Winter tyres SE UK

[mylo911]

I run a set of winter tyres from November to March, Vredestein wintrac extremes, and they are superb. The general rule of thumb is to swap summer tyres when temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius. Last year, we had a mild winter, so they came off earlier than normal.

You lose a bit of steering feel and outright grip in the dry, but on cold, wet, greasy roads, the wintracs are great. Even more so if they have to deal with the white stuff.

Rather than faff about with changing tyres on rims, I got a set of winter alloys from Germany and run a 225/45/18 tyre, rather than the stock 255/35/19.
Swapping over is so much quicker, and the stock alloys avoid the salt.

Tempted to do the same myself. Why did you go to the trouble of Germany for the rims? Cheaper new?

I wanted a proper alloy rather than a replica, and didn't want to pay the ludicrous amount that Audi wanted for a set of winter alloys. After some research, I came across a German manufacturer call mam, who make wheels that are designed for harsh winter use. Germany also have more winter tyres in stock, so getting a wheel and tyre combo was much easier than doing do it in the UK.

I got them from here - www.felgenoutlet.de, fantastic service

[J130YCE]

Agree with having a spare set it's much quicker to switch over. I may use the standard 19's for winters and search for a nice set of 20's for next spring

[stu]

Pirelli Sottozeros work very well on the B7 if anyone's shopping around. I used them last year. Much sharper handling than the Vred Wintacs for the days it's not snowing (i.e. pretty much all of last winter). Quite a bit more expensive though.

I agree with Bam - buy early and stick them in the garage.

[coullstar]

Folks, anyone run 255/40/18 on thiers standard 18's? Ive used winter tyres for the last 8 years and there someone local selling a set with this tyre size. I cant see any problem as there the same dims as 255/35/19, only concern is the 255 on an 8in rim.

[Ian_C]

I thought the factory B8 S4 18s are 8.5 inch width wrapped in 245/40 R18 rubber?

255 on 8.5" should be okay I'd imagine, not sure about an 8" though

[coullstar]

If there 8.5 wheels then thats no problem, thanks. I thought they were 8in.

[jaygemson]

Sorry to pee on your parade, but the stock 18" wheels are 8" wide.

245 is already pushing it, IMO, 255 would be too much.

[robokn]

My 18's came with 245's

[Ian_C]

Configurator's wrong then! Wouldn't be the first time.....

18” x 8.5J ‘5-double-spoke S’ design alloy wheels with 245/40 R18 tyres
RRP: 0.00 GBP

[coullstar]

Its okay Im picking up some 245's.

[jaygemson]

Configurator's wrong then! Wouldn't be the first time.....

18” x 8.5J ‘5-double-spoke S’ design alloy wheels with 245/40 R18 tyres
RRP: 0.00 GBP

That's odd! I know there were two variations on the B8 18" wheel with different offsets but they're both 8" wide AFAIK. Maybe Audi increased the width for the B8.5 S4. Can't find anything definitive either way though, sorry.

[gr4z]

I have my winters for sale in the Classified section if your interested
viewtopic.php?f=64&t=112392

[Cerec1]

Just fitted Bridgestone winters to my RS4 B7. As a point of interest I called Bridgestone UK for advice on pressures. The guy in technical said in the view of Bridgestone there is no need to fit winter tyres for the bulk of the UK and claimed with modern compounds std road tyres are all you need unless it snows.
Any thoughts from the forum guys?

[bam_bam]

Unless it snows... that'll be fun changing tyres just for when it snows. I think I'll just put them on for when it gets cold, then take them off when it's starting to get hot, thanks.
Cold weather tyres sh1t all over 'summer' tyres during the colder months... is that a shock?
I created a beautiful semi-controlled arch when leaving an oft used intersection on the summer tyres just days ago, I repeated the manoeuvre after fitting a set of WinterContacts. I dumped even more clutch and pulled even more boost, no dramas, it just gripped and ripped.

This just further cements rule 44.