All Season Tires on the Q5

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01-02-2011, 04:09 PM

Reggie

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All Season Tires on the Q5

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oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

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ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> So here is my experience with the Conti Contacts DWS (255/45-20)all seasons on the Q5 after a week of driving to Seattle (in horrid conditions – that I posted about earlier) from Fort Collins and back and now that I have had one good snow here in Fort Collins to drive the car. I have had snows on my 98’ Audi A4 (both blizzaks and Dulop M3) and the RS4. I had all seasons on a 4000 and a 95’ Audi 90. The A4 now has All Seasons Yokahamas on them and my daughter is driving that car in Seattle- She had one spin out in the ice storm they had there earlier this year.

I have found that the grip on the Q5 with the Contis are good but not great on ice and freezing conditions. I am comparing that to the RS4 with Dunlop 3Ds. Never did I feel uncomfortable with the Dunlops but the Contis make me feel a little unease when driving under very adverse conditions or when turning in intersections with sheet ice.

So I looked at the Tire Rack testing of the Contis for ice and compared them to the Dunlop and other snow tires and they are significantly less capable than snow tires. Yet they are the best of the all seasons. I think we can get by with them for the rest of the season (well I know I can but I hope my wife and daughter can when driving the car up to go skiing) and we really don’t have a choice now as all snow tires are sold out in the size I need for the Q5. I have driven the Yokahamas all seasons on ice in the A4 in a horrid ice storm one trip back from Indiana to Colorado a couple of years ago and they were OK in that car but it was a lot of white knuckle driving too.

I plan to purchase Hartman 19” rims next fall with snow tires. Means a second tire rack needs to be purchased for the garage for the second set of rims (to go with the ones for the RS4).

I am not sorry I got the Contis and they are a great tire for the Q5. They just are not great enough for winter here. I hope Dunlop has the 3Ds in the 19” size I will need for the Q5 next fall.

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01-03-2011, 12:42 PM

PeteDin206

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I run Yokohama Parada Spec X's on my Q5 S-line wheels and have never had any major issue getting around. I'm pretty cautious when it comes to driving on icy roads. I did have a little back end slip when driving up to Snoqualmie pass in heavy snow, but I was driving about 70 at the time and once I came off the gas, no problems. I won't drive up/down an icy hill (notorious in Seattle). Here in Seattle it is hard to justify winter tires as we just don't get enough snow/ice to warrant them. I just avoid the roads that I shouldn't be driving on when it is winter conditions and everything has worked out ok so far.

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01-03-2011, 01:10 PM

Reggie

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteDin206

I understand how in Seattle people don't justify them - My daughter spun out the A4 in the last ice storm. I saw videos posted on "Queen Ann Street"?????. But she will work from home next time -but she is still considering snow tires and rims.

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01-03-2011, 06:52 PM

PeteDin206

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Yep, Queen Anne Ave is a nightmare and ANYONE who tries to drive on it during any sort of snow or icy conditions should have their license and car revoked. The stupid thing is, there are plenty of easy ways to get on and off of Queen Anne without going up Queen Anne Ave.

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01-04-2011, 07:08 AM

ELEVENS

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteDin206

...Queen Anne Ave is a nightmare and ANYONE who tries to drive on it during any sort of snow or icy conditions should have their license and car revoked...

I do hope you're kidding