Audible911

Visited Costco earlier tonight and was looking at the Pirelli Winter Ice Zero Fr
235/55R19 105H XL tires. The tire guy was hell bent on recommending these tires (which are new this season) over the Pirelli Scorpion Winters, which were $50 per tire more. My question is: given that the Ice Zero's are not a light Truck/SUV performance tire (like the Pirelli Scorpions) (although the description does mention SUV's: "for city/medium cars, premium sedans and SUV."), is this tire suitable for a 2015 Q5 TDI? Or should I be going for a more robust sidewall build with a Performance Light Truck/SUV class? Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

gk1

The Ice Zero is a studless winter tire whereas the Scorpion is a performance winter tire.
See the difference on Tirerack and determine which is best for your needs.
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/...jsp?techid=192

Most people do not need studless snows unless they frequently drive on unplowed roads or ice.

Audible911

Thanks for the info. I will be driving on a few long trips over high mountain passes. The potential for heavy snowfall and black ice is always present. I guess my main concern is whether or not these tires are suitable for a small SUV like the Q5, given the weight and height of the vehicle when compared to a car.

gk1

Vehicle height shouldn't have anything to do with it, the ones you listed are 105 load rated so that is equivalent to or higher than OE. Therefore no problem there. The only concern would be traveling on plowed roads the tires may wear more quickly than the scorpions. Plus I'm sure they do not handle as well due to soft compound.

ex-quattro PETE

Isn't this a run-flat tire? Most run-flats offer a very harsh ride. That's something to consider...