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Post by PG on Dec 11, 2019 13:30:55 GMT
You could always just buy winter tyres and get the fitted to your current rims. It's more of a faff, but I did that with my last X Type as I could not find any sensible priced wheels. After a couple of years there was bit of rim damage from the constant tyre changing, but a refurb would rectify that. And you could put them on and take them off and refurb your wheels an awful lot of times before you get to the cost of those Audi wheels.
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Post by ChrisM on Dec 11, 2019 13:32:10 GMT
I think I might just walk to work if/when it snows! Don't you have AWD ?? Even without winter tyres, your car should get further on snow than 2WD cars on "ordinary" tyres. My Kuga is AWD and is on the standard "SUV" Contis, and last winter was the only vehicle to venture into our works car park (located at the rear of the building). I had no issue driving it there or getting home at the end of the working day |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Dec 11, 2019 13:35:37 GMT
I think I might just walk to work if/when it snows! Don't you have AWD ?? Even without winter tyres, your car should get further on snow than 2WD cars on "ordinary" tyres. My Kuga is AWD and is on the standard "SUV" Contis, and last winter was the only vehicle to venture into our works car park (located at the rear of the building). I had no issue driving it there or getting home at the end of the working day But it has wide tyres, which won't help. I think a lot of people with X Drive BMWs and Audis will come a cropper in a decent snowfall, possibly aided by a good dose of over-confidence. Remember, it's not just about getting moving, it's about cornering and stopping. Probably more so. |
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Post by Martin on Dec 11, 2019 13:38:40 GMT
You could always just buy winter tyres and get the fitted to your current rims. It's more of a faff, but I did that with my last X Type as I could not find any sensible priced wheels. After a couple of years there was bit of rim damage from the constant tyre changing, but a refurb would rectify that. And you could put them on and take them off and refurb your wheels an awful lot of times before you get to the cost of those Audi wheels. It’s an option, but the recommended winter tyre size for his Q3 is different to the summers, which may mean 20s aren’t available or they’re very expensive? 20” staggered size winter tyres for mine are really hard to find in the UK and would have cost as much as a full set of lightly used 19” wheels and tyres. |
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Post by Martin on Dec 11, 2019 13:42:35 GMT
Don't you have AWD ?? Even without winter tyres, your car should get further on snow than 2WD cars on "ordinary" tyres. My Kuga is AWD and is on the standard "SUV" Contis, and last winter was the only vehicle to venture into our works car park (located at the rear of the building). I had no issue driving it there or getting home at the end of the working day But it has wide tyres, which won't help. I think a lot of people with X Drive BMWs and Audis will come a cropper in a decent snowfall, possibly aided by a good dose of over-confidence. Remember, it's not just about getting moving, it's about cornering and stopping. Probably more so. Exactly. And as we all know, winter tyres aren’t just for snow..... But when it does snow properly, like it did a few years ago, the only vehicle other than my 535d that could get up our road was a LR Defender. My neighbour set off all confident in his newish Q7, but only made it half way up then slid into the kerb trying to turn right on his way back down..... |
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Post by johnc on Dec 11, 2019 14:03:11 GMT
For me at this time of year, I can't afford to be off work at all and a day lost in the middle of Tax Return season could cost me several thousand £ if forms were late as a consequence. Winter tyres (especially after I had experienced PZero's in the cold and damp) were a no brainer for me. I can pretty much guarantee every year that there will be a minimum of 3 or 4 days when without winter tyres I could not venture out in my car and there have been several cold weeks already when the additional grip was very evident. There are another 3 months+ to go, when for me, winter tyres are massively better and safer than summer tyres. If my car had PS4's I might feel different but the winters give me better grip than any normal tyre I have ever used in winter.
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Post by Martin on Dec 11, 2019 14:10:11 GMT
You could always just buy winter tyres and get the fitted to your current rims. It's more of a faff, but I did that with my last X Type as I could not find any sensible priced wheels. After a couple of years there was bit of rim damage from the constant tyre changing, but a refurb would rectify that. And you could put them on and take them off and refurb your wheels an awful lot of times before you get to the cost of those Audi wheels. It’s an option, but the recommended winter tyre size for his Q3 is different to the summers, which may mean 20s aren’t available or they’re very expensive? 20” staggered size winter tyres for mine are really hard to find in the UK and would have cost as much as a full set of lightly used 19” wheels and tyres. They are available, £1,000 for a set of 20” tyres |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2019 14:18:37 GMT
For me at this time of year, I can't afford to be off work at all and a day lost in the middle of Tax Return season could cost me several thousand £ if forms were late as a consequence. Winter tyres (especially after I had experienced PZero's in the cold and damp) were a no brainer for me. I can pretty much guarantee every year that there will be a minimum of 3 or 4 days when without winter tyres I could not venture out in my car and there have been several cold weeks already when the additional grip was very evident. There are another 3 months+ to go, when for me, winter tyres are massively better and safer than summer tyres. If my car had PS4's I might feel different but the winters give me better grip than any normal tyre I have ever used in winter. If I were you, I'd feel the same! |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Dec 11, 2019 14:33:42 GMT
Don't you have AWD ?? Even without winter tyres, your car should get further on snow than 2WD cars on "ordinary" tyres. My Kuga is AWD and is on the standard "SUV" Contis, and last winter was the only vehicle to venture into our works car park (located at the rear of the building). I had no issue driving it there or getting home at the end of the working day But it has wide tyres, which won't help. I think a lot of people with X Drive BMWs and Audis will come a cropper in a decent snowfall, possibly aided by a good dose of over-confidence. Remember, it's not just about getting moving, it's about cornering and stopping. Probably more so. The over confidence also extends to those who buy winter tyres thinking they are the panacea to all winter driving dangers and carry on driving as if it's summer. |
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Post by johnc on Dec 11, 2019 14:40:04 GMT
The over confidence also extends to those who buy winter tyres thinking they are the panacea to all winter driving dangers and carry on driving as if it's summer. Can't agree with that. I think that those who buy winter tyres are already much more aware of the potential dangers and are far less likely to get themselves into trouble (touches wood) in the first place. |
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Post by Martin on Dec 11, 2019 14:52:12 GMT
The over confidence also extends to those who buy winter tyres thinking they are the panacea to all winter driving dangers and carry on driving as if it's summer. Can't agree with that. I think that those who buy winter tyres are already much more aware of the potential dangers and are far less likely to get themselves into trouble (touches wood) in the first place. I’m sure some people will do that, but I still drive to the conditions as if the car had summer tyres on, happy with the bigger safety margin. |
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Post by Martin on Dec 11, 2019 15:42:49 GMT
Actually, have to agree with Bob. Just remembered getting a call from my mate who bought the 5 series winter wheels off me. He’s slid into a ditch on a country lane and had to get recovered by a local farmer. He’s decided to avoid the busy and potentially blocked main roads to get to work as he’s been so impressed by the tyres the previous day. He didn’t think about ground clearance and how important it was to have all 4 tyres in contact with the ground to be able to turn.....
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Post by racingteatray on Dec 11, 2019 17:12:38 GMT
But it has wide tyres, which won't help. I think a lot of people with X Drive BMWs and Audis will come a cropper in a decent snowfall, possibly aided by a good dose of over-confidence. Remember, it's not just about getting moving, it's about cornering and stopping. Probably more so. Exactly. And as we all know, winter tyres aren’t just for snow..... But when it does snow properly, like it did a few years ago, the only vehicle other than my 535d that could get up our road was a LR Defender. My neighbour set off all confident in his newish Q7, but only made it half way up then slid into the kerb trying to turn right on his way back down..... I've never convinced that the Sottozeros on my car are better than the normal Bridgestones on anything other than actual snow. On snow, they are amazing and the car will go place on snowy surfaces (provided not too deep) wearing them that you would never credit a powerful RWD BMW of being capable of. In merely wet and cold conditions, they seem to break traction more easily than the summer tyres. |
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Post by bryan on Dec 11, 2019 17:13:57 GMT
Don't you have AWD ?? Even without winter tyres, your car should get further on snow than 2WD cars on "ordinary" tyres. My Kuga is AWD and is on the standard "SUV" Contis, and last winter was the only vehicle to venture into our works car park (located at the rear of the building). I had no issue driving it there or getting home at the end of the working day But it has wide tyres, which won't help. I think a lot of people with X Drive BMWs and Audis will come a cropper in a decent snowfall, possibly aided by a good dose of over-confidence. Remember, it's not just about getting moving, it's about cornering and stopping. Probably more so. My TT Quatro with 19 summer tyres was the worst vehicle I ever had int he snow - 4wd traction to start but no ability to steer or stop! |
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Post by PG on Dec 11, 2019 21:08:05 GMT
It’s an option, but the recommended winter tyre size for his Q3 is different to the summers, which may mean 20s aren’t available or they’re very expensive? 20” staggered size winter tyres for mine are really hard to find in the UK and would have cost as much as a full set of lightly used 19” wheels and tyres. They are available, £1,000 for a set of 20” tyres So just slightly more than one new wheel then........ Those wheels are just bonkers prices! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2019 23:22:06 GMT
But it has wide tyres, which won't help. I think a lot of people with X Drive BMWs and Audis will come a cropper in a decent snowfall, possibly aided by a good dose of over-confidence. Remember, it's not just about getting moving, it's about cornering and stopping. Probably more so. My TT Quatro with 19 summer tyres was the worst vehicle I ever had int he snow - 4wd traction to start but no ability to steer or stop! That's exactly what this car is like on snow. It pulls away but is like a duck landing on a frozen pond when it gets to a corner! The AO Dunlops are available in the correct 20" size at 200 quid a pop. Or these for an extra ton. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-18-inch-rims-RS-Q3-8U-aluminum-rims-winter-tires-winter-wheels-8U0601025N/173779451756 |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Dec 12, 2019 8:53:27 GMT
Can't disagree with Bob, that over confidence in winter tyres could, itself, be fateful. As Martun says, though, I think most drivers with winters fitted understand the concept and the risks.
AWD, on winters, is also hilariously good fun when you get out on empty snowy roads...
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Post by Tim on Dec 12, 2019 9:40:03 GMT
I was surprised how good the 320 XDrive is on snow/slush with normal tyres.
I'm lucky that I can work from home if it snows so those 2 or 3 days, at most, when that happens aren't a concern.
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Post by johnc on Dec 12, 2019 10:25:36 GMT
I was surprised how good the 320 XDrive is on snow/slush with normal tyres. I'm lucky that I can work from home if it snows so those 2 or 3 days, at most, when that happens aren't a concern. My 435D on Bridgestone S001's was pretty capable in snow too and fantastic on damp or wet roads but in conditions like this it just stayed parked up:  I don't know if it is the make and model of tyre (which I greatly suspect) or their size, but the M5 is "playful" in cold conditions and has poor initial traction. The electronics do sort it out but the slide has already started and my feeling is that the introduction of snow to the equation would only end in heartbreak without the safety net provided by winter tyres. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2019 10:34:15 GMT
I take it that its default setup is primarily rear-biased then (presumably more so than mine, at any rate)? Is there a 'snow mode' anywhere?!
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Dec 12, 2019 11:02:03 GMT
I take it that its default setup is primarily rear-biased then (presumably more so than mine, at any rate)? Is there a 'snow mode' anywhere?! Ahh "ECT Snow Mode" .... drifts off into nostalgic memories of driving a real wheel drive Lexus through Arctic conditions, leaving stranded Land Rovers in my wake....Unstoppable. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2019 11:40:34 GMT
Hence my exclamation mark at the end! Was the poor guy called Ravi or somesuch?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2019 11:44:41 GMT
Turns out that Audi do sell sets of wheels direct. After a long conversation with a guy in a parts dept it turns out that one 18" wheel is £827, but four wheels with tyres are £1869. Go figure!
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Post by johnc on Dec 12, 2019 12:01:53 GMT
I take it that its default setup is primarily rear-biased then (presumably more so than mine, at any rate)? Is there a 'snow mode' anywhere?! It has various levels of rear bias but even the comfort mode is rear bias. When you put it into Sport it shifts more to the rear and in Sport Plus it is entirely rear until it needs more grip at which sideways point, it puts some power to the front. It is all very benign in the summer but the cold weather, no grip tyres, demonstrated that at 2,000 rpm on a damp roundabout I could practice my opposite lock skills at will. Every bit of extra throttle just moved the tail out a bit more. Great fun with no-one else around but not really public road friendly. The winter tyres have returned the car to a much more benign state although I can still break traction if I want to be a bit heavy footed. I'd love a snow mode but I think BMW twigged a few years ago and decided to name the button with all the letters of the word, instead of just using "S" |
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Post by racingteatray on Dec 12, 2019 12:12:44 GMT
Turns out that Audi do sell sets of wheels direct. After a long conversation with a guy in a parts dept it turns out that one 18" wheel is £827, but four wheels with tyres are £1869. Go figure! Have you tried posting a "Wanted" ad on one of the owners' forums?
That's how I sourced the winters for the GC - got a very tidy set of the OE 18s with nearly-new Sottozeros for £900 from a man who responded via PM - he was selling his 3-series touring and getting a 5-series. You worry about buying this way and meeting weird people in weird places but that's never been my experience. This chap worked for Oracle (we were corresponding via work email) and was just a nice normal bloke.
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Post by Martin on Dec 12, 2019 14:17:39 GMT
Mine has a snow mode, it’s called ‘Eco’. It softens off the throttle response and sets off in second gear. It’s surprisingly eager in the normal modes, so selecting eco is more like comfort in other BMWs rather then leaving you wondering whether the engine has broken.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2019 16:53:46 GMT
Turns out that Audi do sell sets of wheels direct. After a long conversation with a guy in a parts dept it turns out that one 18" wheel is £827, but four wheels with tyres are £1869. Go figure! Have you tried posting a "Wanted" ad on one of the owners' forums?
That's how I sourced the winters for the GC - got a very tidy set of the OE 18s with nearly-new Sottozeros for £900 from a man who responded via PM - he was selling his 3-series touring and getting a 5-series. You worry about buying this way and meeting weird people in weird places but that's never been my experience. This chap worked for Oracle (we were corresponding via work email) and was just a nice normal bloke.
It was an owners forum post that kicked all this off. A bloke literally around the corner was selling some winter wheels but they were only 17s and won't fit my car. I made a comment and then someone else with access to some database gave me the part numbers for the proper wheels and so my search began. I have posted a WTB ad on an Audi forum but am being offered wheels off all models apart from a Q3! |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Dec 12, 2019 20:31:45 GMT
My V60 could apportion up to 50% of drive to the rear (the Polestar could send up to 90% rearwards) but 50% going to the rear wheels was enough for it to come over all RWD and able to exit junctions and roundabouts sideways, whilst the front pulled it back in to line afterwards. Sensible to silly in an instant. Great fun!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2019 23:19:31 GMT
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Post by johnc on Dec 13, 2019 8:43:33 GMT
Those wheels look very good value but from an insurance point of view I agree that the tyres should comply with the manufacturers recommendations.
Is the offset OK for your car?
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