S4 owners - anyone bother with winter tyres?

[Merlot]

I presume that they would be 17" with a 45 profile? Anyone tried any? Thanks

[PetrolDave]

Not in the UK - I've never had any problems in an S3 or S4 when there's snow or ice (I'm usually the first one to work while everyone else without the benefit of 4WD slithers around ).

[TDiAvant]

I was thinking about them but I'm looking around £500 just for tyres. If I can get me hands on a cheap set of Avus alloy wheels I may be more tempted

[Tizzy]

Never felt the need - my S4 was fantastic last year in thick snow in the Yorkshire Dales at New Year on the normal GSD3's. It's also very good on icy roads - although you do sometimes need to turn the ESP off!

[Scotty]

I've found the wide tyres not ideal but for the amount of miles I do and the amount of low temps and snow we get, its hard to justify.

[CJS4]

Hi Merlot

I always run snow tyres as I spend the winter in the alps. You're right, the recommended snow tyres for the S4 are 225/45 17. They really do make an enormous difference in mountain conditions, to the extent that in many countries in the event of an accident if one of the cars doesn't have winter tyres the driver is held partially to blame even if it wasn't his fault!

It is also almost impossible to fit chains to the standard S4 wheels but possible with the winter ones though in all the time I have used them they have been so good that chains have never been needed.

I would say that with quattro you would have to live somewhere very snowy in the UK to warrant the cost and hassle of changing them but the difference really is amazing if you have the need.

Hope this helps

Chris

[P_G]

Only winter tyres I have are my OEM Avus ones as they are smaller than what I run at the mo. However on the times there has been snow the S4 on normal wheels has coped admirably.

[SPLiiX]

Does anyone think it would be worth lowering the preasure and if so by how much??

[Merlot]

[ QUOTE ]

Hi Merlot

I always run snow tyres as I spend the winter in the alps. You're right, the recommended snow tyres for the S4 are 225/45 17. They really do make an enormous difference in mountain conditions, to the extent that in many countries in the event of an accident if one of the cars doesn't have winter tyres the driver is held partially to blame even if it wasn't his fault!

It is also almost impossible to fit chains to the standard S4 wheels but possible with the winter ones though in all the time I have used them they have been so good that chains have never been needed.

I would say that with quattro you would have to live somewhere very snowy in the UK to warrant the cost and hassle of changing them but the difference really is amazing if you have the need.

Hope this helps

Chris

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Chris. I live in Scotland and have always been impressed with the S4 in any 'normal' winter conditions and snow up to about 6". After that I've got the Landie and its low ratio box.

In the middle of winter we still get 10-12c days but can go down to -5c at night. The only reason for asking is that the black ice recently has been terrible but I guess nothing grips in that.

Any thoughts on prices for winter tyres incl rims in the 225/45 17 size.

[Fergy]

you should pay more attention merlot

Link http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/996048/an/0/page/5#996048

[P_G]

[ QUOTE ]

Does anyone think it would be worth lowering the preasure and if so by how much??

[/ QUOTE ]

If anything I'd increase the pressures on the S4 and did so last year. Lowering them albeit that the tyres are fairly rigid in their construction will increase contact surface area which on normal tyres would make them worse in terms of handling. Narrower contact patch with same weight increases weight on the contact patch and should help the car cut into the snow better.

However saying all that I'm not sure how much difference there would be increasing pressures by about 6-8 psi all round?

[Merlot]

[ QUOTE ]

you should pay more attention merlot

Link http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/996048/an/0/page/5#996048

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe that was at the back of my mind Fergy - thanks. Any thoughts on wheel prices?

[Biscuits]

I'd say winter tyres are about as much use in the UK as slicks are in summer !

The 'old' S4 was more than capable when the snow fell last winter... all one week of it.

I had an A3 1.8TQ a few years back and took the missus skiing in the Alps... 1 meter of snow fell and everyone was told to stop half way up the mountains unless they had chains on... I just shouted QUATTRO out the window to the plod and they waved me through... fantastic time (was a pre-ESP car)