Snow tires?

**TahoeS4** · 10-05-2010 12:09 PM

So I drove my S4 today for the first time in the snow. I handled fine but I am not sure what tire to buy for this snow season. I was thinking of the bridgestone blizacks or do I go with a studded tire? Would the studded tire damage the car at all or would it be fine? Not sure witch way to go. Any suggestions or recommendations?

**DuncanC** · 10-05-2010 12:23 PM

I drive in snow 6 months of the year and the best I've found so far are Dunlop Winterspot 3Ds. You don't need a studded tire, just a good winter compound and tread. I've never been a blizzack fan at all, I've ran 2 different sets on 2 different cars and been unsatisfied both times.

**dparm** · 10-05-2010 12:36 PM

If you need to drive through deep fresh snow, Blizzaks and X-Ice tires are both very good at clearing through. They're still decent on slush and hardpack but their strongest trait is the deep snow thing. They're noisy and wear poorly on clear roads though, and steering feel on dry pavement is crap.

If you're dealing with hardpack, slush, and wet roads more, the Nokian Hakkapeliita R or RSi is a better choice.

**Ekim81** · 10-05-2010 12:44 PM

I'm running Gislaved Nordfrost 5's and I've been extremely happy with them.

**PSU S4** · 10-05-2010 12:52 PM

Have Had Blizzacks and had the Dunlop wintersport 3D's. Both are amazing and never gave any problems and have a nice longevity of wear, But i like the blizzacks slightly more, they were more quite on the highway on days when there was no snow. But either way you go your quattro will have your back

**amoujaffar** · 10-05-2010 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by DuncanC

I drive in snow 6 months of the year and the best I've found so far are Dunlop Winterspot 3Ds. You don't need a studded tire, just a good winter compound and tread. I've never been a blizzack fan at all, I've ran 2 different sets on 2 different cars and been unsatisfied both times.

I DID like my Blizzaks, and drove an A4 with the X-ICE, but holy shit they cannot compare with the Dunlop Winterports. Freaking unbelievable traction. Great Price. Hands down best choice.

**DTMOOOO** · 10-05-2010 01:26 PM

I ran Mich Alpin 3's and they were honestly awesome, great dry weather performance; I took them on the cliff of insanity run, and great snow performance; I had a 20 mile commute home from work in 10 inches of unplowed snow while it was still snowing hard and I had a blast, no problems on downhill braking or anything.

I am running them again this year... cant wait for the snow

**dparm** · 10-05-2010 01:27 PM

Alpin 3, LM22/25, etc are performance-oriented snow tires. When things get really messy, they will not give the same traction as WS60, X-Ice Xi2, etc. Just consider the environment you'll be driving in.

**J0HN_R1** · 10-05-2010 05:53 PM

Honestly, the fact you're installing snow-tires at all will improve winter driving compared to "all-seasons"...

Buy what suits your needs & budget...

**Retsujou** · 10-05-2010 06:42 PM

I have run the Pirelli Sottozero 240 for two seasons now. They are fine on slush, ok on Ice, very nice on fresh snow and not super good with lots of water.

**iconoclast** · 10-05-2010 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by TahoeS4

Any suggestions or recommendations?

dunlop wintersport. love them.

**dparm** · 10-05-2010 07:04 PM

Blizzak LM-25 if you want to sacrifice a bit of snow performance for dry weather performance and a quieter ride.

Michelin X-Ice Xi2 if you want maximum deep snow traction.

Nokian Hakkapeliita R if you want maximum slush/wet/hardpack traction.

**mtndog** · 10-05-2010 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by dparm

Blizzak LM-25 if you want to sacrifice a bit of snow performance for dry weather performance and a quieter ride.

I love the LM-25 and run a 255/35/19, they have been great but like dparm says you sacrifice a bit of snow/ice traction for better dry traction. I prefer the Blizzak over the Dunlop 3D's I had on my BMW.

**channad** · 10-05-2010 09:48 PM

Another vote for Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds...had them for two seasons...going on a third. AMAZING!

**TahoeS4** · 10-05-2010 10:09 PM

Are the Dunlops good in the powder?? I get fresh snow alot here in Tahoe and for the winter season I see alot of all conditions. slush, freshies, ice, hard pack.....etc. how are they all around??

**TahoeS4** · 10-05-2010 10:14 PM

budget no big deal for saftey!! just want a really good all around winter tire that can handle evry circumstance you know. only real ice I see is at the top of the pass I have to go over a few days a week the rest is fresh snow, slush and just wet conditions.

**TahoeS4** · 10-05-2010 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by dparm

Blizzak LM-25 if you want to sacrifice a bit of snow performance for dry weather performance and a quieter ride.

Michelin X-Ice Xi2 if you want maximum deep snow traction.

Nokian Hakkapeliita R if you want maximum slush/wet/hardpack traction.

which one out of the three will handle ice the best??

**Hazziar** · 10-05-2010 10:16 PM

Nokian WRG2 or Hakka's

Nokian invented the winter tire in the 1930's + their developed/made in a country where its winter like 7 months out of the year...having used them I believe their as good as a winter tire is gonna get.

**TahoeS4** · 10-05-2010 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Hazziar

Nokian WRG2 or Hakka's

Nokian invented the winter tire in the 1930's + their developed/made in a country where its winter like 7 months out of the year...having used them I believe their as good as a winter tire is gonna get.

Hazziar, thanks alot for the reply. I didnt know anything about that tire, never heard of them before. sounds like they are worth taking a look at....

**ginkof** · 10-06-2010 05:21 AM

I have Dunlop Wintersport M3 tires (old model).... Getting the D3s (new model) this year since mine are on their way out. They are awesome awesome tires!

**dparm** · 10-06-2010 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by TahoeS4

which one out of the three will handle ice the best??

The X-Ice Xi2 is actually rated for ice, like the Blizzak WS70. The Hakkapeliita R is too. The LM25 not so much.

**DuncanC** · 10-06-2010 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by TahoeS4

Are the Dunlops good in the powder?? I get fresh snow alot here in Tahoe and for the winter season I see alot of all conditions. slush, freshies, ice, hard pack.....etc. how are they all around??

Really good. Great in the deep, great on ice, even take dry pavement well without crazy wear. They do great around town, and they are amazing for snowboarding trips which normally mean driving in fresh powder since I leave at 4-5am on a riding day and the graders haven't done there thing out on the highways yet.

**Retsujou** · 10-06-2010 08:52 AM

One other thing to consider. Regardless of which tire you choose, go small and go narrow. My summer tires are on 19 inch wheel and they are 275 wide, while the winter tires are on 18 inch wheels and are only 225 wide but 40 (thick). The dimension of the tires alone and the added space makes driving much safer for me. Nokian tires are well known in Europe for their Winter performance. You will see almost any car in Scandinavia sport those tires.

**NY07RS4** · 10-06-2010 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by iconoclast

dunlop wintersport. love them.

X2, this will be my second season with them on the RS and I have no complaints. We had a pretty decent winter last year as far as snow fall and I had a blast. All around great tire, deep snow to dry paved roads. I give them two thumbs up.

**Jengel451** · 10-06-2010 09:05 AM

All this talk about us having another harsh winter this year is making me think I need to raise the car back to stock.....if we get another one of those "5 feet in 11 days" thing again....i'm a movin! BTW, have the PA3's and in the dry and wet, they are pretty good, we'll see how they handle the snow.

**Tugboatguy** · 10-06-2010 11:06 AM

Dunlop 3D's

**B6JoeS4** · 10-06-2010 11:16 AM

I've had the Blizzak LM-25 and Dunlop Wintersport M3/3D. The Dunlops blow the blizzaks out of the water (or snow for that matter)

**TahoeS4** · 10-06-2010 04:59 PM

Thanks everyone for replying to this post!!!!! This is some great info and will make my decision a little tough. But I am thinking I will go with the Dunlop Wintersport 3D!!!!! Thanks again! next summer I will be looking for a new set of Rims and tires for the S4. tons of time to look around and find the right set and the right lowering kit.

**dparm** · 10-06-2010 05:48 PM

Glad we could help. I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the decision. Even shitty snow tires will be miles ahead of good all-seasons.

**Moto One** · 10-07-2010 08:16 AM

Hi Tahoe S4

Over the past 8 years we have tried all the brands/styles of snows, and for our area (Tahoe/Truckee) we have been using the Michelin Alpine AP3s. on our allroads. they are quiet, and give all around good grip in the type of conditions we have here. (as you know we can go from wet to slush to cold dry pack to grader pac ice) all in a couple of miles. It's good to see that you have decided not to go with studs, our roads are in a shambles as it is, and after a few drives they start to kick out studs and through off the balance, the noise on wet/dry is a pain to the ears,and face it with all the sand that they dump on the roads (Nev. using less then in Ca) we just don't have the kind of conditions that make them a must have, driving with some common sense you'll do just fine with your choice.

Mark

**jm121189** · 10-07-2010 10:19 AM

I run nokian hakkapeliitta and they are great, I've never paid attention enough to have a good review of powder vs slush/ice but I've never had a problem and I've been through it all. Quattro with snow tires is almost un-stoppable in the winter as long as you don't do anything stupid.

**A4Ultrasport** · 10-07-2010 05:23 PM

How does the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 compare to the Dunlop 3D? They seem to be priced similarly, and I haven't heard of one being better than the other...Any differences?? These are the two I'm considering...

**dparm** · 10-07-2010 05:38 PM

From what I've read, the Michelin is better on dry pavement. The Dunlop has sloppier steering response but clears deep snow better. I guess it just depends on what your driving conditions are like. If you are usually on clear roads and don't venture out in crazy blizzards, go for the Michelins. Otherwise, get the Dunlops, understanding the car will handle considerably worse.

It sounds like a bit of a toss-up. With quattro it's not as big of a deal, just get some sort of snow tire on there and you'll be fine. Having run performance-oriented snow tires on my S4 in the past, I can say they have no trouble blasting through even the nastiest of snowfall.

**dannslc** · 10-07-2010 08:09 PM

Sorry to change gears for a sec but I can get some dunlops 3d's for a really good deal but theres a prob. They are 245 45's and I putting them on the stock avus. I know stock runs 40's. Will the 45's screw something up or maybe rub? Thanks.

**dparm** · 10-07-2010 09:07 PM

No, but the speedometer will be off by 5%. That means at 50mph it will be displaying 55mph.

**Jengel451** · 10-07-2010 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by dparm

No, but the speedometer will be off by 5%. That means at 50mph it will be displaying 55mph.

I bet less than that, and you'll be reading lower since you're going with a taller sidewall.

**dparm** · 10-08-2010 05:14 AM

It is 5%, see for yourself:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

**dannslc** · 10-08-2010 01:06 PM

it's strange, ive had that problem with my stockers on the whole time with 40's. It was is about 2mph off. When I put my summer 19's on with 35's the speedo is dead on, with a gps that is. But thanks for the info. I think I will pick em up.