Snow Tires or not?

[MailmanOdd]

Hey folks, somewhat new to the forums here. I just got a 2012 S4 back in late September and I'm wondering if I should get snow tires for the winter. I live in MD and we do get some snow. The sales guy at the dealership seemed to think I should but I figured I would ask the *real* experts.

I have the 19" Titanium Edition wheels if that makes any difference.

Thanks for the help.

edit: Forgot to mention, this is my daily driver.

[ahcow]

Uh... you were seriously planning to drive around winter in SUMMER tires? Of course you need winter tires. Quattro will not help you stop, you need winter tires to help you stop.

[MailmanOdd]

No, that's why I'm asking. Do you recommend a good winter tire? I only have the set of wheels that came with my car which are the OEM titanium wheels.

[2011_S4]

Uh... you were seriously planning to drive around winter in SUMMER tires? Of course you need winter tires. Quattro will not help you stop, you need winter tires to help you stop.

This. I got caught earlier this winter with my summers still on and it wasn't pretty. The rubber hardens up with the colder temps and you get absolutely no traction for turning or stopping. Absolutely not safe driving with the summers on in the snow.

[2011_S4]

Dunlop 3d Wintersports are great.

[MailmanOdd]

Do you think I should just get a 2nd set of smaller wheels (like 18") and put winter tires on them? Sorry for the stupid questions, my last car (A4) had allseasons and I never thought about swapping tires.

[lmmike]

You NEED winters.

[Chimyz]

I got a great set of wheels specifically for the summer and put my stock Pirellis on them. Then I ordered 19" winter tires for the stock rims. I do the swap myself in the driveway and it saves me from going to a guy to get it done.

If storage and money is a concern, you could just order tires and have a shop swap and store. If you like your titanium wheels, go for a cheaper set of dedicated snow wheels (tires and rims) in the 18" size...I've found that tire prices seriously go up from the 18" size to the 19" size...not sure why?

Either way, I would definitely scrap the summers for the winter...the tire compound will freeze to the hardness of hockey pucks providing no traction. It is very dangerous (and in fact, in Quebec it is law to have dedicated winter tires).

[tsjordan]

A second set of rims will make switching easier. Also, if the tire is smaller (thinner) on the 18"s, it'll do a little better in the snow. If it's a true daily driver, then I think snow tires are a good idea. If your car is a garage queen (like mine) when the weather is bad, and you can skip driving it the 5-10 days there's snow on the road in MD, then you're probably ok, even though performance will still suck in the cold but dry weather.

[MailmanOdd]

Thanks for all of the great responses. I think it probably makes sense to get a 2nd set dedicated winter wheels with tires. Is tirerack.com a reasonable site to use? I don't know a whole lot about finding wheels that would fit well and that "Ultimate wheel fitment" thread is pretty overwhelming.

[richib86]

I got a great set of wheels specifically for the summer and put my stock Pirellis on them. Then I ordered 19" winter tires for the stock rims. I do the swap myself in the driveway and it saves me from going to a guy to get it done.
^^^ this

[lmmike]

I run Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero's on my stock 19s. They work like a champ. You can either switch the tires each year and keep the factory rims or have dedicated rims for each set of tires as others have mentioned. I run 19s in the winter and 20s in the summer.

[MailmanOdd]

Hmm, well I guess what makes the most sense right now is to buy a set of just tires and have a shop swap them off for me. The Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D sounds fine to me. Thanks everyone.

[JonS4]

Well I went a slightly different route. For sure you can't use summer tires effectively below 40 F BUT all seaons are an option. I've gone with the Bridgestone UHP 970AS on the stock peelers. New release this year, testing better in the dry and wet than the DWS and Michelin.

I will then go back to the Dunlop summer tire with new wheels (undecided which ones yet) in the spring. Mind you, my driving is PNW mostly rain, some snow, sometimes but rarely lots of snow and lots of near 32F or lower temps. A few runs up to the ski hills. I'm very comfortable with the AS and Quattro in that regard and am delighted in the dry/wet performance on the 970AS. Definitely a step up on the Wintersports 3D I had on my RS4. Come spring, I couldn't wait to get the suckers off, not so with the AS. To me, that is the best of all worlds in my driving world. AS's wear better than either summers or winters too.

[MailmanOdd]

Well I went a slightly different route. For sure you can't use summer tires effectively below 40 F BUT all seaons are an option. I've gone with the Bridgestone UHP 970AS on the stock peelers. New release this year, testing better in the dry and wet than the DWS and Michelin.

I will then go back to the Dunlop summer tire with new wheels (undecided which ones yet) in the spring. Mind you, my driving is PNW mostly rain, some snow, sometimes but rarely lots of snow and lots of near 32F or lower temps. A few runs up to the ski hills. I'm very comfortable with the AS and Quattro in that regard and am delighted in the dry/wet performance on the 970AS. Definitely a step up on the Wintersports 3D I had on my RS4. Come spring, I couldn't wait to get the suckers off, not so with the AS. To me, that is the best of all worlds in my driving world. AS's wear better than either summers or winters too.

You have the stock 19" or 18" peelers? Allseasons make more sense to me and I didn't mind them on my A4. I've got a question though, what size AS tires would work on 19"? I would probably want to go with thicker tires right?

[FatalBert]

Hmm, well I guess what makes the most sense right now is to buy a set of just tires and have a shop swap them off for me. The Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D sounds fine to me. Thanks everyone.

Your'e going to swap the tires on your rims for in and out of winter?

I find it easier to have 2 seperate sets so you don't have to worry about the mounting and balancing twice a year, potentially getting your rims scratched or damaged and having to hope they balanced them well each time. (~$250).

You can find a set of 18" rims on tirerack starting at $475 and up and get the tires mounted and balanced on them for free and shipped right to your door, all you need to do is swap em when winter comes and goes...
lookie here : http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/results.jsp?sort=Price&autoMake=Audi&autoModel=S4+Sedan&autoYear=2011&autoModClar=Premium+Plus&filterSize=18&filterFinish=All&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterWeight=All&filterNew=All

For a set of $600 rims you would break even in less than 3 years and have a lot less headaches along the line and life of the car...

Just my .02

[svander]

You have the stock 19" or 18" peelers? Allseasons make more sense to me and I didn't mind them on my A4. I've got a question though, what size AS tires would work on 19"? I would probably want to go with thicker tires right?

Why?

Just get the same size rubber, just All-season compound.

[bk4re]

See: "Snow Tires on 4 Hours Too Late " [:D]

[MailmanOdd]

OK, I've decided what I'm going to do. I am going to buy these wheels (http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&autoMake=Audi&autoModel=S4+Sedan&autoYear=2011&autoModClar=Premium+Plus&initialPartNumber=4178844B42B&i1_Qty=4&wheelMake=Platinum&wheelModel=Monarch&wheelFinish=Black+Painted&wheelFinish=Black+Painted&showRear=no&dtab=OptionalHardware) with these tires (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=SP+Winter+Sport+3D&partnum=44VR8WS3DXLV2&i1_Qty=4&autoMake=Audi&autoModel=S4%20Sedan&autoYear=2011&autoModClar=Premium%20Plus&vehicleSearch=true). Seems like it'll look pretty nice and costs about $1600.

[ibiski]

For around the same amount, I got these 18" V708's with winter tires:

http://i.imgur.com/fCdXu.jpg

[MailmanOdd]

For around the same amount, I got these 18" V708's with winter tires:

http://i.imgur.com/fCdXu.jpg
Looks very nice. Which offset are those (based off of the site you linked)?

[stormrider]

I have Ibis / Titanium.
Got the Dunlop winter 3D, like you want, and got these rims from $1624+shipping.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=MR11888056745B&wheelMake=MOTEGI+RACING&wheelModel=MR118&wheelFinish=Black+Painted&showRear=no&autoMake=Audi&autoModel=S4+Sedan&autoYear=2011&autoModClar=Premium+Plus&filterFinish=Black&filterSize=18&filterBrand=MOTEGI+RACING&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Brand

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/motegi_race/swap/motegir_mr118_b_ci3_l.jpg

[stormrider]

Btw, the wheel/tire combo for winter is 5lbs lighter than my summer setup.

[showcarmike]

get winters..its worth it..

[JonS4]

You have the stock 19" or 18" peelers? Allseasons make more sense to me and I didn't mind them on my A4. I've got a question though, what size AS tires would work on 19"? I would probably want to go with thicker tires right?

I've got 19" peelers and will obviously go with 19" for the summer wheel sets. Again, I don't have pot hole concerns in this area and want as much winter performance as I can since most of my winter is still only wet and not snow covered. You'd be better going with the 18" if they're winters.

[motionneon]

One of the perks of living in Florida.....winter setup=summer setup

[Ciscokidz]

OK, I've decided what I'm going to do. I am going to buy these wheels (http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&autoMake=Audi&autoModel=S4+Sedan&autoYear=2011&autoModClar=Premium+Plus&initialPartNumber=4178844B42B&i1_Qty=4&wheelMake=Platinum&wheelModel=Monarch&wheelFinish=Black+Painted&wheelFinish=Black+Painted&showRear=no&dtab=OptionalHardware) with these tires (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=SP+Winter+Sport+3D&partnum=44VR8WS3DXLV2&i1_Qty=4&autoMake=Audi&autoModel=S4%20Sedan&autoYear=2011&autoModClar=Premium%20Plus&vehicleSearch=true). Seems like it'll look pretty nice and costs about $1600.

Check the centerbore on those wheels, 66.5 bore on the B8's ET~42

[yourownhero]

Looks very nice. Which offset are those (based off of the site you linked)?

I am interested as well on the offset...

[IvanS4]

Dunlop 3d Wintersports are great.

+1. I've got them on my car and they feel great.

[ibiski]

Looks very nice. Which offset are those (based off of the site you linked)?

ET38 if my memory serves me right.

[Hard Driver]

To add to the chorus, yes, summer tires will not work...

You could go to all seasons, and try to get by when it snows, but full snows are better in the snow and ice. But they can be a bit mushy feeling in the dry compared to the summer rubber in warm weather.

Personally, I went with 18" rims and full snows.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/447128-Cheapest-but-still-decent-looking-winter-setup?p=7040331&viewfull=1#post7040331

[tomh009]

Btw, the wheel/tire combo for winter is 5lbs lighter than my summer setup.

This is 18" winter vs 19" summer, right?

I'm actually contemplating 18" for the summer for this reason ...

[tomh009]

One of the perks of living in Florida.....winter setup=summer setup

One of the perks of living in the frozen north ... controlled drifting in the snow with quattro!

[stormrider]

This is 18" winter vs 19" summer, right?

I'm actually contemplating 18" for the summer for this reason ...

Yes, my 18"s are for winter... stock Ti package rims for summer.
NY = Potholes.

[FatalBert]

Check the centerbore on those wheels, 66.5 bore on the B8's ET~42

I would hope tire rack had that figured out already when searching for wheels for our car.
Its too bad a lot of the wheels don't even show the centerbore but I would trust they would not send you wheels with the wrong bore.

[Wilbur]

Well I went a slightly different route. For sure you can't use summer tires effectively below 40 F BUT all seaons are an option. I've gone with the Bridgestone UHP 970AS on the stock peelers. New release this year, testing better in the dry and wet than the DWS and Michelin.

I will then go back to the Dunlop summer tire with new wheels (undecided which ones yet) in the spring. Mind you, my driving is PNW mostly rain, some snow, sometimes but rarely lots of snow and lots of near 32F or lower temps. A few runs up to the ski hills. I'm very comfortable with the AS and Quattro in that regard and am delighted in the dry/wet performance on the 970AS. Definitely a step up on the Wintersports 3D I had on my RS4. Come spring, I couldn't wait to get the suckers off, not so with the AS. To me, that is the best of all worlds in my driving world. AS's wear better than either summers or winters too.


Youre really going to the trouble of switching and only going to all season?? Why wouldnt you get a winter tire? They stop considerably shorter than AS (no season really). To each his own but this makes ZERO sense to me. Watch the videos on tirerack.

[cyberbrutus]

I lived in Fairfax VA for a couple of years. The snow isnt too bad. Use your wifes ride for those few snow days and use the money for some performance mods.