Chains and winter tyres
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:30 pm
I know this topic has been done to death but I wanted some advice from a slightly different perspective.
I recently got a FL B8 S4 with 19s as standard. Now, I am planning a trip to the alps in march driving up to 1850m. I've done the trip many times in hire cars and only needed chains about 5% of the time. But as I am transporting the family I don't fancy chancing it on summer tyres ( car came with conti sportcontact3).
I've been exploring a few different options but am having trouble deciding.
1. Stick with the contis and buy some snow chains that don't encompass the whole wheel so minimising damage to the alloys and mechanics. Found these, would be around 260 for a pair. http://www.snowchains.co.uk/snowchains/ ... +and+Vans/
What wheels to attach them to, the back?
2. Buy winter tyres and maybe get the above chains closer to the time. Vredesteins are 800 notes for 4 for 19s. Not exactly cheap bit doable. I'd have to figure out how to store the contis over winter. Do tyres fatigue over time or if they're kept outside (thinking constant temperature changes). No chance of keeping them indoors or in a garage.
3. Leave current wheels/tyres and chance it. Likely would be ok unless there is a serious snowfall.
I am not keen on new wheels as I don't have much space for storage and don't really wish to pay up to have them stored. But just out of curiosity, what size wheels could I get (17s?) if I did this? Don't fancy having pants 17s for 4 months of the year.
My concern with winter tyres is that they wear quicker above 7deg. Based in London, the temp through winter often will be above 7deg, even with this cold spell so the tyres may wear quickly.
Eventually I aim to use all seasons once the contis need replacing. Will be going to the alps twice or thrice a year in the S4. All advice appreciated!
I recently got a FL B8 S4 with 19s as standard. Now, I am planning a trip to the alps in march driving up to 1850m. I've done the trip many times in hire cars and only needed chains about 5% of the time. But as I am transporting the family I don't fancy chancing it on summer tyres ( car came with conti sportcontact3).
I've been exploring a few different options but am having trouble deciding.
1. Stick with the contis and buy some snow chains that don't encompass the whole wheel so minimising damage to the alloys and mechanics. Found these, would be around 260 for a pair. http://www.snowchains.co.uk/snowchains/ ... +and+Vans/
What wheels to attach them to, the back?
2. Buy winter tyres and maybe get the above chains closer to the time. Vredesteins are 800 notes for 4 for 19s. Not exactly cheap bit doable. I'd have to figure out how to store the contis over winter. Do tyres fatigue over time or if they're kept outside (thinking constant temperature changes). No chance of keeping them indoors or in a garage.
3. Leave current wheels/tyres and chance it. Likely would be ok unless there is a serious snowfall.
I am not keen on new wheels as I don't have much space for storage and don't really wish to pay up to have them stored. But just out of curiosity, what size wheels could I get (17s?) if I did this? Don't fancy having pants 17s for 4 months of the year.
My concern with winter tyres is that they wear quicker above 7deg. Based in London, the temp through winter often will be above 7deg, even with this cold spell so the tyres may wear quickly.
Eventually I aim to use all seasons once the contis need replacing. Will be going to the alps twice or thrice a year in the S4. All advice appreciated!