HELP!!!Winter tires

[gnomik007]

Dear friends,as you all know the winter tires for our best loved is 225/45/18,which I find absolutely impossible to find and in some places I am even told such tires dont exist.I really need to fins a set or I will have to leave my beauty in the garage for long time because winters in Russia are quite a thing. Therefore I ask you for any advice on where I could get hold of these freaking wheels:vsad:

PLEASE HELP:360:

[Nrn]

If you would settle for 225/40/18, atleast bridgestone, michelin and nokian have wintertires!

Couldnt find any in 225/45/18 eihter, but Ill keep looking :bigeyes:

BR /Nicke

[gnomik007]

A friend of mine went to Dunlop(audi suggests these) dealer in germany and was told that the production has already been stopped and the only chance to find official winter tires for is if there are some left in stock around europe:vsad:

[Nordschleife]

Guys
I purchased winter tyres and wheels from the dealer in Munich.
I suggest you get in contact with sebastian.anders@mahag.de

R+C

[s6plus]

Nokian came with a new high-speed winter tire...250 km p/u
maybe you should check their site...
I've got also those nokian's...the older ones, and they're perfect ...

but remember, the most crashed superaudi's i've seen......were all wearing wintertires...:bigeyes:

[scoop]

I just got 225/40/R18 Dunlop SP Winter Sport M2 for my RS4 last week for the 5-arm rims from Audi. While I usually avoid Dunlop tires where I can, they seem to be capable of building nice and tight winter tires after all, the RS4 still behaves well in corners, even with a slippery or wet street.

Just my $0.02

[taipan]

Give a shot with www.reifendirekt.de.

They have multi-language versions of their site and ship in many countries -if you pay with Visa first. Plus a lot of choice (from no-brands to major brands, many sizes, etc.

I've used them twice for Michelin Sport and Yokohama AVS for a Z3 M Coupe : very fast and cheap delivery, very competitive prices compared to French resellers.
I have personnally used Michelin Alpin Sport for 4 years on a Passat V6 4Motion to drive from Paris to a resort in the Alps (over 2,000m high), and found these great on rainy as well as snowy/icy road.

Here's a copy from a thread on RS4.org.

=============================
Message 1:

I've now been using Michelin Pilot Alpin speed H on the same Passat Avant V6 4Motion (so roughly same weight and 4WD technology than the RS4, all the rest being different ;-) for 4 years now.

I did about 40,000 kms with them in winter (using my second set now).

Just great to drive on the high-way - a bit noisier than Pilot Sport- and a hell of fun as soon as the snow hits the road. Bites the snow very hard for a superb grip on acceleration and braking.

I'm sure all other major tire manufacturers have similar great tires for H speed (up to 210km/h) but being highly satisfied, I wouldn't consider changing away from the Michelin's.

One quick note : I was told that there's a side-effect with the speed factor. The higher it is, the harder the compound mix is. Which is rather bad for biting the snow as the softer, the better.
So maybe it's important to estimate what's the main priority if you can choose between speed factor: performance at high-speed during winter time or on snow/ice at "reasonnable" speeds.

=============================
Message 2:

This is an extract from a test published by Sport Auto, a German magazine, in its Nov 2002 edition.
First time I found a 17" comparative test of that extent - I still have to find an 18" or 19" comparative test, maybe the market's too small/confidential for Editor's-In-Chief to spend testers' salaries there... ;-)

Size tested : 225/45/17 H on a BMW 330CI (231HP).
Models and price in Germany :
- Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3, for 182 euro
- Fulda Kristall Rotego, for 132 euro
- Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3, for 189 euro
- Michelin Pilot Alpin, for 213 euro
- Nokian WR, for 147 euro
- Pirelli Snowsport W210, for 180 euro
- Toyo Snowprox S 950, for 143 euro

A. Snow chrono on 1,070 m distance.
1. Pirelli 1.10.11 min
2. Goodyear 1.10.3
3. Nokian same
4. Fulda 1.10.4
5. Dunlop 1.10.6
6. Toyo 1.14.1
7. Michelin 1.15.4
Note : this test shows a clear gap between the 5 first tires and the last 2, while the other tests show a more even distribution between the 7 tires.
The Toyo and Michelin being so far outside the 1.10.11-1.10.6 tight range of the other 5, I'm suspicious about a potential change in either driver or climate (like snowy road turning icy, for the last 2 sets).

B. Snow road breaking at 40 km/h
1. Goodyear 14.5 m
2. Pirelli 14.6
3. Toyo 14.6
4. Dunlop 14.7
5. Nokian same
6. Michelin 15.1
7. Fulda same

C. Wet/Rain chrono on 1835 m distance
1. Toyo 90.1 sec
2. Nokian 91.6
3. Michelin 92.6
4. Fulda 93.0
5. Goodyear 93.7
6. Pirelli 93.9
7. Dunlop 94.3

D. Wet/Rain road breaking at 100 km/h
1. Goodyear 50.9 m
2. Nokian 51.6
3. Michelin 51.7
4. Fulda 52.7
5. Dunlop 54.9
6. Toyo 56.7
7. Pirelli 58.3


E. Dry road breaking at 100 km/h
1. Goodyear 44.8m
2. Nokian 45.5
3. Fulda 46.4
4. Pirelli 47.2
5. Toyo 47.5
6. Michelin 47.6
7. Dunlop 48.2

Last note : (1) I think you can extrapolate to 18" with little risk -as opposed to keeping all-seasons tires in winter ;-) - and (2) I also think that if seven of us drivers did the test with the same car but with the same unique tire brand -like the Goodyear only- we'd get the same difference/distribution of measurements. It's the driver who makes the difference, isn't it ;-)
===========================

Eric

[Erik]

Wheels (for use in winter):

B&B "CH" 8,5"x18 ET with 225/40-18 Dunlop SP WinterSport 240

B&B "EVO" 9"x18 ET with 225/40-18 Dunlop SP WinterSport 240

Notice: 225/40-18 Dunlop SP Winter/Sport have permission up to 240km/h

Also there's plenty of 275/30-19 for summer use.


WOW! 0 - 100 km/h in 3.8 secs and to 200 km/h in 14.5 claimed for the B&B stage 4 which is under preparation.

[Erik]

I can recommend these winter tires. Quite good grip :MTM:

[s6plus]

Damm...

looks like real spikes......nice fireworks on dry tarmac....:king:

I'm just back from Sweden. It's damm snowy and icy overthere...but this picture is a real hardcore solution...

Nice to race over thos frozen lakes...I couldn't get grip on clean ice...(with normal winter tires)

[eph94]

Has anyone in the USA already purchased a winter wheel and tire package? If so, where did you go and what size did you get? I'm starting to get a little worried about availability.

[gjg]

in US you can go to Tirerack:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/SearchTires.jsp

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (Winter)
Size:225/45-18
Load Rating XL
VR Speed Rated Price: $154
Estimated Availability: In Stock

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (Winter)
Size:225/45-18
Load Rating XL
HR Speed Rated Price: $154
Estimated Availability: Back Order

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 (Winter)
Size:225/45-18
VR Speed Rated Price: $215
Estimated Availability: In Stock

I've used both (Dunlop and Blizzak), Dunlop on my 390 hp S6 Avant and D's handled very well overall during winter.

Blizzak did not do that well on dry road however in snow conditions worked very well.

Over all, for the money, Dunlop is a good deal IMHO.

gg

[GoFastKindaGuy]

Just ordered Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (Winter) tires. Size:225/45-18 from Tire Rack. In stock. Plan to put these on the stock wheels and then, in Spring, put the Dunlop SP9000 on aftermarket wheels -- probably 18x8.5 OZ Superleggera III from Pure Motorsports.

At least in the US, there appears to be no shortage. Tire Rack also had Blizzaks avaliable. I used these before -- stickier on snow and ice than Dunlop, but faster ware on pavement. Dunlops are said to handle better by others on the board and by Neal at Tire Rack. That's my read.

[eph94]

Any 18 x 8.5 wheel will do? Are there any other specifics that I should know before ordering? When I go on to the Tire Rack website to "Shop for Wheels" there are no options for the RS6. I want to have my winter tires mounted on a dedicated second set of wheels.

[GoFastKindaGuy]

Try calling Neal at the Tire Rack. 800-428-8355 x624. He is the only one I've found there that knows of the RS6. He says there are wheels he knows clear the brakes.

[Alan]

225/45VR-18 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 XL

18 x 7.5 ATI S5 wheels


the wheels are backordered - the tires are available

[eph94]

Thanks, I will give them a call!

[RS6FEVR]

all
I also ordered the 225/45VR-18 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 XL from Tirerack (a month ago, 184.00 ea, they look pretty cool) and will mount them on the oem rims. I'm planning on 18" Oettinger's with Conti's for non winter driving if I can get a spacing issue worked out and then just rotate the tires according to seasonal requirements. If the M3 XL works out as nice as the 9000's, I'm going to be pleased with this tire.

FEVR