Winter Tyres Question

[A6S]

I must admit I am very tempted to get a set, was looking at a new set from MrWinterWheels for £800, they were for 18" so you've got a bargain. I have the 20" rims at the moment, running summers, but with my S-Line I have Brembos on the front so think I can get away with 17" rims from what I've read elsewhere.

Just looking at my 18s winter on my 272. There’s about a 1 inch gap between calliper and wheel. Depending on the design of the wheel 17s might be a struggle.

[gav28uk]

Just looking at my 18s winter on my 272. There’s about a 1 inch gap between calliper and wheel. Depending on the design of the wheel 17s might be a struggle.

Hmm, well I am hopeful that they will fit :-) The door sticker shows 17" wheels will fit and also MrWinterWheels also say 17" wheels will fit and they guarantee it. The wheels I've just decided to buy are Audi Originals from ebay.de so I will find out very shortly!

[neebsta]

Mine have just arrived this morning ❄️❄️

[neebsta]

The smallest wheel my Allroad BiTDI will take is 18"

[A6S]

The smallest wheel my Allroad BiTDI will take is 18"

Think the bitdi has 356mm discs and the 272 has 340

[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!

[gav28uk]

Hmm, well I am hopeful that they will fit :-) The door sticker shows 17" wheels will fit and also MrWinterWheels also say 17" wheels will fit and they guarantee it. The wheels I've just decided to buy are Audi Originals from ebay.de so I will find out very shortly!

Well my 17" rims within winter tyres arrived today, happy to report they fit and are looking good, in fact considering they replaced my 20" rims, they don't look that bad at all :-)

[A6S]

Well my 17" rims within winter tyres arrived today, happy to report they fit and are looking good, in fact considering they replaced my 20" rims, they don't look that bad at all :-)

You will notice a much better fuel consumption and more comfort too.
My fuel economy has went up almost 20% going from 19-18