Winter Tyres

[RS4_Chris]

Alright folks?

Just thought id start a winter thread. I've got a set of Vredestein Wintrac xtreme's going on the machine tomorrow (mytyres.co.uk - £187 a corner).

Might be a bit early just now but they've arrived so i thought id get them on and bedded in before any proper snow/cold weather. Having said that i had to scrape the car this morning so winter might not be far off in Aberdeen!

Chances are we might not get that much snow this year but it'll be good to have the appropriate boots on for heading snowboarding at the weekends!

Anyone used the Wintrac Xtremes in the past? Decent tyre?

[stu]

I've used Wintrac Xtremes for two winters and the same set will be go back on when it gets cold enough.

Ride/grip wise in warmer days (>12C): I found them on the soft side, way too eager to roll on fast corners. I adapted my driving so I didn't get premature wear on those days. My fuel economy went up considerably! I think the extra pliability of the side walls has a big say in this. They never acutally lost grip, just felt squirmy/rolly/unpleasant.

Cool days (5-10C): The handling was approaching what I had with the summer Sessantas. Never F1 AS3 levels of greatness.

Cold days (<5): they began to show their value. There didn't have to be ice/snow around to feel the difference. Cold dry grip was better.

Ice days: this is when I started feeling very pleased with my investment. Yes they'll slip if you want them to but at real world speeds (the speed that everyone else seems to drive at) it was superb. No side slipping down narrow car-lined streets. Getting in and out of my back yard was easy peasy and the steep cobbled lane behind my house was no bother.

Snow days: fresh, undriven snow was an absolute joy! I had a lot of fun trying to perfect my four wheel drift. On hard impacted snow I had no bother where the front-driven cars were slipped around on the spot and BMWs wouldn't have stood a chance. Wet slushy snow and every other sort was a joy to drive in/though/on.

I'll never forget my trip up to Oban two winters ago. From Newcastle I could've gone the A69 across to Carlisle but I knew that would be clogged up with cars. I went via Jeborough instead, up through the national park - nothing but lots of snow, a few landrovers, -15C and an empty road. Northern Ireland a few weeks later was fun too - the whole country had ground to a halt and I merrily drove sixty miles of almost pure ice from all the compacted snow that hadn't been cleared. Best road trip ever! Both trips would have been impossible on regular tyres, even with quattro.

In short: really really confidence inspiring - when the temeprature's low enough.

[Coaster]

Do you guys put the winters on the same wheels that you use in summer? is there any benefit of using 18" wheels? What about narrower 8" wheels?
The weekend in October last year I chose to fit the winter tyres to my M3 it was 30 degrees c!

[shrapnel]

I used Vred Wintrac Extremes last winter and they were great in the cold weather and what limited snow/ice there was in the UK. I travel to Switzerland fairly regularly and drove last winter for a bit of skiing as well and the tyres were ace!

I switch them straight onto my standard 19" rims. The downside of this is the wear on the rims apparently, but it does mean you don't have to buy another set of wheels and no problems with the TPMS. I use the sessantas in the summer and rate them too. Am going to switch to the winters at end of October.

[stu]

I get 255/35 R19 size fitted on my OEM wheels, then swap them back. Slightly silly as it costs me every time but there's no insurance issues and the car looks the same all year round.

Have a look at the Sticker on the driver's door frame - it will show you all the recommended set ups summer and winter. There is an 18 inch winter option written on there (see the M+S options).

Have a good think about whether you really need to buy them though. It's been great fun for me and has allowed me to keep doing my job in all conditions but it's gonna be around 700 quid by the sounds of things.

I think the cost to buy and use is much more acceptable (though maybe not cost-neutral) if you're gonna have the RS4 for a few winters.

The rate of wear has been surprisingly good - three winter for me no problem, fingers crossed for a fourth next year depending on tread depths. My more expensive summer tyres (F1 AS3s) are saved over winter. I think I read somewhere that winter tyres wear out more slowly than summer tyres over the winter months - I think it's because the summers lose traction and scrub the ground.

[Ian_C]

Do you guys put the winters on the same wheels that you use in summer? is there any benefit of using 18" wheels? What about narrower 8" wheels?
The weekend in October last year I chose to fit the winter tyres to my M3 it was 30 degrees c!

Yes go for the 7.5 or 8.5 18" wheel option on the RS4 if you can (both the same style) as it will make the tyres soooooooo much cheaper - you'll get your money back on the alloys when you come to sell.

Another vote for Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes - these are my winter wheels.

[MB2]

I run the winter wheels - down South so aren't on the car that long. I much prefer having 2 sets of wheels as just swap them over when the weather dips, no tyre changing bother/costs/damage.

Find winter tyres great in the wet too vs the summer tyres, as others say will just sell at some point & recoup most of the cost so just see it as the temporary loss of the use of a bit of capital, if the tyres are much cheaper as 18s that is a bonus too !

[Coaster]

what's the offset of the 18" winter wheels- either 7.5 or 8.5J? Does anyone know where to buy them (except Audi)?

[MB2]

Just had a quick look for you - they are 7.5J x 18 ET21, tyres are 225/45. I bought mine as wheels + tyres lightly used from German eBay.

I checked the price of the tyres and the Wintracs in 18 are 157 each fitted so 120 saving over 4 tyres which must pay for one or possibly two wheels.

[Coaster]

That's great- thanks very much. I presume that just means that the wheel rim is well inboard of where the 19"x9J summer wheel would be.

[stu]

In retrospect, I'd consider going down the 18" route. I only had my car a month when I was making these decisions so vanity swayed me towards swapping the rubber!!

It does look and drive amazingly well in the winter. It's the perfect winter sports car.

[Ian_C]

what's the offset of the 18" winter wheels- either 7.5 or 8.5J? Does anyone know where to buy them (except Audi)?

NB. Both the 18" wheel options (7.5 and 8.5" width) are this same style (pictured is my aunties non RS quattro)

[MB2]

That's great- thanks very much. I presume that just means that the wheel rim is well inboard of where the 19"x9J summer wheel would be.

Yes it does carry the wheels inboard a fair bit, which makes winter parking easier & the wheels are lovely & easy to clean. I am cautious when I put the summer wheels back re kerbs - the ride quality is noticeably better with the winter wheels & initially the handing feels a little "off" but you soon get used to it - likewise is harsh when going back to the summer tyres.