tire selection challenge
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tire selection challenge
OK. I need to buy summer tires. I have a particular tire selection challenge. I live around Sante Fe, NM. This means 2 things: Lots of high speed highway miles, and some dirt roads that occasionally turn to mud.
Winter means snow, and I'll be turning in my All-season tires for winter tires in October. The all-season suck in the snow around here.
So, I'm looking a true summer tire. They will go on 18 inch rims -- probably 245/45/18 size tires. The highway requirement is the most important -- so a good Z-rated tire is on order, but it just can't totally suck if it occasionally encounters some mud on a dirt road. Also temperature across NM can go high -- 100+ degrees (not really in Santa Fe, but elsewhere in the State and neighboring states).
What do you think? Am I ultimately looking at an All-season performance tire that is M+S rated, even though I don't plan to use it in winter. Or will an all-season just not be advisable in our summer heat? Is there a summer performance tire that looks like it might acceptably shed mud?
Any thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations? Thanks.
Winter means snow, and I'll be turning in my All-season tires for winter tires in October. The all-season suck in the snow around here.
So, I'm looking a true summer tire. They will go on 18 inch rims -- probably 245/45/18 size tires. The highway requirement is the most important -- so a good Z-rated tire is on order, but it just can't totally suck if it occasionally encounters some mud on a dirt road. Also temperature across NM can go high -- 100+ degrees (not really in Santa Fe, but elsewhere in the State and neighboring states).
What do you think? Am I ultimately looking at an All-season performance tire that is M+S rated, even though I don't plan to use it in winter. Or will an all-season just not be advisable in our summer heat? Is there a summer performance tire that looks like it might acceptably shed mud?
Any thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations? Thanks.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,334
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From: Minnesota
Tire Rack has tests & surveys that I have found to be right on with my personal experiences. I ran 17" GY Triple Treds, 19" Yoko Advan and 18" Bridgestone RE960. The surveys all reflect precisely what I experienced.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 123
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From: Highlands Ranch CO
I just completed analysis for the identical challenge (summer tires for Colorado, main desire is dry handling but can't suck in spring/fall snow)Went with the Bridgestone 960 last month. Very impressed - super quiet, comfortable, corner great, and I actually was in 4-5" of snow and some mud in the mountains 2 days ago and they did fine.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 170
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From: Toronto Ontario Canada -eh?
I went with the dedicated winter tires on OE rims, Hankook Winter iPikes and for the summer I got RS6 reps wrapped in 255/40/19 Falken 452's. They are a great rubber so far, great on dry roads, amazing in the rain and they dont mind the odd gravel/mud on the way to the cottage.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
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Last edited by Romario; May 4, 2010 at 12:15 AM.