[s-cars] Winter tires - minimum tread depth

[Mark Strangways]

Mike,

You could of course have 2 sets of winters...
Some nice expensive snow and ice trashing skinnies for the "Ice Events", and 
a set of last years "Ice Event" tires or  somewhat cheaper yet safe tire 
mounted on separate rims. Somewhat like we do for track tires.
It could be a new trend, summer high performance tires, summer track "R" 
compound tires, winter performance tires, and winter "Track" tires. Most 
people thing we are already crazy for running Ice Events and the such, this 
should just drive the nail home.

The next problem is finding a house with more Sq.Ft in the garage then the 
actual house to store all those tires and rims and misc over bits and 
pieces.

Mark
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mlp" <mlped at qwest.net>
To: "'Tony Curran'" <tony.curran at sympatico.ca>; "'S-Car-List at Audifans.Com'" 
<s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 9:58 PM
Subject: RE: [s-cars] Winter tires - minimum tread depth


Two, maybe three things at least t consider.  According to our local Nokia
supplier,

1.  There are age factors to consider, as well as tread depths.  Depending
on what kind of rubber your winter tire is made of, age &/or oxidation and
the manner in which the tire has been stored, affects the winter tire
compound, some more than others.  One of those YMMV things.

2.  Like with water and resistance to hydroplaning, tread depth performance
isn't a linear function.  A half worn, or more probably a 3/4trs worn tire
may have a lot less foul weather traction left in it than "3/4ths" when it
comes to "loose" snow, and my guess is that will also be different for
polished ice.  Other than probably no "special" low temperature rubber
compound left on well worn tires, my understanding has been the more rubber
you can put down on a polished piece of ice, the better off you would,
generally speaking, be.  No idea if that's universally true, but it seems to
me the ersatz "Zamboni" the University of Denver used way back when on the
DU hockey arena, ran on what essentially looked like slicks.

3.  I think some tires, i.e. the older Blizzaks for example, were "built to
wear out."  The "special" rubber ice compound, which was rather soft, didn't
run all the way through the tread.  I've no idea how many, if any other tire
manufactures did or still do the same; or even if this is true of the newer
Blizzaks.  Good luck finding a truly knowledgeable tire sales person who
will be able to provide you with reliable information on this.

I know my views on snow tires have certainly evolved from the "Can a save a
$buck and squeeze one more season out of these tire" to "Steamboat's really
a lot of fun, have these tires lost their edge for STOPPING (and cornering)
on ICE."  For me, while getting stuck is, or would be a pain in the butt.
Being unable to stop, and sliding into something hard, is a really, really,
really big pain in the ass.

With the Quattro, I find myself not so very worried in most cases about
being able to get moving.  But I am a lot more concerned about stopping
ability.  Personally, I find myself leaning towards changing tires out,
regardless of tread depth, if it looks like the winter tire compound layer
is compromised.  I wish I knew of a magic objective yardstick for making
that determination.  I find myself at the mercy of (1) the seat of my pants,
and (2) a trusty local winter tire wholesaler who I prefer to believe will
give me honest advice.

Cheers
Mike

>-----Original Message-----
>From: s-car-list On Behalf Of Tony Curran
>
>Just put on my winter tires which are probably on their last
>season. What is the minimum recommended tread depth?
>
>TIA
>
>Tony
>96 S6
>


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