Best Winter Tyres?

Thundercliffe81

Thundercliffe81

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Bit early I know, but reckon my Hankooks will be done by October. What are people using in the winter on the S4 B9 or thinking of using? Snow/rain conditions.

Cheers.


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Did not bother changing to winter tyres last year due to being a mild one. So I kept my set of Uniroyal Rain Sport 3's on.

Not winter tyres but these performed very well in the wet and slushy condition. Perfect for a mild winter.
 
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I had a set of 18" Continental TS830 Wintersports on my B8 which I've retained to fit to the B9. The first time (on the B8) I tested them on sheet ice in my street I stamped on the brakes expecting a heavy dose of ABS but was stunned when it stopped like it was on a dry road.

I've owned several quattros in the past and given the choice of quattro with all-season/summer tyres or a fwd with winter tyres, I'd take the latter. Of course quattro with winters is the ultimate.

Peter
 
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A4A4 said:
Did not bother changing to winter tyres last year due to being a mild one. So I kept my set of Uniroyal Rain Sport 3's on.

Not winter tyres but these performed very well in the wet and slushy condition. Perfect for a mild winter.
Click to expand...

I live next to moors (daily commute) so gets bad on the tops. Passed 8 crashed cars last year just after I got my S4. The Hankooks were utterly dreadful!! And brand new.


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Peter Guthrie said:
I had a set of 18" Continental TS830 Wintersports on my B8 which I've retained to fit to the B9. The first time (on the B8) I tested them on sheet ice in my street I stamped on the brakes expecting a heavy dose of ABS but was stunned when it stopped like it was on a dry road.

I've owned several quattros in the past and given the choice of quattro with all-season/summer tyres or a fwd with winter tyres, I'd take the latter. Of course quattro with winters is the ultimate.

Peter
Click to expand...

Pricey?


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Another vote for Nokian's here. I've used them for years. Excellent performance and value.

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Thundercliffe81 said:
Pricey?
Click to expand...

The economics of it are interesting.

I happened to end up with an extra set of genuine 18" alloys (long story) and decided to put a set of Conti winters on them. While they were quite expensive (~£140 ea. from memory) while they're on the car you're not wearing out your equally expensive summer tyres and in the end I only needed a pair of front summer tyres in 3 years and 40,000miles. So while there is an upfront cost it's no worse than it would have been anyway (assuming you do decent mileage) and there is the added advantage that you've always got the best tyres for the weather under you.

Peter
 
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Peter Guthrie said:
The economics of it are interesting.

I happened to end up with an extra set of genuine 18" alloys (long story) and decided to put a set of Conti winters on them. While they were quite expensive (~£140 ea. from memory) while they're on the car you're not wearing out your equally expensive summer tyres and in the end I only needed a pair of front summer tyres in 3 years and 40,000miles. So while there is an upfront cost it's no worse than it would have been anyway (assuming you do decent mileage) and there is the added advantage that you've always got the best tyres for the weather under you.

Peter
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You're not wrong. That's a cracking way of looking at it. Cheers for that


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I have the Conti's mentioned above from my B8 waiting to go as well. As above, fantastic tyre - there is little compromise in dry conditions either, still let you drive it like its a sporty car. I bought mine complete with a genuine set of S4 specific winter alloys for just under a grand, keep an eye on gumtree and the like as people changing cars might be selling their winters off.
 
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ub7rm said:
I have the Conti's mentioned above from my B8 waiting to go as well. As above, fantastic tyre - there is little compromise in dry conditions either, still let you drive it like its a sporty car. I bought mine complete with a genuine set of S4 specific winter alloys for just under a grand, keep an eye on gumtree and the like as people changing cars might be selling their winters off.
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Not seeing them listed on tyresonthedrive.com etc I might be handing back/trading in next summer. So you say say they're pretty good in the spring/summer too? Wouldn't want to buy more summer tyres if trading in you see.


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Winter tyres are generally softer rubber and can wear out quite quickly if used aggressively or motorway miles on dry roads. If your trading next year I would go winter tyres personally, they are still speed rated highly enough, the Nokians are also quiet in use.
If you like to corner hard you might find them squirming around and howling, normal use and they are probably safer, watch some makes though, as bizarrely they have terrible wet performance?
 
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Nokian Weatherproof or Michelin CrossClimates so you can have just one set of wheels on the car all the time. Both get rave reviews and both will give good mileage whilst being comfy and quiet in use.
 
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Thundercliffe81 said:
Not seeing them listed on tyresonthedrive.com etc I might be handing back/trading in next summer. So you say say they're pretty good in the spring/summer too? Wouldn't want to buy more summer tyres if trading in you see.


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Click to expand...

You'll be fine from October to say April / May with them for sure. Wouldn't like them on in the kind of temperatures we've had recently though.

I understand that Michelin Crossclimates are excellent and a genuine 'all year' tyre and will be going on my Golf next as I'm fed up changing and storing wheels on two cars. However they will not be as grippy as 'proper' performance tyres which the S4 really deserves to get the best out of it hence I'll stick to change overs for that car.
 
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ub7rm said:
You'll be fine from October to say April / May with them for sure. Wouldn't like them on in the kind of temperatures we've had recently though.

I understand that Michelin Crossclimates are excellent and a genuine 'all year' tyre and will be going on my Golf next as I'm fed up changing and storing wheels on two cars. However they will not be as grippy as 'proper' performance tyres which the S4 really deserves to get the best out of it hence I'll stick to change overs for that car.
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Cheers guys. Learned a lot here


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I have had Michelin cross climates on since November, performed really well so far in my commute through the peak district, also had a trip to the Alps in February, tyres have dealt with everything I have encountered. They are quiet running and perform well in the wet
 
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StevoGuide7 said:
I have had Michelin cross climates on since November, performed really well so far in my commute through the peak district, also had a trip to the Alps in February, tyres have dealt with everything I have encountered. They are quiet running and perform well in the wet
Click to expand...

In snow?


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Thundercliffe81 said:
In snow?


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Yep, dealt well with wet snow / slush in the UK and in icy and light snow conditions in the French alps at >2000 metres altitude. I always have snow chains at the ready when driving in the alps and obviously would never rely on the tyres alone (even if the gendarmerie let me!), but I never had an issue in the UK this winter.

For reference I am going up and down the A537 Cat and Fiddle every day with occasional forays through Snake Pass. If the roads were passable, I got through fine even in my non quattro Avant.

Cross climates have a 3 peak mountain and snowflake stamp and are a lot better than the "all season" Michelin Latitude Mud and Snow tyres I had supplied on my previous (non Audi) car.
 
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StevoGuide7 said:
Yep, dealt well with wet snow / slush in the UK and in icy and light snow conditions in the French alps at >2000 metres altitude. I always have snow chains at the ready when driving in the alps and obviously would never rely on the tyres alone (even if the gendarmerie let me!), but I never had an issue in the UK this winter.

For reference I am going up and down the A537 Cat and Fiddle every day with occasional forays through Snake Pass. If the roads were passable, I got through fine even in my non quattro Avant.

Cross climates have a 3 peak mountain and snowflake stamp and are a lot better than the "all season" Michelin Latitude Mud and Snow tyres I had supplied on my previous (non Audi) car.
Click to expand...

Gleaming insight there mate. Think I'll take a look as they seem to cover my needs. Just a price issue then.

Cheers buddy


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StevoGuide7 said:
I have had Michelin cross climates on since November, performed really well so far in my commute through the peak district, also had a trip to the Alps in February, tyres have dealt with everything I have encountered. They are quiet running and perform well in the wet
Click to expand...

How much did you pay for the set? I can't find them on tyres on the drive or black circles.


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I got them from etyres, about £670 the set (fitted). I could have got them a bit cheaper but like our local etyres fitting bloke, he has always done a great job. Around the time I was looking at tyres, a mate of mine said he saw the highly rated Nokian all-weather tyres on sale at Costco.
 
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StevoGuide7 said:
I got them from etyres, about £670 the set (fitted). I could have got them a bit cheaper but like our local etyres fitting bloke, he has always done a great job. Around the time I was looking at tyres, a mate of mine said he saw the highly rated Nokian all-weather tyres on sale at Costco.
Click to expand...

Not heard of e tyres, cheers. I'll check them out.


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Excuse my ignorance but does one go like for like with winter tyres (I have never fitted them before). In other words do I need 245/35/19's on mine (current size)?
 
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If you are going pure winters then get a set of smaller wheels and tyres say 18" or 17" and swap at start and end of winter. If you don't want to buy, swap and store a set of wheels and tyres then go for Nokian Weatherproof or Michelin CrossClimates keeping your original wheels and tyres at 245/35/19's if you can source that size.
 
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RaZ A4 said:
If you are going pure winters then get a set of smaller wheels and tyres say 18" or 17" and swap at start and end of winter. If you don't want to buy, swap and store a set of wheels and tyres then go for Nokian Weatherproof or Michelin CrossClimates keeping your original wheels and tyres at 245/35/19's if you can source that size.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm finding it hard to source 19" cross climates. Might try these Nokians then.


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RaZ A4 said:
If you are going pure winters then get a set of smaller wheels and tyres say 18" or 17" and swap at start and end of winter. If you don't want to buy, swap and store a set of wheels and tyres then go for Nokian Weatherproof or Michelin CrossClimates keeping your original wheels and tyres at 245/35/19's if you can source that size.
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Seems to me an extra set of wheels is a considerable expenses and a drop in aesthetic quality.

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monkey66 said:
Seems to me an extra set of wheels is a considerable expenses and a drop in aesthetic quality.

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@wize1972 on YouTube did it as he lives in Switzerland. I'm sure he'll be the first to admit that going to 17s from 19s looked 'interesting' Smaller wheels, winter tyres= better traction. It's just one of them things. I need a defender!


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Thundercliffe81 said:
@wize1972 on YouTube did it as he lives in Switzerland. I'm sure he'll be the first to admit that going to 17s from 19s looked 'interesting' Smaller wheels, winter tyres= better traction. It's just one of them things. I need a defender!


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Off course going from 17" to 19" is better! I hate the look of my A4 with the 17" winter wheels...

8ab0c4217ca7f4b895632eac3429cc18.jpg


41688bae43d1c577da5170767077badd.jpg



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wize1972 said:
Off course going from 17" to 19" is better! I hate the look of my A4 with the 17" winter wheels...

8ab0c4217ca7f4b895632eac3429cc18.jpg


41688bae43d1c577da5170767077badd.jpg



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Nobody can argue with the traction you had but wow...they make such a difference don't they?! Will they go on the Nardo S5 mate? Haha.


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Nope, the S5 will have stock 18" as a winter set and I'm looking for some black 20" set...


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wize1972 said:
Nope, the S5 will have stock 18" as a winter set and I'm looking for some black 20" set...


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Can't wait to see that!


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wize1972 said:
I want it to look like this:

ab4b8ed55d4ed6d3b5eab41118a25b43.jpg




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Stunning. Would last 2secs in the snow haha. I'd buy wheels myself. BLK or Vossen but just too pricey.


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Ideally, you fit a winter tyre with a narrower width of tyre and a higher profile than a summer equivalent. For the B9, Audi suggest a 17" 225/50 size or 18" 225/45

https://www.audi.co.uk/owners-area/seasonal/winter/cold-weather-tyres.html

screenshot2017-06-27at19.04.33.png


I run 205/50R17s on my Golf GTD during the winter, compared to the 225/40R18s - picked up a genuine set of VW 17s for £400 on German eBay for that sole purpose - when I'm done with the Golf, I can sell these wheels and tyres on and recoup a fair chunk of the cost of the wheels and tyres

Great service from here:: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ersatzteil-tim

Sod the looks, as it's hard enough keeping a car clean in winter. I'm tempted to get a set of non-diamond cut genuine 17s for the A4 for the winter for two reasons - get a proper set of winter tyres for my often adverse weather conditions in North East Scotland and to take off the diamond cut 19s for the three-four months of crap weather with all the salt that gets chucked down
 
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I had a spare set of 18" wheels for my old B8.5 S4, I bought then as I need to refurb my 19s quite often.
I decided to fit Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S, now although I've never used them in actual snow (don't get much in the midlands) they are a very good tyre and as mentioned above it reduced wear on the summers.
Looking at the offsets, they might look a little lost in the arch on my B9
 
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