Summer vs. All-Season Tires
02-25-2019, 05:09 AM
#1
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Summer vs. All-Season Tires
Getting time to replace the original tires on the Q5 TDI. I put snow tires on in winter, but curious what folks think about putting summer tires on vs all-season for the "warm" months. I live in the Washington, DC, area, so usually once it's Spring we're good to go (same for Fall, although we did have a surprise early snow this November).
I suspect most people use all-season just because these cars/SUVs aren't supersporty anyway, but looking for thoughts.
I suspect most people use all-season just because these cars/SUVs aren't supersporty anyway, but looking for thoughts.
02-25-2019, 12:22 PM
#2
AudiWorld Junior Member
Summer tires are typically a softer compound for maximum grip which usually equates to shorter tread life. For my money and driving style, all season are a much better bet and better suited to handle the occasional light snow and rain. Tire Rack and Discount Tire have customer reviews of a variety of tire attributes that can help you choose what's most important to you.
02-25-2019, 12:45 PM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
Take a look at the wet/dry traction ratings, I'll bet the all-season tires beat the hell out of the summer tires for wet traction.
Unless you're taking the car to the track...I can't see a reason to put "high performance summer tires" on a Q5, really. Especially if a lot of your driving is in that nightmare traffic.
Unless you're taking the car to the track...I can't see a reason to put "high performance summer tires" on a Q5, really. Especially if a lot of your driving is in that nightmare traffic.
02-25-2019, 01:38 PM
#4
AudiWorld Senior Member
Take a look at the wet/dry traction ratings, I'll bet the all-season tires beat the hell out of the summer tires for wet traction.
Unless you're taking the car to the track...I can't see a reason to put "high performance summer tires" on a Q5, really. Especially if a lot of your driving is in that nightmare traffic.
Unless you're taking the car to the track...I can't see a reason to put "high performance summer tires" on a Q5, really. Especially if a lot of your driving is in that nightmare traffic.
It is funny how these myths persist (“unless you’re taking the car to the track”), because it has been shown many times that summer tires are better in summer and winter in winter, from a performance and safety perspective.
But it might come down to other factors besides performance...that make an AS tire preferable, such as:
-tread life
-the possibility of using the tire in the off season
-expense of running two sets of tires in the first place
Since OP already has a winter set, all other things being equal, I’d recommend a summer tire that is great in the rain, not any more money than the comparable brand AS: the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
02-25-2019, 01:56 PM
#5
AudiWorld Senior Member
4S tires have evolved a great deal in the last 15 or so years.Unless you're after a true "High Performance" summer tire which is likely to be of little point on a Q5, then a "3 season" tire is a good choice.They will be much better on the margins - spring and fall, when you never really know what you're going to get.Michelin, Bridgestone make some 3 season tires that perform very well and will outlast any "summer" tire that I know of.
By the way congrats.on running winters in DC.In Quebec they're mandatory but I suspect you're a rare duck in your area.
By the way congrats.on running winters in DC.In Quebec they're mandatory but I suspect you're a rare duck in your area.
02-25-2019, 02:34 PM
#7
AudiWorld Senior Member
Note the weird nomenclature Michelin uses:
Pilot Sport 4S is their new summer tire
Pilot Sport A/S 3 is their all season tire
Pilot Super Sport is the summer tire the 4S updated but it is still available
Pilot Sport Cup 2 is their track tire
Pilot Sport 4S is their new summer tire
Pilot Sport A/S 3 is their all season tire
Pilot Super Sport is the summer tire the 4S updated but it is still available
Pilot Sport Cup 2 is their track tire
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02-25-2019, 03:09 PM
#8
AudiWorld Super User
