Winter tyres or second set of wheels?

[GlynRS2]

Glyn, are your summer wheels also 20" or 21"? If 21" do you notice much difference? Do you walk up to the car with the 20" and think the wheels look small?

Well here is a 50:50 shot:



Yes, they do look small by comparison, particularly when you are used to seeing it on 21s. But seeing the state of the roads in winter, hopefully better suited.

[zappy-chops]

Well here is a 50:50 shot:



Yes, they do look small by comparison, particularly when you are used to seeing it on 21s. But seeing the state of the roads in winter, hopefully better suited.

Cheers mate. That's a super helpful shot and yes, quite a difference. Given the 35 versus 30 section tyres I wasn't sure if the difference would be so dramatic. Anyway, I do like the colour of your wheels so thanks for sharing.

[MikeFish]

When lowered they tend to not look small unless directly compared. .

[Boyakasha]

I have just put my winter wheels on.
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S 275/35 R20 102 W XL tyres on the 20x9.5 inch OE wheel refinished in satin anthracite. 15mm spacers on rear and 12mm on front:

Glyn, looking at winter tyres at the moment and you have on the ones I’m going for. However they have 2 options, one V with run flat and the W like yours that has no run flat, same price but wonder if it’s 6/half a dozen as I don’t plan doing over 150mph on them?

Cheers

Marc

[GlynRS2]

My experience of run flats is that it tends to ruin the ride as you have a very stiff side wall. However, there is an obvious upside to balance this against

[MikeFish]

I've never had run flats but hearing from lots of BMW owners that have had cars with them they all say how bad they are. I'd avoid any run flats.

[Mr Footlong]

Glyn, how are you finding the Wintercontacts? I just fitted mine today, albeit in 295/21 flavour.

From an initlal blat on them to scrub them in a bit, they don't seem bad at all!

[Markp]

Do NOT get runflats. Heavy and poor ride. One of the joys of switching to Audi after years of BMW was no more bloody run flats.

[GlynRS2]

Glyn, how are you finding the Wintercontacts? I just fitted mine today, albeit in 295/21 flavour.

From an initlal blat on them to scrub them in a bit, they don't seem bad at all!

Only done about 100 miles on them so far, but I agree they do seem to be very good. Not really cold yet, but plenty of grip when you lean on them and don’t give that odd vague steering feeling I got with Dunlop WinterSport 4D tyres that I had as winters on my S5

[Boyakasha]

My experience of run flats is that it tends to ruin the ride as you have a very stiff side wall. However, there is an obvious upside to balance this against

Cheers Glyn

[Boyakasha]

Do NOT get runflats. Heavy and poor ride. One of the joys of switching to Audi after years of BMW was no more bloody run flats.

Rodger that

[Mr Footlong]

Well, I have been running the Wintercontacts for almost a week now and the colder it gets, the better they feel compared with running normal summer tyres. Not surprising at all of course, but the feel is night and day different to me at least, most happy with them for feel.

[GlynRS2]

Well, I have been running the Wintercontacts for almost a week now and the colder it gets, the better they feel compared with running normal summer tyres. Not surprising at all of course, but the feel is night and day different to me at least, most happy with them for feel.

I concur. Seem to give good feedback through the steering wheel.

[Sammyb349]

Mine arrive on Monday - can’t come soon enough

Trouble is I don’t know whether I should put them on the newly refurbished rotors or the in need of a refurb v-spokes... I think the rotors

[zappy-chops]

Does anyone have any experience of running Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 winter tyres? They came already on the wheels I bought but I've never run them before. They get decent reviews so hopefully will be fine.