16" performance tires on new A4

[Brad Wilson]

Bob Trevithick wrote:

> Are the 16" performance tires All-Season?  Or are they just for dry roads?

Get the tire brand and check Tire Rack to see whether the tires are rated as
all weather. If they are Conti Touring Contact, then they are indeed all
weather. If they are Conti Sport Contact, then they are three season.

> Do we need to get some real winter tires for Upstate New York winters, or 
> will these be fine?

IMO, an all season tire is a compromise in all seasons. It's middling for
ripping around those dry corners at 50, and it's middling for running
through the freshly fallen snow. It's smart, if money is no object, to have
winter tires and 3 season tires. The winter tires you choose may be
dependent on how frequently you drive in the snow. There are plenty of
great winter tires that have good enough performance for the inevitable dry
roads of summer (in fact, the snows I put on the Cavalier so outperform the
all seasons it came with, that we decided to keep them on during the summer
and just toss the crappy tires away). If you get reasonable amounts of snow,
you will want a snow tire -- quattro or not -- and you'll love how much
better a 3 season tired does during the other 3 seasons compared to all
season (or "no season") tires.

YMMV, no warrantees expressed or implied, flame shields on. :)

Best regards,
Brad

2000 A6 2.7 biturbo quattro
http://www.quality.nu/bradw/audi/