Back to Winter Tires for new S4

[Louis-Alain Richard]

> Next question; what about the wheels?
> Looking at the almost 5 months a year that they will be on the car,
they
> shouldn't be pathetic, but the few quotes I've seen have been at the
> sticker value of the factory summer wheels.  Is that really the best
value
> that's out there?
>   Wayne

One nice aspect of shopping for winter wheels is that cosmetic is way
down the list of priorities. How many times will you wash them in these
5 months? Will you care (or be scared...) for them each time you'll
encounter a pothole? 

Knowing that, buying used OEM wheels is the best approach. They are
relatively cheap, they are hubcentric, easy to find, they stylistically
and physically fit your car and you can use the factory hardware (beware
of aftermarket cone seat bolts vs ball seat bolts à la VW/Audi). 

And beware of the style and finish you chose: winter driving usually
"sandblast" the spokes of the rear wheels, so choose a "flat" style
wheel. The finish must be painted without any polished/chromed/anodized
portion.

Also, if you play in the snow, you should have easy access (from the
outside) to the inner side to remove the snow that will invariably pile
up and make a terrible vibration. 


Finally, once you'll make your style decision, remember these 3 last
points:

- Liberally put white grease on the hub surface and hub bore, without
greasing the bolts or the threads in the hub. You want your Aluminium
wheels being easy to remove next spring... but you don't want them to
unbolt from the car by themselves. This trick is from the Saab shop
manual.

- When you'll go for balancing, pay a little more at a good shop that
will fit the correct wheel weights for your wheel style. There is two
reasons for that: they fit better by being an exact match to the lip,
and they are painted (usually silver metallic) so they won't rust or
make the clearcoat peel off. Believe me, it's a cheap investment. 

- Put yourself a reminder somewhere to check the pressure in January.
When the temps are real cold, you tires will be underinflated by a few
psi and this will be then that you'll encounter the mother of all
potholes... 

Hope this helps a bit...

Louis-Alain
Born in Sept-Iles PQ where winter last from mid-October to end of May...