RS4 WInter wheels/tires

**cstarky15** · 12-04-2008 01:46 PM

Hey, I have a buddy coming to MN from Florida and he needs to know what size he should run for the winter. He would like to keep them on the stock RS4 wheels but will go down to 18's if that is better. What should I tell him?

**VVG** · 12-04-2008 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by cstarky15

Hey, I have a buddy coming to MN from Florida and he needs to know what size he should run for the winter. He would like to keep them on the stock RS4 wheels but will go down to 18's if that is better. What should I tell him?

Snow tires in stock size work just fine.

**gjc** · 12-05-2008 02:08 PM

Tell him to stay in FLA

**RandrewR** · 12-14-2008 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by gjc

Tell him to stay in FLA

wow you're alot of help, anybody?

**Spaceman** · 12-14-2008 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by RandrewR

wow you're alot of help, anybody?

If he wants to stay on the stock 19's then get some Blizzak's in 255/35/19
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compar...XL&search=true

Or get a 18" package with some 255/40/18 tires and a 18x8.5 wheels with a 35mm offset.

**c4racer** · 12-14-2008 07:33 PM

how about stock S4 sizes? could even use stock S4 wheels. I run Pirelli Snowsports on stock 18" wheels. 235-40-18

**ngng** · 12-14-2008 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Spaceman

If he wants to stay on the stock 19's then get some Blizzak's in 255/35/19
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compar...XL&search=true

Or get a 18" package with some 255/40/18 tires and a 18x8.5 wheels with a 35mm offset.

do you even know what you're talking about? you want a narrower tire for the snow, NOT a 255

**nealRlett** · 12-14-2008 10:39 PM

agreed. go narrow as you can for snow-

**Stevelev** · 12-15-2008 11:38 AM

Agree with above ... the narrower contact patch provides far better traction in the snow. Although I don't miss my B6 A4, the winter shoes (215 Dunlop wintersports on 16's) made that thing absolutely unstoppable

**VVG** · 12-15-2008 03:19 PM

Take if from someone who has driven in snow for over 20 years and who actually owns an RS4 with 255/35/19 Dunlop Winter Sport.

While it may matter in very deep snow with a two wheel drive car, the combination of quattro and ESP will make your car very capable even with the stock 255 size. I drove through 10" snow last year with no problem whatsoever. More snow than that and you are likely not going to be out in your RS4 anyway.

And, for the 98% of the time that you are not actually trudging through heavy snows, you will get near the same dry road performance as your stock summer tires. An RS4 will simply overpower narrower winter rubber.

Good advice to go narrower on a two wheel drive. Not needed on modern quattro cars and why sacrifice dry road performance, which, even in winter, is most of the time.

**Retsujou** · 01-11-2009 05:14 PM

I am very sorry but I cannot agree with that at all. You will get better performance with a narrow tire, RS4 or not (and yes I drive one too and yes I have been driving in snow for about 22 years now).

It is not only the traction increase you will get in deep, rather fine snow, it is also the fact that your tired does not need to displace nearly as much water/sludge when it is narrower because the surface area is much smaller.

For that very reason I usually go for:

RS4 R79 18 X 8 5 X 112 +35 (with Bolts)
(this year)
Pirelli 225/45R18 95H XL W210 Sottozero.

Good advice to go narrower on a two wheel drive. Not needed on modern quattro cars and why sacrifice dry road performance, which, even in winter, is most of the time.

Might I ask where you live that you have that much of a dry winter?

**CanuckRS** · 01-11-2009 05:24 PM

I've driven my RS4 with stock size winters and my current 18" with 225 width. While most of the time it's ice/dry/hard packed snow on roads, i'll encounter deep snow on a fairly regular basis in addition to slush conditions just below freezing. The 18" 225 width do a better job in those conditions and give a more supple ride on uneven pavement in the winter for ice/hard packed conditions. You could go stock or my setup, either will work well, but i personally prefer the smaller width. I try to hit the hills for boarding regularly and love to drive when it snows a lot, so for me, this works.
Cheers

**palewhitemale** · 01-11-2009 08:10 PM

sidewall is important. The taller your sidewall, the better off you're gonna be on snow tires.

If you really want to set up a nice winter set of tires, get some cheap 18's that'll fit over the RS4 brakes and go with some winter sport tires.

I currently run Blizzak LM25Vs, they are speed rated high enough to really haul ass on the interstate and handle great in the ice and snow. If you have the money for an RS4 you probably have the 1200 bucks to make sure you're prepared in snow too.

-bill