We're going to need to have the winter wheel/tire discussion soon.

[Rez90]

I want to get a set of 20's. Question is....do i put DWS's on them and tell the wife to drive in as little snow as possible with the intent that she'll stick with the 20's all year (because i hate 21's) or do i get a set of dedicated snows...and if so...which?

For guys who have done it list up your car, winter wheels size, and choice of snow tire and size.

HERE. WE. GO.

[corb2000]

You beat me to it, been looking at wheels and tyres already this week - running 20s at the moment but considering 19s for winter...


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[Bassler]

20 rotors on 255/35 sottozeros. Great setup!

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[gk1]

New Jersey can be hit or miss some winters are bad some not so much...unless you are in Jersey in Europe then I have no clue. :) That being said I have always had winter tires on my Audi's since 2000. To me, it's good insurance. Winter tires are great in the snow and fine on dry roads (you're not doing any canyon carving). All-seasons are just a compromise in the snow. Sure they work and obviously you need something in place of summer rubber but being you bought the best car wouldn't you also want the best winter tires to go with it. :) I say dedicated snows now and then in the winter shop for dedicated summers.

[MacFady]

I have dedicated winters, run the same size wheel and tire as summer, I run 5mm less offset in the winter. I'll not post specs since I drive a different model, but if you're buying dedicated wheels for winter I'd suggest considering a less aggressive offset.
Simply went this route because I prefer winter tires in eastern Canada versus all seasons, and let's face it, here they are on half the year anyway. Also for the ease of being winter ready in 30min. versus having to have mounting and balancing done twice a year.

[MacFady]

...also, I have run all seasons before on this same car, and while I had zero issues (maybe some predictable understeer), nothing beats the unstoppable feeling of good winter tires and Quattro.

- - - Updated - - -

...also, I have run all seasons before on this same car, and while I had zero issues (maybe some predictable understeer), nothing beats the unstoppable feeling of good winter tires and Quattro

[Buffarino]

20 rotors on 255/35 sottozeros. Great setup!

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I haven't bought my snows yet, but this is what I'll be going with since it seems the Michelin X-Ice tires are not available in the 255/35-20 size. Once they go on, they stay on until May, so no reason to have 2 sets of wheels unless you just want them.

Even the best all seasons are just OK in snow and ice. With what we pay for these cars, why compromise on a $1,000 set of tires?

[RRF985]

When I lived in the Northeast I ran dedicated snows. The performance you get over an all-season is really amazing. I went with the stock 18" size and a Yokohama tire. They performed well in the snow but if I had to do it again I'd probably get the Michelin X-ice or Blizzaks. Nothing can really beat an Audi on snows with Quattro in the winter. It's really amazing.

[durfA4]

I have A8 19" wheels with 255/40 Pirelli Sottozero https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170831/d67e0f4f6542dda0af9eef9e1475391c.jpg

I have always kept a set of winter wheels and tires with the Quattro. The stability and traction create confidence that the car will go where you want it to go without worrying. That was worth the price of storage and tires.


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[brad281]

Nice to Florida and drive on your summer set up year round.

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[Rez90]

RS7 Peoples chime the fuck in

[Buffarino]

How are the Sottozeros for the people who have been running them? Good traction and wear? That is the great thing about the X-Ice. They wore almost like a regular tire and you could get more than 2 winters out of them.

[Bassler]

20 rotors on 255/35 sottozeros. Great setup!


I'll elaborate a bit. I almost always use stock wheels for snows because they're generally cheaper and heavier than what i would run for summers. Our 3 cars have dedicated snows on stock wheels. Sottozeros for the S6, Hakka R2s on my STi and Blizzaks on my wife's XC90. There is no other way if you live in a seasonal/winter climate IMO. The performance differences from snows to all seasons is that big and it's not a tread thing, it's a temperature vs compound thing (see: glass transition). Can you swap rubber on the same set of wheels? sure, but you risk damage to the wheel and to the tire each time they are swapped (plus $). With dedicated setups you can swap at home with relative ease. I'll never do it any differently. My $0.02

More specifically on my S6, i have had zero issue on the 20s or with the tire size/profile. I don't subscribe to the skinny snow tire theory, i'd rather have the ice grip and deal with some theoretical float in deep stuff. 20s for snows is a little silly but i wasnt going to buy different wheels to go down to 19s (and my summer setup are 21s). I wouldn't touch an all season with a 10 foot pole and you pushing... they're all about making sacrifices for convenience and tires are not a place to be doing that.

[Bassler]

How are the Sottozeros for the people who have been running them? Good traction and wear? That is the great thing about the X-Ice. They wore almost like a regular tire and you could get more than 2 winters out of them.

1 season, maybe 6k miles. minimal wear. sidewall stiffness is perfect for what i want. They remind me a lot of Dunlop M4s that i loved. Very happy with them.

[RSJeff]

Subscribed! I have the 21s on the RS7 so only real option is to downsize for me with new wheels/tires- there is a thread somewhere on here about S7 20" wheels with sottozeros for the winter. That's the way I'm leaning.

[Gonzoe11]

S7 with dedicated winter tires is the only way to go. I run 265/35/20 Sottozero on OEM S7 Black Optics wheels. Perfect tools for the NE.


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[BCT]

S7 with dedicated winter wheels, OEM Audi wheels (the ones Audi sells as their winter wheel set up). Bought them from Achtuning for $800, set of four which is a good deal. Running Michelin PA4's, 255/35/19 (I think). The PA4's are a great cold weather tire. Excellent dry road handling, comfortable and good in the snow. I have tried Blizzacks, Dunlops, and Pirelli performance winter tires and the Michelins perform the best on dry roads.
The wheels aren't the most attractive, but at $200 each for an OEM wheel it's hard to beat.

[doc-haz]

I am planning for a dedicated 20" set up on sottozeros. I have the same winter tire on my corvette and the car handles tremendously in snow. The one thing I can't decide on is whether to get a set of knock off wheels from ebay or go with a set of TSWs.

[Prak98]

Just picked up a set of Conti DWS06 from Discount tire for 933-145 in rebates = 788 installed and lifetime rotations. Hopefully they perform up to par.