Winter driving

[Redcar01]

Hi All
Only had my Audi A4 2012 143 diesel Multitronic a few months and really like it but i was wondering what its going to be like in the snow.

Cheers

[Guest 2]

Keep it in S while driving on snow/ice so the gearbox doesn't change up and gain speed itself.


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[SteveDinz]

Hi All
Only had my Audi A4 2012 143 diesel Multitronic a few months and really like it but i was wondering what its going to be like in the snow.
Cheers

If it's anything like mine it'll be crap! :D

I bought a set of Winter wheels & tyres after my first experience in snow on my estate. I live at the top of a very steep and bendy road so the winter tyres are crucial.

To be honest, the combination of 255 tyres (assuming you've got 19's, maybe not!), summer rubber and multitronic gearbox is not really made for snow.

[theskyfox]

Hi All
Only had my Audi A4 2012 143 diesel Multitronic a few months and really like it but i was wondering what its going to be like in the snow.

Cheers

I think in many ways this topic has been pretty much done to death, but heres some info anyway. Without knowing where you will be driving in the winter and what sort of distances it is pretty hard to comment. Generally the biggest factor is going to be the wheels you have on the car. The 255/35/19 size wheels tend to be supplied with summer tyres. Coupled with a large width, these generally give pretty poor traction in the snow.

If you are driving on mainly urban routes which are gritted/salted, then you can get away with taking it easy and just driving slowly/carefully in the bad weather. Optionally you could look at snow-socks.

Alternatively, if you are driving in a lot of rural routes which are untreated and treacherous then considering a set of winter wheels/tyres could be a serious option. Many members on here choose to buy a set of narrow wheels (i.e. 16" or so) with specialised winter tyres which will give superb grip/performance even on the worst winter roads. The off-putting factor with these is of course the price - a set of alloys/wheels can set you back £700+, but bargains are to be had on ebay/dealers.

Personally I live down in the south-east which is famous for getting off lightly in the winter-time, but I've opted for a set of winter wheels/tyres simply because I've had to take too many days off work from not being able to get in in bad weather. I keep them in the shed, and swap them onto the car around october time...with the 19" alloys going back on around april.

Hope this helps.

-Andrew

[Redcar01]

I have 225/50/R17 on my car I didn't know they were not the ususl size, is 19inch the usual size tyres? my ride ok as they are. I live in Sheffield so a hilly city, also on a hilly part of town, considering winter tyres and storing the summer tryes aththe trye dealers £30 for 6 months, but do you think 17inch will be ok

[Guest 2]

Your car was obviously specced with 17" wheels and Andrew is talking about his size of wheel on snow ;)

225/50/17 is correct for 17"

[Redcar01]

so are 17 " better in the snow do Audi dealers do tyre storage ?

[Guest 2]

The narrower the tyre generally the better but depends on make etc.

Audi can store them but I have mine stacked in my garage and rotate them every couple of weeks. They also do winter packages but I got mine wayyy cheaper getting the tyres part worn (6.5mm on all 4) and a cheap set of OEM rims.


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[Redcar01]

I have decided to buy some winter tyres probably Pirelli 210 S2 sotto zero 225/50 R17 for £135 a corner but can I put them on to my existing alloys as I don't have space to store spare wheels or want to buy new rims I can put my existing tyres in the loft until April. Is the price good for Pirellis or can somebody recommend another winter tyre for a A4 Avant price is around I wanted to pay. Local tyre company who can provide the tyres use nitrogen in the tyres is it a con ? Cheers

[Guest 2]

If you're using your original rims make sure you plaster them with very strong wheel sealant to stop any salt etc attacking the surface.

I had my tyres filled with nitrogen, didn't feel any difference IMO.

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[EssexGonzo]

I think you've pretty much got all of the answers but my 2p worth....

Wide tyres + auto box = disaster on the snow.

Add winter tyres and it'll be better than a Quattro on standard tyres. ;):cool:

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[Guest 2]

I'm getting winters for my A6 this winter, wonder how much more fun (err I mean safe!) it will be with them on a quattro ;)


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[EssexGonzo]

Well, I reckon it's safe to say that a Quattro on winter tyres trumps all. You'll be sailing past the stranded Q7 drivers on their 3 foot wide summer tyres .....:D

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[Redcar01]

Thanks ...looks like its ok to get winter tyres and not get stuck anywhere. Yes we had someone last year had to be dragged off our estate cos he got 50 yds with his new Q7 by a 30 year old land rover with big studded tyres.

[eonbkuk]

any suggestions on where to get steel wheels, have found tyres for £55 a wheel and going for winter tyres sounds a good bet

[theskyfox]

Well, I reckon it's safe to say that a Quattro on winter tyres trumps all. You'll be sailing past the stranded Q7 drivers on their 3 foot wide summer tyres .....:D

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And all the other 4x4 owners that don't understand that you need winter tyres to take advantage of 4 wheel drive in the snow. I remember seeing on BBC news last year pictures of huge Shoguns and other mum-trucks wedged comfortably into ditches with the drivers looking rather confused...

Got my winter tyres as a package from Audi, they were doing an offer of them a few years back. I don't pay them for storage though, just use the old shed.

-Andrew

[eonbkuk]

any suggestions on where to get steel wheels, have found tyres for £55 a wheel and going for winter tyres sounds a good bet

i wouldnt click on the link as it goes to push bike website not sure how that got put in as i didn't do it but pushbike in the snow interesting but probably not as much fun as my recumbent trike

[Guest 2]

i wouldnt click on the link as it goes to push bike website not sure how that got put in as i didn't do it but pushbike in the snow interesting but probably not as much fun as my recumbent trike

Its Skimlinks - a little plugin which keeps the forum free to use, if you hover over it you'll see that it says Added By Skimlinks. This happens automatically ;)


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