<beat dead horse>Tires for occasional snow trips?
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<beat dead horse>Tires for occasional snow trips?
Ok, before I take cover:
- Currently have S-02 Pole Positions on 17x8 wheels as my year-round tire (SF Bay Area), since the worse winter around here means lots of rain. No problem, since the PP's are awesome in the rain as well as dry.
- I have a set of OEM Sport wheels with very little tread left on the SP8000Es.
- I occasionally (1-4 times per year) venture up into snow country like Lake Tahoe. The roads there are usually well-maintained.
- I want to get a set of tires to put on the OEM Sport wheels that will keep me on the road in snow
- I don't want to invest in a set of snow-only tires like Hak's or Alpins since they will probably last me 20 years at the rate I use them.
- I want to be able to use them the rest of the year, or in case I sell the car, I can replace my 17x8 wheels with these and still have the car handle decently.
- Would all-season tires work? Recommendations?
- I know that all-seasons don't do anything particularly well, but would they hold up to the infrequent trips up to Tahoe?
Thanks!
-PhilJ
17x8 Work Equip Anhelo, 225/45-17 S-02 Pole Positions
OEM Sport wheels, 205/55-16 Dunlop 8000E with little tread left
- Currently have S-02 Pole Positions on 17x8 wheels as my year-round tire (SF Bay Area), since the worse winter around here means lots of rain. No problem, since the PP's are awesome in the rain as well as dry.
- I have a set of OEM Sport wheels with very little tread left on the SP8000Es.
- I occasionally (1-4 times per year) venture up into snow country like Lake Tahoe. The roads there are usually well-maintained.
- I want to get a set of tires to put on the OEM Sport wheels that will keep me on the road in snow
- I don't want to invest in a set of snow-only tires like Hak's or Alpins since they will probably last me 20 years at the rate I use them.
- I want to be able to use them the rest of the year, or in case I sell the car, I can replace my 17x8 wheels with these and still have the car handle decently.
- Would all-season tires work? Recommendations?
- I know that all-seasons don't do anything particularly well, but would they hold up to the infrequent trips up to Tahoe?
Thanks!
-PhilJ
17x8 Work Equip Anhelo, 225/45-17 S-02 Pole Positions
OEM Sport wheels, 205/55-16 Dunlop 8000E with little tread left
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Based on what you're saying, how about stock all seasons?
You don't need them very often (1-4 times a year), and you want a economical solution.
All seasons won't be as good as a winter, but they will be far superior to the S-02's in snow. I'm not too familiar with Tahoe weather, but I would be inclined to say....try to find a used set of Goodyear RS-A's. They are terrible tires (IMHO), so you should be able to find a set pretty cheap, and they will serve your purposes well!
If you're buying new, I would say get the Dunlop SP5000's...about the same $ as new Goodyears, and they're not Goodyears! :-)
All seasons won't be as good as a winter, but they will be far superior to the S-02's in snow. I'm not too familiar with Tahoe weather, but I would be inclined to say....try to find a used set of Goodyear RS-A's. They are terrible tires (IMHO), so you should be able to find a set pretty cheap, and they will serve your purposes well!
If you're buying new, I would say get the Dunlop SP5000's...about the same $ as new Goodyears, and they're not Goodyears! :-)
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Tahoe weather
Snow like you've never seen. 2 feet in a night is not considered a big storm, it happens several times a year. They do work hard on the roads, even during big storms. So unless the winds whip up, the roads are usually open.
PhilJ, based on what you say, all-seasons are for you. That's what I'm doing also, and I'm in the same boat. I'll have performance tires on 17" rims most of the year and the stock all-seasons in winter.
Some snow tires do very well on dry (like Alpins), so you could consider them also. But really, for a couple trips a year, 70% of which will be when no snow is falling, you won't get much use of them.
The word on the street is Dunlop SP5000's. They aren't made in 215/55-16s, so get 205/55-16s or 215/50-16s. Either will work on your 16" x 7" rims.
PhilJ, based on what you say, all-seasons are for you. That's what I'm doing also, and I'm in the same boat. I'll have performance tires on 17" rims most of the year and the stock all-seasons in winter.
Some snow tires do very well on dry (like Alpins), so you could consider them also. But really, for a couple trips a year, 70% of which will be when no snow is falling, you won't get much use of them.
The word on the street is Dunlop SP5000's. They aren't made in 215/55-16s, so get 205/55-16s or 215/50-16s. Either will work on your 16" x 7" rims.
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Don't do chains...
Get the right tires if you plan to drive in that type of weather. AWD + snow tires will not require chains for Caltrans in all but the most extreme weather (where you probably ought not be out there anyhow and when Caltrans tends to first close the roads).
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Re: Based on what you're saying, how about stock all seasons?
I just purchased a set off of tirerack and for P205/55WR-16 Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Asymmetrical with 2 day ground it was $401. I have been asking around and researching for about a month and found that they would be the best for winter/summer combo.
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Quattro and chains - DON'T DO IT!
DO NOT USE CHAINS on an A4Q if you have tires any bigger than 195/65-15 on it. With the downsized tires there's JUST BARELY enough clearance for chains. With tires any bigger than that, don't do it. The chains will destroy VERY expensive parts of your front suspension. Audi says no chains at all, but they do in fact fit if you downsize the wheels and tires.
If snow tires are required you must carry chains (even if they don't fit) in California to be legal. CHP can and sometimes does make you show them. If conditions are R-3 (chains required, no exceptions) turn around and go home. Someone is going to slide out and block the road, anyway!
DMoore
'00 S4
If snow tires are required you must carry chains (even if they don't fit) in California to be legal. CHP can and sometimes does make you show them. If conditions are R-3 (chains required, no exceptions) turn around and go home. Someone is going to slide out and block the road, anyway!
DMoore
'00 S4
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On the A6
Audi says no chains with 16" x 7" rims, 16" x 8" rims, or any 17" rims. Presumably no 18" or up either.
So, if you switch down to some 15" rims as Madeline says, you can install chains on the front only. For some reason I can't understand, Audi says never put chains on the rear.
I think Caltrans requires chains on all drive axles to qualify as having chains (this is what truckers complain about at least). So, if CalTrans says AWD + chains required, I think you need chains on all wheels. In this case, I'm not sure how an Audi can ever satisfy those requirements.
Narrow tires are good in snow, so if you don't mind paying for rims, going down to 195/65-15's might be a good idea for snow tires.
So, if you switch down to some 15" rims as Madeline says, you can install chains on the front only. For some reason I can't understand, Audi says never put chains on the rear.
I think Caltrans requires chains on all drive axles to qualify as having chains (this is what truckers complain about at least). So, if CalTrans says AWD + chains required, I think you need chains on all wheels. In this case, I'm not sure how an Audi can ever satisfy those requirements.
Narrow tires are good in snow, so if you don't mind paying for rims, going down to 195/65-15's might be a good idea for snow tires.