one at that, but you can do better. I currently have Continental 850 something on my car and they are amazing. Getting me through the worst snow I’ve seen in Switzerland!!

 

[Fatbloke]

On the A3, I have 225x40x18 Uniroyal Rainsport 3's for summer and 205x55x16 Continental WinterContact TS 860's currently fitted for winter.

Been really good tyres. Also have the Uniroyals on the Skoda VRS and Continental WinterContact TS 850's for winter.

Uniroyals also on the Porsche Boxster but it's garaged for the winter.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Pzeros are also phenomenal tyre in wet weather and replacing AO1"S are as rare to find as a Nun that's been Vagazzled

That is hilarious. Ah! but in the Excited States or Trumpland, they are as easy to obtain as believers in the "Land of The Free"

 

[AG1996]

Pzeros are also phenomenal tyre in wet weather and replacing AO1"S are as rare to find as a Nun that's been Vagazzled

Whats the difference between A01's and A0's?

 

[AG1996]

Ok so to be frank, a set of Cross Climates as a separate set of tires is silly! Sorry! But why? if they are separate then go for winter tires. I had Pirelli All Season tires on my diesel A3 but they were my main tire. I would never fit summer tires and then cross climate in the winter. Cross climates are a good summer and winter tire combo, not a perfect winter or summer tire. It is a comprimise tire, a good one at that, but you can do better. I currently have Continental 850 something on my car and they are amazing. Getting me through the worst snow I’ve seen in Switzerland!!

Just thought didn't want to put full on snow tyres on because up here you never know when the weather will get bad. Put snow tyres on my A3 last year at the start of November and we had mild weather and no snow till March.

Will have a look at the Conti's, how are they when the weather isn't so bad?

 

[Rideen]

I still swear by Continental TS860 for winter conditions. I've been driving through Austria and Germany these days where the snow surprised Austrian road services during the night and they gripped amazingly well in very poor driving conditions.

 

[AlS3BE]

I would say most winter tyres aren’t really full blown snow tyres like the ones you see on big old land rovers with the huge chunky type tread. They are road tyres that can handle some snow. Biggest advantage is cold/wet weather where they perform better than summer.

 

[Ormesome]

Just thought didn't want to put full on snow tyres on because up here you never know when the weather will get bad. Put snow tyres on my A3 last year at the start of November and we had mild weather and no snow till March.

Will have a look at the Conti's, how are they when the weather isn't so bad?

Been great here. I swapped the tires in October when it was around 5 degrees and immediately saw a difference. I didn’t have tire spin or anything from my summer tires but when I put on the winter Continentals I just had more confidence in them. More direct steering was a big factor. This could be placebo effect and so on but I’m pretty sure there was a difference.

As others have said, winter tires, not snow tires. We know what you meant though!

To be honest I understand why some people don’t change tires in the UK. It never gets too cold in some areas so they aren’t needed. The cost is high, and the likelyhood of snow is small. I never had winter tires until last year. Never had them once in the UK. It just isn’t in our mindset. However, now I have experienced the difference I think, if I were to live in the UK, I would change just for those normal frosty mornings and evenings.

 

[Adam14]

Never had them once in the UK. It just isn’t in our mindset.

This is what puts me off too! I live further down south (Cambridge) so don't see much snow at all really, last year was the worst, but I can't justify the price of a new set of tyres on the off chance of some snow.

 

[AlS3BE]

This is what puts me off too! I live further down south (Cambridge) so don't see much snow at all really, last year was the worst, but I can't justify the price of a new set of tyres on the off chance of some snow.

I bought a brand new set of genuine 18” Audi alloys with winters tyres on my last car for £650 and used them for 2 and half winters, half cause I got them late in the first year. I sold them when I got the s3 in August for £600 with 5-6mm tread left on them, could have got more if I sold on eBay and was willing to post. So cost was £50 for the time I had them. In fact it probably saved me money cause I didn’t burn through my expensive summers as quickly. Only cost is time changing them around but first 2 years it came with changes and wheel hotel from dealers.
Paid a bit more for the s3 winters wheels and no wheel hotel this time so just me changing and storing but hopefully when time comes to sell I won’t lose too much.
All you are doing is sharing tyre wear across 2 sets instead of 1. So let’s say in 3 years 30k you go through 2 sets of summers. By having winters you go through 1 of each.

 

[Ormesome]

As @AlS3BE just mentioned, its really false economy thinking about the costs of winter tires as a whole. You might run the winter tires for around 5 months of the year, therefore saving the wear on your summer tires. So the wear rate should be the same whether you have winter or summer tires fitted. So the cost is negated. The only cost is changing the tires over, for which at around a max of 50pounds a time, is worth it in safety.

My family all live in Somerset and i was in Cornwall for years. Never had winter tires. Did i need them? Max 5 times in 10yrs when it snowed. Did i need then without realising? For sure yes. Would i buy winters tires even living in these areas now? yes because of the cold frosty mornings and evenings, and the times i was caught out by the snow which are increasing in the UK.

Just buy them. By the time you figure out all the pros and cons, winter will have passed and you will do the same thing next year! take the plunge!

 

[AlS3BE]

another thing to think about is diamond cut alloys are bad for corrosion with the grit and salt. Had a few Audi alloys pit and corrode in the winter. So having a second set of wheels might save you a refurb job and they hold their value as second hand wheels when time comes to sell.

 

[Adam14]

another thing to think about is diamond cut alloys are bad for corrosion with the grit and salt. Had a few Audi alloys pit and corrode in the winter. So having a second set of wheels might save you a refurb job and they hold their value as second hand wheels when time comes to sell.

Very valid points you made above, thanks for that! Will definitely have to put some more thought in to it, currently on 19s, assume common practice is to go smaller rims for some reason (for winter tyres)?

 

[Ormesome]

Very valid points you made above, thanks for that! Will definitely have to put some more thought in to it, currently on 19s, assume common practice is to go smaller rims for some reason (for winter tyres)?

I have 19 inch rims, diamond cut. No problems at all. If your car is on PCP then you won't see the corrosion in the length of your contract so don't worry! For snow, yes smaller, thinner rims is better. But my 19s are plowing through the snow here like a beast!

 

[AlS3BE]

On the s3 I went with the same size as the oe summers(18s).
I would go with a size that’s on the tyre pressure sticker on your car. That way insurance can’t screw your for using non oe recommended stuff, ie modification.

 

[Jassyo06]

I don't need winter tyres at all if the weather gets that bad ie very bad l just stay at home or take the Mrs car out, likes of last years winter , **** buying wheels and tyres just to accommodate the risk of a few bad days of snow

 

[MikeParkin]

I only buy winter tyres for the wife just so I know she wouldn’t struggle or get stuck etc, I doubt an Abarth 595 would struggle with slim tyres but just to be on the safe side.

 

[Jassyo06]

I only buy winter tyres for the wife just so I know she wouldn’t struggle or get stuck etc, I doubt an Abarth 595 would struggle with slim tyres but just to be on the safe side.

Forum Husband of the year mate lol

 

[AlS3BE]

I started buying winters when Mrs was pregnant. Needed to make sure we make it to the hospital then after that it was to make sure if anything happened to the wee kid we could get him to hospital in any conditions.
I’m definitely a convert now. Saw so many suv/4x4 get stuck in the snow and my old a6 just cruises past like nothing was there.

 

[MikeParkin]

Forum Husband of the year mate lol

Thanks hahaha, I’ve done it for years. Just like I don’t let her have a car any older than 3 years old. Purely for the fact it’s “reliable” but now I’ve said that she will probably brake down in the snow hahaha.