winter tire question
10-17-2007, 04:20 PM
#1
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winter tire question
As some of you know i just purchased a 2002 S8.
The car came with two sets of wheels.
Summers are:
BBS RC's with 245-45-18 Donlop sport 9000 tires
The winters are:
stock AVUS with 235-50-18 Donlop Winter Sports M2 tires
With what it seems to me about Nick there is a reason for the skinnier winter tires but does this sound right?
The car came with two sets of wheels.
Summers are:
BBS RC's with 245-45-18 Donlop sport 9000 tires
The winters are:
stock AVUS with 235-50-18 Donlop Winter Sports M2 tires
With what it seems to me about Nick there is a reason for the skinnier winter tires but does this sound right?
10-17-2007, 07:00 PM
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Sidewall...
by diameter I hope you mean wheel diameter and not tire diameter. You want tire diameter to remain within a few percent of stock so you don't give bad info to the speedo and odometer.
wheel diameter being smaller, with the same tire diameter means more side wall. More side wall always means more grip. Snow, rain, dry. It helps spread the pressure more evenly across the tread.
wheel diameter being smaller, with the same tire diameter means more side wall. More side wall always means more grip. Snow, rain, dry. It helps spread the pressure more evenly across the tread.
10-18-2007, 04:42 AM
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This is not to say that 17s and 18s can't be good winter tires...
Even larger low-profile winter tires can be decent. I've run 45-17s on my Saab for winter tires and they are very good.
Narrower tires would be even a bit better. I chose to stay with the 17s becuase I figure even in the winter around Syracuse I'm driving on dry surfaces for most of the miles. The 17" snows gave me much improved grip but I didn't lose out much on handling.
Like everything else, it's about finding the right balance for your situation.
Narrower tires would be even a bit better. I chose to stay with the 17s becuase I figure even in the winter around Syracuse I'm driving on dry surfaces for most of the miles. The 17" snows gave me much improved grip but I didn't lose out much on handling.
Like everything else, it's about finding the right balance for your situation.
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10-18-2007, 04:42 AM
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With 245/45-18 winter tires, ...
Here in the hills of Pennsylvania, the S8 becomes a snow plow before it looses traction.
I don't see any need at all for the narrower 235/50-18, which is also 1/2" taller than the 245/45-18 :-(
I don't see any need at all for the narrower 235/50-18, which is also 1/2" taller than the 245/45-18 :-(