ciernett

My Q5 3.0 is arriving with summer tires (255/45 R20) and I want to find a 20" tire to use during the winter months. I don't have an immediate need but I'm thinking that I may be able to find a end of the season sale and that you guys can speak from your recent experiences.

I live in St. Charles, MO just outside St. Louis and our winters are fairly mild but we get just enough cold and precipitation to make things dicey for all-seasons. I'm thinking that snow tires maybe overkill or that we have too many warm days with dry roads to experience good snow tire performance and quietness.

Our typical temps in November and March average 45 degrees. December-February average about 33 degrees. There a a few occasions lately were we see a few days of really warm temps as well as a couple of weeks in the single digits.

We don't usually get snow in November. During Dec.-February we average a total of 15". Mostly days of 1" or less mixed in with 1-2 days of 5 plus inches. 10+ inches is an every 7 years type of thing. We also get a few days of frozen rain/sleet. March snow is a mixed bag.

Based on prior posts these are the tires that I have in mind:

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
Nokian WRG3 (All Weather)
Pirelli Scorpion Winter

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

JBDinTX

I have the DM-V1's. I wish I would have went with a winter performance tire. The DM-V1's are great but they are very "fish'E" tires. I travel between Colorado and Dallas in the winter. I have a ranch just north of Dallas that I spend a good deal of the winter at. I feel I could have kept some of the performance if I would have went with a winter performance tire.

starfire63

Have summer 20's on my TDI- went with 18" Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snow, on new rims (you can look up my post on this forum on the tires/rims), and so far they have been great in deep snow and some icy conditions in CO and NM this winter, seem to handle pretty well, are quiet. During last weekends big storm in NM , went up to Taos to ski, roads were packed and icy, never had a problem even when trying to provoke some wheelspin they seemed to dig in and go.

These tires are used as Porsche approved OEM winter tires for the Cayenne, which at least dynamically is similar to the Q5.

I believe they do have them in 20"" size as well

Resoom

In my area of Canada, roughly halfway between Buffalo and Detroit in what we locally call "the snow belt", it's recommended that when the temp averages 7C (45F) that you put your snows on. Unless you have larger Calipers/Rotors, perhaps consider running a smaller tire. My snows are 235/60/18 on OEM rims and my other tires are all season 275/40/20 on aftermarket rims. You might even be able to fit 17's. Smaller tire should be less expensive. BTW, I bought my latest set of Michelin X-Ice in July/August 2014 on clear-out for approx. $50 US a pc. Bought my latest summer tires just this January 2015 for $150 US/pc - in a few months I'd expect those tires to be around $250 US/pc.

nickram

So I have done lots of research. If you want winter only, people love the blizzak. I personally am going to get these highly rated all season tires.


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=545WR0ECDWSXL

Those are the correct size for your car.

Sugadaddy

Nokian WRG3 would be my choice, they're the only all-seasons I'd use in snow.

I have the Hakka R2, but I live in Montreal.

JBDinTX

I had the conti DWS on my S5 and HATED them.

SQ5inBrooklyn

Does Hartmann offer any wheels for the SQ5 that I will not have to apply spacers or new lug bolts too? That I can you my standard OEM ball seat.

JBDinTX

Not sure on the lugs. But I do NOT have spacers on my winter set from them. I did have to change lugs.

ciernett

Decided to go with Continental's new Extreme Contact DWS06, 255x45x20 from Tirerack.com. If I like them I may not put the summer's back on.

I decided that a dedicated snow tire for my locale would be overkill.