Winter tire recommendations for Gaithersburg (MD)? (x-post)
 

I just moved here from the SF Bay area and was wondering what kind of tires you need to run for the winter months. Can one get by with all-seasons or do you need bona fide winter tires?

Also, any local favorites for alignment, mount/balance, etc.

TIA,
Jim
2000 S4 Nogaro, MTM, StaSIS, etc.
1998 A4Q 1.8T, APR, etc.

You will be fine with all-season tires
 

Far more people around here have them than they do dedicated winter/snow tires.

If you're in Gaithersburg, there is a Merchant's Tire & Auto on Route 124 (Woodfield Road) by the Montgomery County Airpark. It is across from the Maryland & Emissions Inspection station. When I lived in MD, I used to go there, the guys were good, and cared about the cars and wheels under their car. Now, I haven't been there in about four years, but I had been going there for years before that and always had good experience there.

Jim

not just any all seasons, i need to note......
 

years of driving in this weather, in both a rear drive BMW and a quattro (2 diff)....I need to recommend Michelin Pilot Sport A/S's......

They wear at a GREATLY less pace than others, creating longer life, grip roads and took my BMW in places it wasnt meant to go.....ALL LAST WINTER....and if you know that storm we had, that is quite a feat.

BTW, we are supposed to have a worse strom than last year, so the 220 or so per tire will be money well spent.

Thx, I'll keep Merchant's in mind.

I've got the Pilot Sport A/S...
 

on my 17s from last season, but they wore pretty quickly over the mountain roads that I drove. I was so impressed with them, though, that I also bought a set for my A4.

They're still on the short list for this year along with the ContiExtremes and Pirelli PZero Nero M&S (both a lot less $$). And, I'd also consider the Nokian WR Passenger if the snowfall gets serious.

Thx, Jim

I think I'm getting Dunlop Graspic DS-1's from the TireRack....
 

~70 a tire for 205/55/16's, can't be beat. Have an extra set of rims on which these would go....Bring on the snow! :-D

I have Falken Ziex 512s and did well for me the last storm we had..