Found out the hard way... SP8000's officially BLOW in the snow...
01-06-2002, 04:09 PM
#13
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Any summers will suck when you try to brake and turn!
So what I got ugly looking silver steelies with full winters. At least I can go to the ski hill today in the left lane covered in snow :-)
01-06-2002, 04:13 PM
#15
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Oy, so here we go...I guess we should expect a rash of similar posts tomorrow AM?
Sorry about your situation...not to sound unsympathetic, but many of us hear this every year, as each generation of Audi owners learn the hard way that high perf. tires are not intended for use in cold temps.
Anyway, about your suspension, sadly, it doesn't take much effort to bend things out of whack. The suspension is design to take impacts when the wheel rolls over them. You've got a shock and spring, as well as the tire itself to absorb impacts. From the side, all you have is hard metal components, absorbing a shock in a direction they were not designed to absorb impacts from. I can't tell you whether you're in for $$$ repairs, I can only tell you that the likelihood of damage is pretty high, even at 5 mph. Maybe you got lucky? Certainly get it aligned. If they can get it back to spec, or it already is within spec, just keep on eye out for odd tire wear (which can be an indication of problems with the suspension). That may take 5K miles to show up though. If it can not be aligned to spec, then you rely on your dealer to figure out what got bent, and start replacing parts, until they can bring everything back to spec.
Anyway, about your suspension, sadly, it doesn't take much effort to bend things out of whack. The suspension is design to take impacts when the wheel rolls over them. You've got a shock and spring, as well as the tire itself to absorb impacts. From the side, all you have is hard metal components, absorbing a shock in a direction they were not designed to absorb impacts from. I can't tell you whether you're in for $$$ repairs, I can only tell you that the likelihood of damage is pretty high, even at 5 mph. Maybe you got lucky? Certainly get it aligned. If they can get it back to spec, or it already is within spec, just keep on eye out for odd tire wear (which can be an indication of problems with the suspension). That may take 5K miles to show up though. If it can not be aligned to spec, then you rely on your dealer to figure out what got bent, and start replacing parts, until they can bring everything back to spec.
01-06-2002, 04:25 PM
#16
Well duh, only an idiot would drive SP8000's in the winter...
... I did last winter from Feb. to spring time. Pretty much, when it snowed, I didn't drive my car. They do literally suck that bad in the snow, but people never seem to listen. I knew they would suck, but didn't have the cash to buy a set of winter rubber after purchasing the car, so I dealt with it. BTW - they are ok for taking off in, and typically will hold the line while accelerating, but when you go to apply breaks they really, really suck.
