Winter Tires
10-12-2018, 02:49 PM
#1
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Winter Tires
I have the 19inch Rims with my Sportback with 255/30/ summer tires on it right now. I live in Western Maryland so we get snow. I have always made it around in Front wheel drive cars with All Season tires on it. My question is anyone have an all season tire they like. And also can I get like a 245/35 without messing up anything. Just wondering how far i can go tire size wise.
10-12-2018, 03:10 PM
#2
AudiWorld Super User
Check with TireRack. Buy a separate set of wheels/tires for winter
I have the 19inch Rims with my Sportback with 255/30/ summer tires on it right now. I live in Western Maryland so we get snow. I have always made it around in Front wheel drive cars with All Season tires on it. My question is anyone have an all season tire they like. And also can I get like a 245/35 without messing up anything. Just wondering how far i can go tire size wise.
Yeah, heresy on an AW board, but still....with FWD most that can happen is you slip the front tires...let up the gas or unwind the wheel and they grip....AWD generally makes people overconfident and they end up tango uniform in the ditch. RWD or AWD, you lose it and rear end comes around and you go in backwards, ESP cannot undo laws of physics after a certain point.
That being said, we've owned 4 audis and currently own two. IF you can keep your head whether its a Jeep or Explorer or Audi you'll do fine in snow.
10-12-2018, 03:29 PM
#3
Club AutoUnion
Not to disagree with you — but I strongly disagree with you!
I had far more control in my RWD Toyota Supra (with a full tank of gas and some added weight in the hatch) than with either of my FWD Acura Integra / RSX. Having said that, I will qualify my post by saying that I took the Bob Bondurant driving course about 40 years ago, when it was taught at Lime Rock. We were shown how important it is to “feel” the power in the rear wheels and how and when to turn the wheel, how much power too apply / remove when starting to slide / break traction with the rear wheels as well as the importance of removing all power when starting to lose rear control. We were not driving automatics on the road course — all manual transmission, RWD cars.
With a FWD car, unless you know how to “gently” apply the handbrake when losing traction, you have no control of the rear wheels once your front wheels lose traction.
I have driven my wife’s RDX with AWD and I wasn’t thrilled with it’s performance on snow as far as handling. As for my S5 Coupe, I bought the 19” Cavos and summer tires so I won’t be driving in any snow we get this winter. If the summer tires are worn out by this time next year I will probably be looking for a set of 18” wheels and snow tires for the S5 and then I will have a more informed opinion of the Audi in the snow.
I had far more control in my RWD Toyota Supra (with a full tank of gas and some added weight in the hatch) than with either of my FWD Acura Integra / RSX. Having said that, I will qualify my post by saying that I took the Bob Bondurant driving course about 40 years ago, when it was taught at Lime Rock. We were shown how important it is to “feel” the power in the rear wheels and how and when to turn the wheel, how much power too apply / remove when starting to slide / break traction with the rear wheels as well as the importance of removing all power when starting to lose rear control. We were not driving automatics on the road course — all manual transmission, RWD cars.
With a FWD car, unless you know how to “gently” apply the handbrake when losing traction, you have no control of the rear wheels once your front wheels lose traction.
I have driven my wife’s RDX with AWD and I wasn’t thrilled with it’s performance on snow as far as handling. As for my S5 Coupe, I bought the 19” Cavos and summer tires so I won’t be driving in any snow we get this winter. If the summer tires are worn out by this time next year I will probably be looking for a set of 18” wheels and snow tires for the S5 and then I will have a more informed opinion of the Audi in the snow.
10-12-2018, 05:28 PM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
I have the 19inch Rims with my Sportback with 255/30/ summer tires on it right now. I live in Western Maryland so we get snow. I have always made it around in Front wheel drive cars with All Season tires on it. My question is anyone have an all season tire they like. And also can I get like a 245/35 without messing up anything. Just wondering how far i can go tire size wise.
10-13-2018, 05:30 AM
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10-13-2018, 05:52 AM
#6
AudiWorld Super User
You could, but I just replied to the original question regarding whether or not that size would fit. I have no thoughts as to changing sizes as there’s lots of variables with regards to the type of driving you do and personal preference. I run dedicated winter tires and that’s always my recommendation for cars that see real winter.
10-13-2018, 06:49 AM
#7
AudiWorld Super User
not rocket science
I have the 19inch Rims with my Sportback with 255/30/ summer tires on it right now. I live in Western Maryland so we get snow. I have always made it around in Front wheel drive cars with All Season tires on it. My question is anyone have an all season tire they like. And also can I get like a 245/35 without messing up anything. Just wondering how far i can go tire size wise.
Last edited by bpp; 10-13-2018 at 06:51 AM.
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10-13-2018, 08:42 AM
#8
AudiWorld Senior Member
FWD, RWD, AWD, 4X4 - only makes a difference when your foot is on the gas pedal. When it's on the brake pedal all drive systems become equal and it's all about the tires that are on the car. Nothing beats a proper set of winter tires in the snow, and even then you still need to drive within the limits of traction. All Season tires are acceptable in those areas that don't see a lot of snow or where it gets cleared very quickly, just understand that the limits of traction on an AS tire will be lower than that of a winter tire on either ice or snow and drive appropriately (or just stay home for the day).
I agree that AWD can make a driver overconfident in bad conditions. Just because the car can do a better job of moving you forward doesn't mean it will allow you to slow down any better than the guy in front of you. Unfortunately I learned that lesson the hard way years ago in my first AWD car, a Mitsubishi GSX. My confidence exceeded the available traction and I was rewarded for that with a expensive trip into a ditch. That was also the day I learned my lesson about proper winter tires.
I agree that AWD can make a driver overconfident in bad conditions. Just because the car can do a better job of moving you forward doesn't mean it will allow you to slow down any better than the guy in front of you. Unfortunately I learned that lesson the hard way years ago in my first AWD car, a Mitsubishi GSX. My confidence exceeded the available traction and I was rewarded for that with a expensive trip into a ditch. That was also the day I learned my lesson about proper winter tires.
10-13-2018, 04:00 PM
#9
AudiWorld Super User
FWD, RWD, AWD, 4X4 - only makes a difference when your foot is on the gas pedal. When it's on the brake pedal all drive systems become equal and it's all about the tires that are on the car. Nothing beats a proper set of winter tires in the snow, and even then you still need to drive within the limits of traction. All Season tires are acceptable in those areas that don't see a lot of snow or where it gets cleared very quickly, just understand that the limits of traction on an AS tire will be lower than that of a winter tire on either ice or snow and drive appropriately (or just stay home for the day).
I agree that AWD can make a driver overconfident in bad conditions. Just because the car can do a better job of moving you forward doesn't mean it will allow you to slow down any better than the guy in front of you. Unfortunately I learned that lesson the hard way years ago in my first AWD car, a Mitsubishi GSX. My confidence exceeded the available traction and I was rewarded for that with a expensive trip into a ditch. That was also the day I learned my lesson about proper winter tires.
I agree that AWD can make a driver overconfident in bad conditions. Just because the car can do a better job of moving you forward doesn't mean it will allow you to slow down any better than the guy in front of you. Unfortunately I learned that lesson the hard way years ago in my first AWD car, a Mitsubishi GSX. My confidence exceeded the available traction and I was rewarded for that with a expensive trip into a ditch. That was also the day I learned my lesson about proper winter tires.
10-13-2018, 07:52 PM
#10
AudiWorld Senior Member