ImAudi4

I am currently looking at three different winter tires for my 99.5 A4 1.8TQMS. I am in southern Minnesota so I see a fair amount of snow/ice during the winter but I also drive about 40 to 60 miles daily for work at highway speeds if and when the roads are plowed and or dry. So any input would be great on the three tires I am looking at.

They are:
1. <a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&url=%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%3FtireMake%3D Dunlop%26amp%3BtireModel%3DGraspic%2BDS-1">Dunlop Graspic DS-1</a>

2. <a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&url=%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%3FtireMake%3D Goodyear%26tireModel%3DUltra%2BGrip%2BIce">Good Year Ultra Grip Ice</a>

3. <a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&url=%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%3FtireMake%3D Dunlop%26tireModel%3DWinter%2BSport%2BM2">Dunlop Wintersport M2</a> or <a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&url=%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%3FtireMake%3D Dunlop%26tireModel%3DWinter%2BSport%2BM3">Dunlop Wintersport M3</a>

Also I know this topic has been beaten to death and I did search but couldn't find comparisons between these three tires. So I appologize if you think that this thread is unneeded and yes I already know where the search feature is.

Thanks in advance

Jay

Reggie3

I would say the differences between the M2 and M3 are slight based on Gary's comments.

The Dunlop DS-1 will give better snow and ice traction but less handling performance. Not sure of the wear characteristics vs the M2/3.

Gary@Tirerack.com

The Dunlop and GY are Q rated, very soft, 'ice' compound tires. They would be better in snow, but worse in dry road grip/cornering than the Dunlop M2/M3.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR8&amp;url=/winter/index.jsp">winter tires</a></li></ul>

jprice@CPS

The reason being as Gary mentioned they are much better on the dry, but do give up some ice traction to the other two you listed.

If you can spend a little more, you can get the Nokian WRs from Anderson Motorsport in chanhassen http://www.andersonmotorsport.com . I was over there 15 minutes ago and just ordered a set of 205/55/16 Nokian WRs for my wife's car :-)

ImAudi4

I would like to get the WR's but when I was looking into them the price outweighed the benefits for what would be winter only tires for me($145 a peice at R&amp;R in Mankato).

Thanks

jprice@CPS

not including mount / balance, etc. Yes, they're more expensive, but they also last longer.. $$ / mile they may be very close.

M2/M3 is also an excellent tire.

nord1899

Went from the OEM P6000s on my 2001.5 S4.

Interestingly enough, I think the steering response is almost better with the M2's. Steer in is more predictable. Ride is a bit smoother. But, I can tell the sidewalls are not as stiff when cornering. You can feel the tire roll a bit. No idea about winter/snow performance yet as we just got hit with a bit of Indian Summer.

But for a H rated tire, not too bad dry perfomance wise.

Any many thanks to Tirerack, hella fast delivery there.

ImAudi4

I am hoping to only have to drive this car this winter... after which it will relinquish winter and work duties to a cheaper older car that the salt can attack and the Audi will be reserved for occasional blasts through the fresh snow and summer driving.

Thanks for the input.