What winter tyres do you have?

[lostandfound]

Hi first time post here on rs246...

So it's getting a bit cold and this is my first winter with my C6. I'm driving down to the Alps in December (please don't try to guess how much fuel that'll be!) and the PZeros are running a bit low. Looking to swap out all 4 for a set of winters (see fuel comment above). What should I get? I can see a few of you on this forum use winters but I can't find much in terms of which ones you use and how they preform?

Best guess right now is Pirelli sottozero or Dunlop 3d, I have no experience of either!

Open to suggestions, what do you use and would you recommend them?

Cheers!

[HPsauce]

Pirelli Sottozeros here, to be precise the no longer available Winter 240 Serie II, standard (not runflat).
Asymmetric design, this is the tread pattern:


The spare happens to be the same type but "original" (effectively Serie I) which has a very slightly different tread:


Work really well on my S8.

[A20LEE]

I've read that winter tyres should be changed at 4.5mm rather than 2mm like summer tyres. Most used ones for sale are around 4mm if you notice so basically they no good. Buy new

[AdrianE]

The 'legal' limit for winter tyres in those countries that require them is usually 4mm - for winter tyre use in typical UK conditions you can run them lower than that without problems and still benefit from the better cold weather performance. For proper snow performance I completely agree that the part worns won't be any use at all.

We run Dunlop Winter 3D with the AO (Audi) marking on a much smaller set of 18" rims (this is on our S5) but if you check the tyre pressure plate for the car it should give you a specific tyre size (usually marked as M&S) that's recommended - it's a lot easier running a spare set of rims and there's shed loads of German ebay sellers offering full sets with winter tyres. With the exchange rate they'll probably work out too expensive what with the time of year too.

There's a world of difference between a winter tyre and the specific requirements of driving on compacted snow. If you're likely to come across untreated roads you really need to pack some snow socks/chains for that extra bit of help if it's really icy. Accelerating isn't usually a problem but basic physics comes into play when braking so if there's no coefficient of friction between tyre and road surface, you won't be slowing down much....

Nokian usually get a good write up for their winter tyres - I tend to look at this lot for comparative prices:

Mytyres
Openeo
Camskill
Tyreleader.co.uk
Protyre
Pneusonline
Lovetyres.com

[Puggie]

I've run significantly smaller Nokian WR-D3s on my Honda Insight and Integra Type-R in the past and they have been brilliant in the general winter grot. I'll be fitting them to the insight shortly and I find they are generally good once the weather is reliably below 7DegC for not only shifting snow and slush, but generally wet British weather. I did successfully pull a stuck Landy Disco off a verge about 4 years ago (last time we had snow) in my Integra Type-R on the above snow tyres, the difference in grip over a typical road tyre (and the R888s it usually ran) is quite astonishing. A friend runs the Hankook Icepts on his bimmer and rates them highly too.

I will be getting something for our RS6 C5 shortly and probably look at Nokians offerings first.

[R33]

I went through a full set of the Pirelli's in one winter and in short I thought they were sh1t and on balance I'd have been better sticking to summer tyres (as we had no real snow 2 winters ago). Last year I bought the Dunlops and not only are they wearing much better but the cold weather grip appears significantly better to me in all aspects. You only have to look at the tread pattern to see that's probably going to be the case.

There may be better winters out there than the Dunlop's for our cars and as I haven't tried them I wouldn't know, but personally I wouldn't touch the Pirelli's with a barge pole.

[lostandfound]

Thanks, I'm still waiting on prices, I'll post how I get on.

[AdrianE]

Our Dunlops were part worn when we got them - done 2 winters to date, including half one summer due to a lack of supply of MPSS tyres. Going back on tomorrow for one more season

[skirs6]

Second hand 6mm £300 ( thumbs up !!!! )

[longman h]

What colour finish are the wheels as they look awesome. Have you got more pictures with them on the car as I'm very tempted to have mine resprayed.

[stevo55]

How come you have an RS badge on your rear brake calliper? Mine are just black

[skirs6]

Colour is just Anthracite done by Wheel works Crawley. The RS plate is from the C7 you need to drill two 10mm holes then it's push fit.

[SandyT]

I just fitted a set of Toyo SnowProx S954's on my RS4. £165 a corner for 265/30/20 on the standard rims. Once they've bedded in I'll post some feedback.

[HPsauce]

I've run significantly smaller

Good point, so do I. 20's in the summer, 18's in winter.

I find they are generally good once the weather is reliably below 7DegC for not only shifting snow and slush, but generally wet British weather..

Absolutely agree with that..

the difference in grip over a typical road tyre ..... is quite astonishing.

Indeed, the whole car is just so much more sure-footed as it gets colder and wetter/snowier. You forget just how much allowance you had to make for the loss of grip with "standard" tyres.
BUT, and it's a big but, remember that those around you most probably won't have the same abilities.

Once you get into the habit it's a no-brainer, winter tyres on when it gets cold (usually some time in Oct/Nov) summer tyres back on around April but timings aren't usually that critical.
My winters went on a bit early this year as I was doing some deals around my 20's and needed them off the car. But generally I adjust to work around the needs of tyre replacement and wheel refurbishment.

[skirs6]

It's my first time on winters and I'm very happy. I went for 20's as I didn't want to buy new rims and I got a great deal from a forum member. On cold wet roads they are much better than summers.