Snow Tire Thoughts

[Andrew Lundy]

Hi Bill,

SP8000's are performance tires...right???

Why would you try driving performance tires in the snow??  The amount of
sulfur contained in the rubber compound in performance ties makes them
nearly impossible to drive in COLD weather.  At temperatures below 40 F the
tires become so hard that they provide no adhesion to the road.  As the
temps get colder the chances of warming the tires into the proper heat range
diminishes.  Now, put snow below your tires and you can't get the tires to
warm up; so basically your driving on round cinder blocks!!  NO car can
effectively drive with performance tires on in the snow!!!

Unfortunately you found that out the hard way....luckily you didn't slide
into anything!!

It said in your owners manual that WINTER tires are not required they (Audi)
figures that you would put all-season tires on.  There is a HUGE difference
between all-seasons and winter tires.  Because the manual says you don't
need winter tires doesn't mean the other is meant as well!!!

Clarifying for others out there!!!  Don't try driving performance tires on
snow...I too found out the hard way(with a Porsche 928)!!
---
Andrew Lundy
fast928 at prodigy.net
90 80Q
91 90
95 90Q
85 928S


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Elliott" <wcelliot at concentric.net>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 5:06 PM
Subject: Snow Tire Thoughts


> When I bought my first quattro I was impressed that even the owner's
> manual said something to the effect that snow tires weren't necessary.
> So I faced my first snowfall with SP8000's. Now I am a pretty decent
> driver in snow, having used MG's, Volvo's, and the like for my winter
> drivers.. typically running all-seasons.
>
> I felt I was damn lucky to get home in one piece with the 6" of fresh
> snow and the SP8000's.. quattro or no quattro!  It was like driving on
> racing slicks in the rain!  Can it be done? Absolutely... but not safely
> IMHO.
>
> My first quattro snow tire purchase was a used set of Goodyear Eagle
> GW's. Wow! What a difference! I now had the same confidence to turn and
> stop that I had to accelerate.
>
> Next (on my wife's SAAB) was a set of Hakka NRW-H. Even better than the
> GW's and EXCEPTIONAL on dry pavement... far better than the all-seasons
> previously on the car.  We've used them year-round with minimal summer
> wear.   A set of these goes on my UrQ this winter, though my dealer is
> really pushing the NRQ's which he says are the best non-studded tire
> Hakka makes. (Studs are not legal here in the snow belt.) He thinks
> NRW's are not nearly aggressive enough in the snow.
>
> I also have a 4kq that came with half worn all seasons. Uninspiring
> handling but competent in all situations.  I bought a set of slightly
> used Blizzacks and found out how bad handling could get. Horrible on dry
> pavement, average in the snow, downright unsafe on wet pavement, but
> pretty good on ice.  I'll sell these cheap (mounted on decent 5kT 4x108
> rims) to anyone interested.
>
> I also bought a set of Hakka 10 LT's for my Bronco.  Unstoppable in the
> snow, okay on dry pavement, good on wet pavement, but very bad on ice. I
> run these year-round as well.  The LT compound is reportedly a bit
> harder than the standard 10's.
>
> And finally, for my 86-yr-old father-in-law who actively (but slowly)
> drives everywhere, I'm running a set of NordicFrosts year-round.
> Absolutely exceptional in the snow (better than the NRW's, about equal
> to the LT's), great on ice, real squishy on dry pavement and noisy at
> speed, but they suit his driving style.
>
> If you have to drive in the snow much at all and only want one set of
> tires,  I think a high performance all season (SP5000 which I'm very
> impressed with on a friend's GSR) would be fine as would a high
> performance snow tire (HRW-H).. the latter being better in the snow, the
> former better on dry pavement.
>
> But a set of pure winter tires is not a major expense and it allows you
> to run pure summer tires... you get the best out of your car in all
> situations.
>
> Just my $0.02
>
> Bill Elliott
> Lake Barrington, IL
>
>