2005 S4 Tire Question

[printemps2001]

I just picked up my 2005 S4 (4th Audi, first S4). What advice can anyone give me on tires? I assume the stock tires are useless in snow. Is an all season high performance adequate or do I need snow tires? I'm in the northeast. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[bhb399mm]

Originally posted by printemps2001@Oct 21 2004, 04:30 PM
I just picked up my 2005 S4 (4th Audi, first S4). What advice can anyone give me on tires? I assume the stock tires are useless in snow. Is an all season high performance adequate or do I need snow tires? I'm in the northeast. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Quoted post

i have a similar delima ... i live in southern california where it doesnt rain very ofter, but i drive my allroad to my ski house in mammoth almost every weekend.

my tire setup:

-Pirelli Winter SnowSport 240 tires on the stock rims.
~this is an awesome winter tire... no dramatic loss of performance, no increase road noise, etc.

-Pirelli P-Zero high proformance tires on 18" OZs

for the first few weeks i had the car i was rolling around on the stock allweather tires... they're decnet, but louder than the pirelli snowsports. i had just the snowsports for 2 weeks and (i drive hard...) i found them to be alittle picky on dry hard surface - enough that i wouldnt want to use them as allweather tire (which theyre not.. so its good). as far as the p-zero's.. awesome.. 'nuff said

by the way... yes.. during the winter, i put the snowsports on ever weekend, and have the p-zero's on during the week.. you shouldnt have that problem if this is the rout you want to take - i'd put the snowsport tires on in maybe... november and leave them on till the snow is gone.

as for the p-zero's in the rain... they're alright. i drive with them in the rain all the time and they get the job done alright. the awd helps alot. i have the same tires on my 00 Jetta project car. FWD+P-Zeros+Rain+Trac. off = interesting experence.. lol

[Clifford B. Weiss]

Originally posted by printemps2001@Oct 21 2004, 03:30 PM
I just picked up my 2005 S4 (4th Audi, first S4). What advice can anyone give me on tires? I assume the stock tires are useless in snow. Is an all season high performance adequate or do I need snow tires? I'm in the northeast. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Quoted post

I just picked up my 05 S4 Avant and immediatly took the Cintsoprt Contact 2's off and replace them with Michelin Pilot A/S size 235/40/ZR18

Smoother, quiter, handles as well(maybe better) and M+S rated and excellent in Wet also!

[bhb399mm]

Pilots are also great tires.. the only reason i'm runnin pirelli's is cause i have a hook up.

are you rollin the stock rims?

[JProvide]

Originally posted by printemps2001@Oct 21 2004, 03:30 PM
I just picked up my 2005 S4 (4th Audi, first S4). What advice can anyone give me on tires? I assume the stock tires are useless in snow. Is an all season high performance adequate or do I need snow tires? I'm in the northeast. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Quoted post

Ur absolutely correct, I would'nt even attempt to drive my car here in Maine w/ the stock tires. 1 month after I got my '05S4, I got a tire & wheel package from Discount tire.com. It's a 17" downgrade fitted w/ Hankook Icebears. I'm sure it does not offer as much performance as the high end Nokian snow tires but has worked well so far.
Went snow tubing in Oxford ME last weekend and had to make a u turn on an inclined shoulder after missing a turn; thought the snow on the ground was not that thick but wasn't smart enough to figure in the ice at the bottom. Got stuck trying to back up for about five minutes, even saw a cruiser pulling over the other side- probably getting ready to help or hand me a ticket. The inexpensive Icebears & AWD was able to save the day.
Its not loud on the highway, just not as stable as the stock w/ its more agressive treads at interstate speeds. Its also a bit squishy w/c would be normal for snow tires.

[bhb399mm]

are you using your new tires/wheels as winter only tires? or are they your all year tire?

[moroblues4]

I am here on the left coast and can tell you, after the snow two weeks ago, stock, not an option. Got with a package from Tirerack or discount tire. The S4 stocks are good but not that good. Conti Winters M2 (Discontinued) M3's, or Blizzak Snows are two of the best higher performance winters on the market.

[bhb399mm]

Originally posted by moroblues4@Feb 4 2005, 06:22 AM
I am here on the left coast

Quoted post

you mean right coast?

[moroblues4]

Originally posted by bhb399mm@Feb 4 2005, 08:13 PM
you mean right coast?

Quoted post

Left, left out of everything. No, you're right, RIGHT coast..