Winter Tyres Question

[neebsta]

I'm looking at some 19" rims for winter tyres (not just for the UK roads as we head across Europe at Easter)

Recommended winter tyres for this size rim are 255/45 R19 100Y

I have found some Sottozero 3 255/45 R19 104V

Lower speed rating (Still to 149mph which isn't going to happen anyway) but a higher load rating.

They are also marked MO - So Mercedes

Does anyone see any potential issues running these tyres? I know Winter Tyres it's quite normal for a lower speed rating. I don't understand why for a 19" Winter Tyre Audi recommends a Y rating yet 18" tyre they recommend a H rating.

Cheers

[NewAudi]

I have ised Continental TS winter tires for years. Find them to be superb.

Interesting re the speed rating, on both the previous A6 BiTdi and now the S6 my winter tires have been V-rated (ie 149mph/240km/h). I used 18” on the A6 and now 19” on the S6 due to brake size.

[ukgroucho]

I suspect that the lower speed ratings may be driven by the (typically) more granular tread pattern (more smaller chunks of tyre with more tread) and the softer compound - more likely to overheat at very high speeds. Lets face it these tyres are designed to provide grip in cold, wet, snowy (or muddy) conditions... if you have conditions where you can do 150mph+ then you are out of their comfort zone.

From what I recall the Dunlop 3D ones I have are V rated also.

[Splash]

more granular tread pattern (more smaller chunks of tyre with more tread) and the softer compound - more likely to overheat at very high speeds.

You're right. Softer compound moves and (over)heats more quickly, plus more open pattern (aka "land/sea ratio") doesn't make for easy interlocking of tread blocks in design. "M+S" nomenclature ONLY means >20% "sea" irrespective of compound! i.e. tyres are self-cleaning. Nothing to do with suitability for winter but obviously any good winter tyre is more than likely to have this sort of ratio so gets the "M+S" label.

Snow on the tyre grips snow on the road, and the zig-zag sipes collect snow at a micro level thus aiding traction.

The economics of what the car manufacturers and tyre OEMs homologate is based on different criteria to what we as users should consider. For prestige marques over 60% of drivers are sufficiently influenced to replace like for like, so although there will be some difference somewhere (compound/pattern/pitch etc.) the smaller batches should always command a premium from an "A0" mould.

Everything's a compromise though as the V rated all-seasons on mine scored really bad at low tread depths but are superb in proper winter conditions above the 2mm they were tested appallingly at. I bought them for the slightly longer Scottish winter season with a long window of use further South. I fit my originals for peak summer May-Sep. Michelin seem to have a better balance despite it not being classed as all-season. Proper winters don't really need more than an H rating and I'd be concerned way before hitting 130.

[ukgroucho]

Thanks Splash. Not sure I understood all of that but some ineteresting insight “snow grips snow”.

At the end of the day Quattro with some “better” winter rubber should mean more traction than all the rear wheel drive BMWs... so more traction than you can probably use before the road ahead is blocked by someone else going sideways on a gentle slope.

[Splash]

Wasn't meant to sound like it was aimed at you; your logic just prompted my evangelism. Hopefully the snow/snow bit makes more sense now. Local again btw!

[champakpopat]

sorry never used sottozero but can give another vote for continentals.. we were first off the ferry onto a road freshly covered with hail stones first and later on snow... continentals made me feel like it was a walk in the park...

[cjmcb]

Vredestein winters on my last A6 were amazing in the cold and wet as well as being quieter than normal summer tyres on a dry road

[itavaltalainen]

I can recommend Nokian WR A4, they come with V speed rating (on the XL derivatives) and are brilliant on my performance Golf.

[neebsta]

Just bought a full set of bog standard 18" A6 C7 Winter Wheels from Germany with Dunlop Wintersport Tyres.

Had these on my Q5 so I know they're reliable in the cold.