Is driving with summer tires dangerous in the winter?

[Sunny4]

So I purchased my S4 with some summer performance tire. I don't remember off the top of my head which ones they are but I was talking to a buddy and he was telling me that it not crucial to switch out to winter tires. Now im not too inclined with believing him but, Who here drives on summer tires or all year round tires in the snow? I know that its safer to do so with winter tires but im not driving very spirited (well only after the streets are cleared) when its snowing. I don't want to ruin my baby over waiting on getting winter tires later on. What tire setups are you guys running?

[speedydragon]

I tired driving my UHP Summer tires (dunlop sport maxx) last winter in lake tahoe, CA/NV in the snow. My car could not even climp up the driveway of my friend's cabin. And eveytime, I'm almost at a stop, the ABS would kick in because the tire couldn't grip. It was a very scary experience. Do yourself, your car, and other drivers on the road a favor, and spend $500 or so on a cheap set of winter/all season tires.

[Justincredible]

I noticed that the car is able to handle the snow and react better with winter tires then summer tires. Kinda depends on if the summer tires are all weather or not. But All in all I would say you are going to do better with winter tires in the winter.

Especially where we live, not a bad idea. I wouldn't go so far as to say you NEED them but there is a difference

[Monchichi8]

Tires make all the difference in the world! Summer tires especially summer performance tires are NOT good for winter conditions! switch them out.

[EYE4SPEED]

I had a G35 Coupe... relatively flat driveway... was in gear, but no gas. Couldn't even climb the driveway. Summer tires in general are not made for the cold temps or the snow.

Definitely recommend winters or at minimum all seaons.

[boravr6]

Driving ANY car in the winter without winter tires (all seasons at the very least) is not only dangerous... it should be a criminal offense!!!

Driving your car in winter without proper tires is just as bad as driving drunk.

/rant off... now to the interesting video part!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y

Now take the stats for the all season and divide by 2... thats what your starts will be on your summer tires.


Remember ... even the cheapest walmart winter tire is 5 times better than the most expensive all season tire on the market.

[akaEsCo01]

I noticed that the car is able to handle the snow and react better with winter tires then summer tires. Kinda depends on if the summer tires are all weather or not. But All in all I would say you are going to do better with winter tires in the winter.

Especially where we live, not a bad idea. I wouldn't go so far as to say you NEED them but there is a difference

That's not possible, they are either summer or all season.

Summer tires are not made to grip as the temperatures get colder. The compound of rubber they are made of gets really hard and don't warm up well enough under normal driving conditions to last through the winter. You live in Chicago where it gets COLD, get some all seasons that you can drive on all year. I strongly recommend Continental ContiExtreme Contacts. Search them on here, might be the best all season tire ever. They work great in the winter where most all seasons fail and work almost as well as a summer ultra high performance tire when it gets warm out. I was very surprised as I ran Pirelli Snowsports the past two winters and swore by them but I feel no need to change to a dedicated winter tire now that I have these.

[$4c@b]

my OE Contisports were useless. I never drove my car in the snow.

my B5 S4 OEs were Michelin Pilots which were also useless.

I put Michelin Pilot Sports A/S on my B5 and they were great. I got them for my B6 but it hasn't snowed yet, so I can't tell you if they're as good as I remember.

[iconoclast]

So I purchased my S4 with some summer performance tire.

summer tire = summer use.

[sakimano]

OP: you live in CHICAGO and are asking this question?

First car?

[BODHi27]

I was asking myself the same question a few weeks ago. Now I see it as chewed up bubble gun being thrown into the freezer. Shit gets all hard and brittle. Do you want that under your car? Keep in mind the weight of the car too.

If you go to Tirerack and look at the tread pattern on the OEM tires (Continental ContiSportContact 2s or Dunlop SP Sport 01), you are pretty much looking at slicks with a few ribs thrown in for dispersing water. Now compare that to the tread pattern on some of the winter tire options and you should see a clearer picture.

I pulled the trigger on Monday, Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D, they are being delivered today.

[tatarin]

don't be a fool... get winter tires!

[FourRingRider]

OP: i think you already answered your own question...

[MTLA4]

winters are mandatory where I live. All season are crap. S4= High performance summers+dedicated winters. Puting all seasons is a waste of money.

[hayasa]

I really wonder why there is so much hate for All Seasons. That is all I ever use, except for the occasional track day, which in the past I *also* ran on all seasons (Ultra High Performance All Seasons, but still). I just put on Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S on my S4, but there are plenty out there that will work. Modern all seasons are light-years ahead of the old tires, and with our AWD, sould be good enough for just about any area.

The only reason to use Winter tires would be if you live in a place where there is a LOT of consistant snow. If you live in Alaska, then I understand. Here in the DC area, it snows a few times a year enough to make a difference. Putting on winters is just asking for a rough ride and burning through the soft rubber, and keeping on the summers (way too common around here) is just asking to be stuck on the highway.

[Louis J.]

Driving ANY car in the winter without winter tires (all seasons at the very least) is not only dangerous... it should be a criminal offense!!!

Driving your car in winter without proper tires is just as bad as driving drunk.

I don't know if it's illegal, it probably is, but I do know that if you're in an accident and don't have proper tires, you're SOL.

I really wonder why there is so much hate for All Seasons. That is all I ever use, except for the occasional track day, which in the past I *also* ran on all seasons (Ultra High Performance All Seasons, but still). I just put on Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S on my S4, but there are plenty out there that will work. Modern all seasons are light-years ahead of the old tires, and with our AWD, sould be good enough for just about any area.

The only reason to use Winter tires would be if you live in a place where there is a LOT of consistant snow. If you live in Alaska, then I understand. Here in the DC area, it snows a few times a year enough to make a difference. Putting on winters is just asking for a rough ride and burning through the soft rubber, and keeping on the summers (way too common around here) is just asking to be stuck on the highway.

Here's a good thread on the subject: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t=winter+tires

[MTLA4]

I really wonder why there is so much hate for All Seasons. That is all I ever use, except for the occasional track day, which in the past I *also* ran on all seasons (Ultra High Performance All Seasons, but still). I just put on Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S on my S4, but there are plenty out there that will work. Modern all seasons are light-years ahead of the old tires, and with our AWD, sould be good enough for just about any area.

The only reason to use Winter tires would be if you live in a place where there is a LOT of consistant snow. If you live in Alaska, then I understand. Here in the DC area, it snows a few times a year enough to make a difference. Putting on winters is just asking for a rough ride and burning through the soft rubber, and keeping on the summers (way too common around here) is just asking to be stuck on the highway.

Well all-seasons are not high performance tires. The S4 should have the best. No compromise tires (which are made for regular cars). You need Z rated tires and sticky compound.

[CanuckRS]

yes

[whartung]

I still had my summer tires on a month ago, and I was driving down a road in the first light snow, approaching a driveway on my right that I was intending to turn into. I was going a reasonable speed, and started braking well in advance. Well the ABS went nuts, and the car just slid, so I held the wheel straight since there was no one around and nothing I could run into, figuring its better to not try to turn into the driveway when I was in a full slide. The car ended up sliding 10 or more feet past the driveway. Since then I have put on my snow tires, and even in heavier snow, the ABS has barely had need to come on.

[91gl]

last winter i was on my way to sell a head unit i had from a previous car to a friend the town over from me. it started snowing when i was leaving my house and by the time i had done the transaction, there was maybe an inch on the ground. Scariest experience of my life with my falken fk452s. I could not stop the car because ABS kept coming in and locking up the wheels since it detected slip. I crawled home, felt pretty embarrassed since I had an awd car and couldnt even get out of my own way.

[ColinGruenfeld]

Quattro + Snow Tires + Snow = AMAZING

Quattoro + Summer Tires + Snow = Datsun

:)

[boravr6]

This video is still all you need in the all season / winter tire debate!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y

[b00st]

yeah my conti2's vs my brother b6 s4 conti extremes....the 2s are scary. though i'm kinda used to driving with it. if i had another set of rims i would do a summer tire and then winter tire being in chicago. my brothers all season contiextremes have way better grip than my stock conti2s right now. the car slips a lot more than thought but i'm learning to balance it out.

[jrock]

i have fk 452's and ran them year round last year and still have them on now. I have never tried winter tires but i know it will make a huge difference. I cant tell you how many times i have thought i was about to lose my car cuz there was no grip. They slide everywhere and sometimes if the snow ids deep enoguh ill steer one way and go the complete other way. I am investing in winter tires asap, especially considering how i head to the rockies 1 or 2 times a week to ski.

[hayasa]

Well all-seasons are not high performance tires. The S4 should have the best. No compromise tires (which are made for regular cars). You need Z rated tires and sticky compound.

Well, I agree with you. My all season F1s are Z rated. And I can drive in *any* condition without soiling myself at the first snowflake.

Actually, when it really snows and sticks, I completely agree with you all that full snows are the way to go. HOWEVER, how often do people drive through massive snowfall and dangerous conditions? If it is really that bad, don't leave the house, or at least take a 4WD SUV or truck with lots of clearance and maybe chains. For me (and most people who live in the city, the burbs, or anywhere else that gets plowed and salted), having winter tires on is serious overkill. I have *most* of the grip with my all seasons that you would with snows, and I just drive a little more gently.

[sakimano]

my last car was a B6 A4 Avant which had Pirelli P6 all season tires on it. I drove it on those all year round. I live in Toronto, Canada...I know snow!

Last year we had about 8 feet of total snowfall over the winter. The Audi never got stuck once. One snow day in February I blasted out the driveway, onto the street and on to work. In doing so, I had to drive around a stranded Volvo XC90 on my street (a small crescent that barely gets plowed before the next fking snowstorm comes). My Lexus IS300 with 4 new Michelin snow tires got badly stuck 2 different times.

With that being said on my B7 S4 sedan, I have a winter setup in winter (Pirelli Snowsports on my 18" stock wheels) and a dedicated summer setup .

I say get whatever works best...so therefore snow tires in winter and H.P. Z, X or Y rated summers the rest of the year. But don't go saying you'll die a sure death if you try to use All Seasons...Quattro is frigging amazing in the snow. Quattro and all seasons (while not optimal) can manage almost any road condition.

[steveAriZona]

You guys are crazy... I run my UHP's all year.

Oh its supposd to be 75 tomorrow.

[aaron1085]

summer tires are fine for the winter time....................as long as you keep your ass in the garage