Winter Tyres or Chains for a Roadtrip to Switzerland..video

[stu]

F*** it! I might just fly instead

...and that, sadly is the same thing I've said three years in a row

Don't ever plan an alpine roadtrip on a spreadsheet. It'll get you nowhere!*

[edit *: if you're going solo that is. Three or four-up in an RS4 and the maths works out.]

[Shinobi675]

I was planning a trip to chamonix in the rs6. Hadn't even thought about winter tyres! The car was crap in the cold the other day, the terrible tyres I've got just spat each time I prodded the loud peddle!

Winters it might well be!

[carsarecool]

Socks are a lot easier to put on even with a narrow gap.
What I used was a brush/ice scraper to ease the socks on. You only have to get them close and they snap into place and are self adjusting.
Failing that you can get the socks over the wheels as far as possible then whilst holding in place pull the elastic taught over the face of the alloy and move up. It can spring enough to then pull from the other side.
Jeez that's a <beep> explanation!

Thinking about..or just turn the wheels.....but that only sorts the fronts.....this is getting more complicated.

[adsgreen]

It's really not bad - tbh you don't want to use your hands as its a miserable cold job.
Also don't forget taking them off- with socks you just pull.

[carsarecool]

I've taken the plunge and ordered a set of 235/40/19 wheels and winter tyres.

I have 10mm spacers with my Vs at the moment. Anyone know if they'll fit the 19s??

They are RS5 I believe.

[Graeme4130]

20" OEM rotors with new conti winter tyres for under £2k from Germany
Arrived today (actually, only 3 arrived, other is tomorrow - I hope)

[carsarecool]

I needed the 19s as I need to put chains on....maybe....

They look the nuts.....vs mine.

[Andy_S]

20" OEM rotors with new conti winter tyres for under £2k from Germany
Arrived today (actually, only 3 arrived, other is tomorrow - I hope)

image.jpg

Hi Greame,

If you wouldn't mind sharing, where did you order these from?

I'd fancy some just for the change from V-Spoke to Rotors for the winter.

[Simon82]

Was that from the company on ebay? been very tempted to order from them as well, do you know if they have the tyre pressure sensors in them?

[carsarecool]

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9mSs2bO ... tW4KlmxoI-

[Graeme4130]

Hi guys
I've not got the link with me, but they're the same guys as Carsarecool linked his from above
They don't come with TPMS though as my understanding is that the RS4 system is based from the abs and rotational speed differences

You can get their number from the ebay page and phone then to deal directly and save a few quid

[Snotsicle]

Can confirm that no TPMS sensors in B8 wheels. Bolt new wheels/tyres on, reset pressures in the MMI and off you go.
You shouldn't need chains as well.
My second set of Vs came from reifenprofi.de on eBay - they had several sets of RS4 wheels, some of which were clean, others fairly badly scraped-up. "Winterreifen", "felgen", "alufelgen", "felgensatz" are all good terms to search for.

[Graeme4130]

I needed the 19s as I need to put chains on....maybe....

They look the nuts.....vs mine.

Yeah, you'd definitely not get chains around 20's without them machining out the arches. You'd get some good sparks though

[carsarecool]

I could live without winters as have done up until now but the trip to the Alps is the catalyst and chains are likely to be needed in Feb where I am going according to the chalet owner.

I'll see how the tyres fair in our, currently, not very cold winter and invest in some 20s next year if they are as good as everyone says.

[Graeme4130]

I could live without winters as have done up until now but the trip to the Alps is the catalyst and chains are likely to be needed in Feb where I am going according to the chalet owner.

I'll see how the tyres fair in our, currently, not very cold winter and invest in some 20s next year if they are as good as everyone says.

Modern winter tyres are pretty good in snow
I've driven through the top of Champery in the Swiss alps on just snow tyres, and although they're not ultimately as good as chains, unless the chalet you're staying at is up a steep, uncleared path, you'll get everywhere just fine on the winters
It's unnerving watching the locals steaming around in little Peugeot's on snow tyres at a million miles per hour with massive drops on the edge of some of the dodgy roads.. Most of them pissed too