I purchased a 2004 Audi S4 a few months ago. With winter coming up, looking for winter tires to fit the stock 18 inch rims. What tires have all of you run in the past and recommend or not recommend? I am looking for something with greater ice capabilities versus snow. Don't really want to do studded if possible though.

The tire choices i've just come across are as follows, but i could be missing some:

1. Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 (? probably good ice/snow tire)
2. Hankook W300 Ice Bear (seems like a fair priced tire)
3. Continental Wintercontact (looks quite expensive)
4. Dunlop SP Winter
5. Michelin Pilot Alpin and/or X-Ice
6. Toyo Snowprox

If and when any of you get a chance, let me know what you've done and what you would do or wouldn't do again.

Thanks,

 

I run the blizzak tires on my A4. In my opinion, you should try to get a set of 17" rims for snow tires and keep your 18" rims for some sticky summer tires.

 

I agree - get 17" for winter, one size narrower than your summer rig. Dunlop Winter Sports are rated # 1, excellent in snow, ice, rain & dry roads, but expensive: Their big benefit is that they behave more like a summer tire when there is no snow. A good deal are the Falken Euro Winters.

 

Dunlop Winter Sport are supposed to NOT be that great on ice. I remember a review on canadiandriver.ca about the x-ice 2 and ws 60. Based on that review, I'm thinking of going with the x-ice2.

 

i've got a set of 19's for the summer, so i'm hoping to use the 18's for the winter. i've had the mich x-ice before on a 2002 acura tl type-s and they were a great tire (but that's front wheel drive). I had a set of yokohama geolander i/t's on my old honda pilot and they were a good snow tire but seemed less competent on icy roads than the mich x-ice.

this is my first all wheel drive car.....i'm sure it'll be fun in the winter with a good set of winters on it.



there's a picture of it with the 19's.

 

I got the highly acclaimed Nokian Hakkapeliitta R for my wife's New Beetle and I swear they're the best winter tires I've had so far. Never got stuck once and braking is awesome in winter snow/ice condition. Before I had them her ASR/ESP and ABS lights go off everytime in snow and ice. With them on I swear I only saw them flashed twice or thrice and that was when I was pushing the tires to their limits when I first got them just to see how good they are.

They're expensive though. That's why I only bought them for my wife. I never go cheap to my love one. If it was for my car I would go for the Hankook iPike w409.

I had the Toyo Snowprox and they are good in my experience. Typical performance winter tires. Never got stuck but still slid around if I wasn't careful. They too are expensive but thread wear is great. I think I can go 4-5 season out of them if I didn't sell them.

 

Most of the winter tires are competent in snowy conditions. Few are competent on ice and few are competent on dry warm roads. No tire will do all things. The Dunlop is superior for snow, wet and dry. The Mich X Ice is probably one of the best for snow and ice but poor on dry. The list goes on. All depends on where you live and when you drive. Me, I like to go north when it's snowing heavily and there is lots of powder in the Mountains. Ice is not common here.

All in all , full winter tires in Canada for performance cars are a must, unless you park it.

 

As I found during a recent week with an S4 sedan, it is one of the best combinations of high performance and luxury comfort ever made

 

The WS60's are way way too mushy for those of us who are in Ontario and do 100+ on the highway. Under sudden braking (yes, ridiculous ontario drivers!), the car squirms.

All I care about is.....which winter tire do you think is the quietest?

I'm still sticking with my Pilot Exalto A/S's until the first snowfall. It's rated as the best all season tire in the snow from CR - but i've made a promise to myself, if I'm not impressed, I'm buying snows.

 

Any oppinions on Hurcules Avalanche?

Hercules Tire & Rubber Company