[V8] Nookie tires and winter driving musings

[Roger Woodbury]

Fifty-five degrees here yesterday.  We have had a mild fall.  All this
evidence of global warming has made me forget to think about winter driving
and the tires on the two cars that will do chief duty through the winter.

Last year, needing tires for her car, I bought a set of Dunlop
SPsomethingorothers that were on a set of very nice Fuchs wheels.  The
wheels were nearly perfect cosmetically, and in perfect balance.  One size
over for the Audi 100CSQ Avant, but they have been very nice tires.  They
might go through the winter and into the spring, but will be all gone next
year.

On The Old Gray Mare, there are a set of "other" brand tires.  Bought from
the local Tire Warehouse near my father's house.  Not my choice EVER, but
they have probably 90% tread remaining so they won't get "fixed" until
they're broke.

So for winter, we're riding on what we have.  All of which reminds me of the
very best winter tire that I have ever had on any of my Quattros.  The tire
was the Firestone Touring Radial LH, and I had three sets through the model
run.  I bought the first set for my '87 5000CSQ Avant which I bought during
a snowstorm in 1994, and then another set for my '89 200 Avant Quattro which
is the one single car that sunk the Audi Quattro hook.  I think I bought
another set for that car, too.

Great tire.  Perhaps more Bridgestone than Firestone, but the tires were
quiet and handled well ("H" rated) in dry three seasons use, and in the
winter, or the fabled Northeast ice storm they were perfect.  

Now, I do not drive on the Interstate much, and traffic in rural Maine is
less challenging than, say on Storrow Drive in Boston, but we do have
weather in all its varieties and a lot of it.

In my previous life I traveled all over this state all the time servicing my
insurance agency clients.  The cars of choice back then were BMW's and
Mercedes.  They had their own winter wheel sets and studded tires, without
which the cars were lawn ornaments.  

But with Quattro?  Well, no winter tires for me, thanks.  And if driving
conditions are too severe for The Old Gray Mare with her front wheel drive,
I plan to stay at home and let the State of Maine clear the roads.

Roger

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