Anyone on to winters yet?
- Thread starter JSR913
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Not got mine on yet, I'll wait until the average temp drops to 8 or under on a regular basis or there is a strong forecast for snow.
Definitely worth having a change to winter wheels despite what some people think!
Definitely worth having a change to winter wheels despite what some people think!
Mid November to Mid March is typical for me/us over the past 20-years: currently waiting till our Cannock Chase journey temps are typically 7ºC (still looking at 8 to 9ºC through to 14th November in this part of Staffordshire and no snow yet) and below and or snow is forecast and then swap onto 20" winters (from 21" summers).
Takes less than 1-hour to swap ALL four over so no rush yet, but seriously looking forward to evaluating our SQ5 in the snow
It's still a 2 tonne tank on ice but if its half as good as my S3 was on winters then it's a no brainer. Winter rubber lasts longer too!Mid November to Mid March is typical for me/us over the past 20-years: currently waiting till our Cannock Chase journey temps are typically 7ºC (still looking at 8 to 9ºC through to 14th November in this part of Staffordshire and no snow yet) and below and or snow is forecast and then swap onto 20" winters (from 21" summers).
Takes less than 1-hour to swap ALL four over so no rush yet, but seriously looking forward to evaluating our SQ5 in the snow
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"It's still a 2 tonne tank on ice but if its half as good as my RS3 was on winters then it's a no brainer."
Just cannot believe how good our RS3 was/is on winter rubber:
"Winter rubber lasts longer too!"
And that is oh so true! Gotta be the different rubber 'mix' as the sidewall rubber and tread remain supple for years and years.
Anyone who hasn't tried 'winters' on snow is missing out, tis amazing how good an Audio quattro is on the white stuff appropriately shod - I'll drive out over local Cannock Chase un-gritted fresh snow covered roads just for the fun of it...
The downside here was that we got to the pub - the Malt Shovel @ Chorley Wood (check it out WS13 8DD) over some narrow and steeply hilly heavily snowed local roads but the 'chief' didn't!!! We were, however, wonderfully compensated for our efforts...
The last set of winters I bought I used for 3 winters and roughly 3/4 months each time, I sold them for the same price I bought them for. I did 12k miles a year at that time so must have done 10k miles on them and they only dropped 2mm before I sold them.
I've never struggled up any hill even though there are some challenging ones around here, but more importantly, they stop far better in the snow and slush.
It's also a smug feeling when you pull out and drive past all the losers that are stuck haha
I've never struggled up any hill even though there are some challenging ones around here, but more importantly, they stop far better in the snow and slush.
It's also a smug feeling when you pull out and drive past all the losers that are stuck haha
[QUOTE="-Ju-, post: 3510767, It's also a smug feeling when you pull out and drive past all the losers that are stuck haha[/QUOTE]
SAME here: EVERY road to my/our home is a steep bummer and generally gets a liberal coating of the white stuff. Anyone I find a slipin' and a slidin' up any one if 4-steep hills I patiently wait until they 'pause/rest/slide into the gutter' and then drive past - accelerating appropriately of course, as you would in an RS3 or TT! And no worries or concerns! You wanna drive summer rubber in such conditions/on snow covered roads then you've already made that choice!
ZERO sympathies!
We often see the school kiddie delivery drivers attempting to 'driving' UP our road yet travelling 'BACKWARDS' when the white stuff is down, lol
Fact: running cold weather/ winter tyres can be very £s cost effective; not only do they save your summer rubber but also afford SAFETY on sub 7ºC road surfaces that summer rubber just cannot. Also, MOST if not ALL tyre manufacturers would rather we ran winter tyres all year round than run summer tyres in winter, fact! And if only to demonstrate, again:
No clues but can ya see the difference?
I'd make winter rubber a legal requirement, no ifs and/or buts; you're involved in an accident wearing summer rubber in winter conditions then your comprehensive insurance is void!
Me, all my cars have winter rubber....
SAME here: EVERY road to my/our home is a steep bummer and generally gets a liberal coating of the white stuff. Anyone I find a slipin' and a slidin' up any one if 4-steep hills I patiently wait until they 'pause/rest/slide into the gutter' and then drive past - accelerating appropriately of course, as you would in an RS3 or TT! And no worries or concerns! You wanna drive summer rubber in such conditions/on snow covered roads then you've already made that choice!
ZERO sympathies!
We often see the school kiddie delivery drivers attempting to 'driving' UP our road yet travelling 'BACKWARDS' when the white stuff is down, lol
Fact: running cold weather/ winter tyres can be very £s cost effective; not only do they save your summer rubber but also afford SAFETY on sub 7ºC road surfaces that summer rubber just cannot. Also, MOST if not ALL tyre manufacturers would rather we ran winter tyres all year round than run summer tyres in winter, fact! And if only to demonstrate, again:
No clues but can ya see the difference?
I'd make winter rubber a legal requirement, no ifs and/or buts; you're involved in an accident wearing summer rubber in winter conditions then your comprehensive insurance is void!
Me, all my cars have winter rubber....
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Exactly my thinking.
I’ve bought some 18’s with Pirelli Sottozerro but not consistently cold enough just yet.
Normally October to April, misses mini has hers already on, if I hadn’t sold my Bitdi my old ones would be on now 
Still hunting a set out for the s6
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Still hunting a set out for the s6
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Normally October to April, misses mini has hers already on, if I hadn’t sold my Bitdi my old ones would be on now
Still hunting a set out for the s6
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Again I agree; consider Wednesday (6th) of this week for example for my mid-Staffordshire locality: only between 1300 and 1600 are the daytime temperatures expected to be at 7ºC (summer tyre temperature recommended lower limit **), and wet!
At all other times and that includes the drive to work the forecast is a 'dry' 3ºC in the morning and 'wet' 5º in the afternoon.
Were me and mine doing the 'work' drives (so there is a benefit to be had after 70-years of age after all, lol) then for sure our cars would be wearing 'winters' now. Fortunately our drive-time is 10.00 to 15.00 and I'm watching the forecasts closely...
Note**: "Summer tyres are dedicated to the weather conditions from spring to autumn. The conditions of use of summer models are limited by the temperature: if it falls below 7º degrees, summer tyres lose their traction properties."
** See: https://www.oponeo.co.uk/blog/all-season-tyres-vs-summer-tyres
On the road SAFETY for me is worth every £ in making sure them 4-rubber bits I have in contact with the road are as suitable for the driving-conditions as is possible...
Winters ON this weekend I'm now (!) thinking; MAX daytime temperatures for the forthcoming days are @: 7/8/5/7/6/7/8/7ºC and MIN overall temperatures are @: 0/3/2/2/2/3/4ºC for my mid-Staffordshire locality, and wet!
7ºC summer tyre temperature recommended lower limit remember...
7ºC summer tyre temperature recommended lower limit remember...
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I spent £500 on 4 genuine Audi wheels & premium winter tyres that will probably last 3-4 years to guard against my £32k investment getting damaged and my insurance premiums going up for the next 5 years. It’s a no brainier as far as I’m concerned, but each to their own.
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I agree, if you can afford a second set of wheels with winters on then it's a win win.
You get safer running, less tyre wear on winter rubber and your car looks different for a few months till you change back.
You also get most of your money back when you sell them on.
It's a personal choice at the end of the day but I'll be changing onto them on sunday
Sorry, maybe "duh" was a tad explicit; but if you don't understand the technology then there's NO WAY you're going to understand the reasoning or the safety afforded to you and yours with appropriate rubber wear in the currently decreasing ºC temperatures.
Locally: pop in to Michelin, Campbell Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4EY and ask them to explain.
Sorry, maybe "duh" was a tad explicit; but if you don't understand the technology then there's NO WAY you're going to understand the reasoning or the safety afforded to you and yours with appropriate rubber wear in the currently decreasing ºC temperatures.
Locally: pop in to Michelin, Campbell Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4EY and ask them to explain.
in 24yrs of driving I’ve never required winter tyres to be able to cope with the UK weather.
Why would I want to pop into Michelin, obviously you have no idea that’s it’s a factory and not a showroom!
I love how you presume that I have no idea about the tech who are you to imply that?
Apologies for the delay; love to meet up with you when the white stuff is on the ground and we could discuss but here's a couple of videos and again a link to further explanation:
and
and as listed in post #13 above:
** See: https://www.oponeo.co.uk/blog/all-season-tyres-vs-summer-tyres
There's lots of youtube videos demonstrating, even some with quattro drive, hope this is of interest...
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obviously you must have poor driving standards and think that everyone else does if they need to have winter tyres on seen as how you think there’s a need to ram the links down peoples throats when they have a different opinion to yourself..
I’ll invite you round and show you how my rear wheel drive handles in the snow as well on summer tyres..
Remember you can have all the tech on the car but unless the driver can drive to the conditions it’s useless. Most cannot these days regardless of the tyres fitted..
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Some people are more cautious than others. It’s all just opinion, no right or wrong.
Anyhooo.... lol, mine got fitted today. Car looks funny now with bright silver alloys & being 2” smaller, but we’re ready for whatever winter decides to throw at us. Bring on The Beast From The East II.
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Anyhooo.... lol, mine got fitted today. Car looks funny now with bright silver alloys & being 2” smaller, but we’re ready for whatever winter decides to throw at us. Bring on The Beast From The East II.
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Back to the subject of this 'Thread,' this being my 57th season of winter driving and, as it's such a nice day, +7ºC at least, I've decided to fit our winter wheels and tyres on the RS3 and TT; I'll leave the SQ5 on 'summers' for another week or so...
STUNNING! Just stunning! I've the same rims, Ju, with Dunlop Sport 3D, but the swap will have to wait till next week end. Changed over suimmer to winter on both our TT and RS3 today and both are going to be doing the 'hospital' runs this week - still showing cold but no snow conditions.
As you know, Copper Slip around the hubs is a MUST!
What pressures are you running?
I think they're on 33psi at the moment running the same rubber as you John, no rim protection on these but I do park a foot away from the kerb though lol.
I almost left it for now but the temperatures are there and I had a day off.
Not as sexy as the 21's but easier to clean and nice to save the others for the summer!
I almost left it for now but the temperatures are there and I had a day off.
Not as sexy as the 21's but easier to clean and nice to save the others for the summer!
I'll start with 32/32psi, Ju, and monitor 'across the tread' wear: we're just 2-up in 99% of drives/runs.
I do find the 21" mega easy to clean/keep clean so will be interested to see how these 20" rims compare.
I'm still running Ferodo Eco-Friction Green brake pads on the SQ5 - and am mega impressed with overall performance.
Same Ferodo Eco-Friction Green brake pads on our TT and RS3, and no worries, equally impressive; low dust lots of low-speed 'bite.'
Just cannot wait to evaluate our Audi SQ5 on 255/45/R20 Dunlop SP Winter Sports whatever/wherever/whoever might think....
Each to their own...
Depends where you live if it's worth getting winters. Around Yorkshire there are a few hills and we do get snow.
I have passed range rovers on stupidly large alloys and summer tyres in a 2 wheel drive with winters fitted.
Winters can make a 2wd feel like you have 4wd if the conditions are bad.
I have passed range rovers on stupidly large alloys and summer tyres in a 2 wheel drive with winters fitted.
Winters can make a 2wd feel like you have 4wd if the conditions are bad.
