16" snow wheels-tires vs 17"
12-21-1999, 11:29 AM
#1
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16" snow wheels-tires vs 17"
TR claims they are out of the wheels I wanted in 17" but said that 16" will be "just as good" if not better. -- softer ride through pot holes. Any experiance or comments. Thanks!
(Note they said that the diamater will be the same -- 50s insteaad of 45s)
(Note they said that the diamater will be the same -- 50s insteaad of 45s)
12-21-1999, 11:42 AM
#3
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16" for snow (long)
If you go to a 16" wheel for the S4, your snow tires should be 205/55-16. That's the size Audi recommends, and they sell them in Europe with that size as well.
The taller sidewall will put a little more flex in the tire. That softens the ride (slightly) and and also reduces the turn-in responsiveness (also slightly). You end with a slightly softer, slight lower-performance ride.
The real issue is winter performance. If you want the best possible winter performance, go 16". The narrower, taller 16" snow tire will perform significantly better in snow that the 17" would. Basically, everything is upside down for a snow tire. Narrower and taller, with more void in the tread pattern, is better. That's the opposite from a performance summer tire.
FWIW, I have 16" wheels with Pirelli 210A 205/55-16 snow tires on my new S4. I haven't had it in any significant snow yet, but dry road is just fine. Tires are quiet, ride is comfortable, handling is only slightly diminished, and all I do is slow down slightly on freeway ramps. Other than that, in daily driving, they're very little different from my 17" summer tires.
Skiing the Sierras, I leave snow tires on about six months a year, so my tire wear is split half and half between summer and winter tires.
As far as snow performance is concerned, I base my opinions on my six previous Quattros. I've always downsized for winter. A quattro with good snow tires is virtually unstoppable. (I've owned several sets of Nokia Hakka's and I'd recommend them to anyone.) That's the reason I buy a Quattro in the first place, and I couldn't imagine giving up the car's greatest advantage (bad weather) by equipping it with a compromise tire!
DMoore
'00 S4
The taller sidewall will put a little more flex in the tire. That softens the ride (slightly) and and also reduces the turn-in responsiveness (also slightly). You end with a slightly softer, slight lower-performance ride.
The real issue is winter performance. If you want the best possible winter performance, go 16". The narrower, taller 16" snow tire will perform significantly better in snow that the 17" would. Basically, everything is upside down for a snow tire. Narrower and taller, with more void in the tread pattern, is better. That's the opposite from a performance summer tire.
FWIW, I have 16" wheels with Pirelli 210A 205/55-16 snow tires on my new S4. I haven't had it in any significant snow yet, but dry road is just fine. Tires are quiet, ride is comfortable, handling is only slightly diminished, and all I do is slow down slightly on freeway ramps. Other than that, in daily driving, they're very little different from my 17" summer tires.
Skiing the Sierras, I leave snow tires on about six months a year, so my tire wear is split half and half between summer and winter tires.
As far as snow performance is concerned, I base my opinions on my six previous Quattros. I've always downsized for winter. A quattro with good snow tires is virtually unstoppable. (I've owned several sets of Nokia Hakka's and I'd recommend them to anyone.) That's the reason I buy a Quattro in the first place, and I couldn't imagine giving up the car's greatest advantage (bad weather) by equipping it with a compromise tire!
DMoore
'00 S4
12-21-1999, 01:05 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Just get the Dunlops put on the stock wheels.
Dunlop Winter Sport M2. 225/45/17. Perfect fit and keep the stock look.
Heard some pretty good things about the Dunlops so far. They ride really nice. Haven't had a chance to play in the snow yet.
Steve L O
Heard some pretty good things about the Dunlops so far. They ride really nice. Haven't had a chance to play in the snow yet.
Steve L O
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