Tire question

[Fourier]

I am about to receive a 2012 S4 (so excited!) in 2 weeks or so here in Minnesota. I assume the OEM tires are summer performance tires, such as the ContiSport 3. The temps here have been around 40F. There is currently snow on the ground, but it's been melting and lightly re-snowing, etc. The forecast for the next 2 weeks says that it will range from 30F-50F.

Do I need to quickly get some winter or all-season tires with wheels to drive the thing home?

Any suggestions appreciated,
Fourier

[dreaddontdie]

do you have a winter set already and just need to make it home or are you asking if it makes sense to buy a winter set this late in the season?

if you already plan put a set on for the rest of the winter anyway, then your drive home will depend on the weather that day. you could bring them to the dealer or just take it easy on your drive home.

if you are considering keeping the summers, you are taking some risk with your brand new car and if you are planning on getting a winter setup next winter, why not do it now?

[catch]

do you have a winter set already and just need to make it home or are you asking if it makes sense to buy a winter set this late in the season?

if you already plan put a set on for the rest of the winter anyway, then your drive home will depend on the weather that day. you could bring them to the dealer or just take it easy on your drive home.

if you are considering keeping the summers, you are taking some risk with your brand new car and if you are planning on getting a winter setup next winter, why not do it now?

my thoughts exactly. on top of that,you might find a decent deal this time of year

[Fourier]

No, I don't have any winter tires/wheels yet. I was asking if it makes sense to buy a set this late in the season.

I have no experience with driving on performance tires in the winter in any car. Assuming the roads of clear of any snow/ice, but if the temp is 40F, can I just drive very carefully and make it home? Or is the low temperature alone enough to make the performance tires dangerous? If so, I'm going to have to find some winter tire. It's actually too bad as I ordered the car targeting a delivery date in early April. The car is here several weeks early!

thanks,
Fourier

[Dr GP]

IMHO, you have no worries as long as the roads are dry and the temps are not really low. I have been driving my S4 with 19" Dunlops the entire winter. BUT the weather here in PA has been extremely mild. It does get below freezing at night time but high 20s at the coldest. I don't drive it in snow or ice. As long as you don't have a great distance to go you can drive it home. Congrats and word of advice. Don't baby the engine during the break in period. After the engine warms up, drive it agressively. NOW that might be a better reason to get the a/s tires. But it shouldn't prevent you from taking the car home.

[tomh009]

That's it. The summer tires will be hard in sub-freezing weather, with not great grip, but they'll keep you on the road as long as there is no snow or ice. For actually driving with snow on the road, you'll need some proper winter tires.

[Seinsmeld13]

Do not drive this car with summer tires below 39F. It can be done, however, you are taking a huge risk with your expensive car. Good luck with your new car.

[ilspazzaneve]

IMHO, you have no worries as long as the roads are dry and the temps are not really low. I have been driving my S4 with 19" Dunlops the entire winter. BUT the weather here in PA has been extremely mild. It does get below freezing at night time but high 20s at the coldest. I don't drive it in snow or ice. As long as you don't have a great distance to go you can drive it home. Congrats and word of advice. Don't baby the engine during the break in period. After the engine warms up, drive it agressively. NOW that might be a better reason to get the a/s tires. But it shouldn't prevent you from taking the car home.

Agreed with this. If I had another car with winters I wouldn't have a problem leaving the summers on. I drove the NSX last week with Dunlop Z1s to work, and almost got screwed on the way home when there was wet snow, but was careful and the only problem was getting up my driveway, lol.

You may find some sweet deals on winters at this point, though.

[jamesj2k]

from personal experience ****> If its DRY and even below freezing a bit, take your time and you will be fine.

Any snow/wetness + chilly temps and watch out!

[Fourier]

Thanks for all of the thoughtful responses.

Called my dealer and they will be able to swap on all-seasons, or snow tires when I take delivery. I'll just take the summer tire home in the back, and maybe get a different set of wheels in a few months.

regards,
Fourier

[tomh009]

That's a good plan - you'll need those snows next winter anyway. (For MN, don't bother with all-seasons, get good snow tires.)

[ahkim]

Congrats on the new ride. Be sure to check out the MN Audi forum. I have all seasons on right now and they were ok all winter since it was mild, but I'll put on snow tires next winter.

[Psalm40]

Get snow tires.
1.) We get snow until the end of April
2.) You'll need them next winter
3.) Dont bother with all seasons
4.) the dealership is usually expensive unless you can get them to deal on a set of " left over" snowies

Welcome!

[ause0008]

I agree with everyone, and welcome! I bought my 2010 S4 in December 09 and had snows put on right away. I previously had all seasons on my B7 A4, and thought they were good since I had all wheel drive but the snows on the S4 showed me what I was missing, espescially living in Minnesota. I slid my A4 into a truck once on a seemingly decent road, but my S4 on snows has stopped on glare ice in amazingly short distances (I just have to worry about the other cars behind me...)! I had the snows put on my stock rims when I bought the car, and bought a set of VMRs for the summer that way I can let the car shine in summer and let the ice and snow hidden curbs abuse the stock rims in the winter when the car looks like crap anyway!

[Fourier]

Looks like it will be in the 70s on the day of delivery, so this is a non issue! Will get winter tires this fall.

Maybe I'll see some Minnesota peeps at the Chanhassen Automotorplex Cars and Cafe events this summer?

thanks again,
Fourier