Anyone out there have $0.02 worth to give me?
I think I've narrowed it down to 3 possibles...Nokian NRW, Dunlop Wintersport M2, and Michelin Pilot Alpin. The idea is to retain as much dry road capability as possible while getting better than average, relatively quiet snow/ice performance as well.

TIA......Steve 99.5 QTipS

I live in Oregon and we get maybe a week of snow in PDX, but I plan on skiing almost every weekend and taking my A4 up there. So I decided to get the Dunlop Wintersport M2s and just leave them on from December - May and using the SP8000Es for the rest of the time.

The Dunlop Wintersport M2s are the best for people like me who will be spending most of the winter in the rain and dry, yet want the added traction for the weekend mountain trip. I am just gonna swap tires off the 16" stock sport wheels. Unless others recommend not doing this.

I put the Nokian NRWs on last winter and was simply amazed. It took 5 inches of snow or more to feel like there was any at all. They've been so quiet and retained so much of the normal handling I left them on year-round. Here in ND we're dealing with frequent and blowing snows and roads that are so cold even the salt won't melt the ice.

Depends on where you live I guess. If its in the midwest,mountains, or New England go for the NRW or Blizzaks (ice oriented tires). If in an area with occasional snow go for the Dunlop types

I have had the Nokia's on my '92 Nissan Sentra SE-R for several years. Tried several different all season tires--with poor results--before trying out the NRWs. The difference was phenomenal; what was once an almost undriveable car in winter is now an excellent snow vehicle.

Wanted to get Nokias when I bought my first A4 2.8, but 205/55 16 size was not available, at least at the time (about two years ago.) On advice of tire shop that recommended and sold me the Nokias, got a set of Vredestein (Holland) right-sized and -rated tires. They had done extremely well these last two winters, but I can't say they been overly tested by severe snow, ice, etc.

Philip
'99.5 2.8QM
'92 Sentra SE-R
'97 2.8QM (RIP)

Probably should have commented on how the tires are in general. They are, in my experience, a bit noiser than the stock tires, and especially in the Sentra I do get a bit of wheel vibration. Handling, however, seems comparable, or nearly so; no significant compromise IMO.

If much snow, along with ice, hills, curves, etc., is an issue, I think dedicated snow tires are a must, even with quattro. It's not just the more-suitable tread pattern, but it's the formulation of the rubber for cold temperatures. In my case, the primary issue was safety in winter. Even if I had had to give up a bit of dry-payement handling, I would have purchased the snows without hesitation.


Philip

...for a few reasons.

1. Pay for mounting and balancing tires twice a year, at about $15 per tire, that's $120 per year. Gets kinda pricey.

2. Wear and tear on your alloy wheels from letting the shop play with them so often :-)

3. Wear and tear on your alloy wheels from the sand and cinders Oregon uses on snowy roads in the winter.

The immediate cost of buying new tires AND wheels hurts, but you can think of the tires as free because you won't be putting miles on your SP8000Es. So you're left with the cost of wheels, which you can do for around $110 each for cheap alloys, or $25-50 each for steel wheels (never priced these, just going on package prices from Tire Rack.)

HTH!

DougR
'00 1.8TQMS (bld wk 42,) and a once and future Oregonian

Twice-a-year tire changes, with balancing and the inevitable wheel damage will try both your wallet and your patience. I got lucky with a TireRack closeout on the wheels I bought for my SE-R. For my A4 I got Borbet Type H wheels; not cheap, but not outrageous.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/snow/index_snowtires.html">http://www.tirerack.com/tires/snow/index_snowtires.html</a</li></ul>

Have used Michelin Alpins in my last two cars up here in Canada -- they are amazing in the snow and freezing rain.

My 2 cents worth.

for $107 ea at a local Discount tire. Road handling is real good on the dry. It does squeel a little quicker than the OEM Dunlops and has a little more road noise. Haven't tried it in the snow though. Maybe this weekend on the Colorado Mountain Drive, though it's supposed to be in the 70's here in Denver.

I found the size both on the TireRack site and on the Dunlop site.

Go to the following URL:
<A HREF="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/dunlop/du_wintersportm2.htm">TireRack</A>

And then click on the "Available Sizes and Prices" link. It says that 205/55HR16s are "Special Order" (said "In Stock" yesterday) at $134 a piece.

Also, check out Dunlop's site at:
<A HREF="http://www.dunloptire.com/tires/wm2.html">Dunlop</A>

I've run NRW's on a Honda AWD and was very happy, getting thru 8-10" of snow. I'm debating putting them on my new A4 because they are not really a performance tire, and I wonder how much handling I'd lose. Any comments from those with NRW's on an A4 (at least in comparison to the stock Goodyears, or to a better performance tire)?

Botched that one.........meant to say thx for advice and looking forward to the first dump.

I had 16" Goodyears on before. I'd swear there seems to be less road noise. While I don't think there is an actual handling loss, the steering feels just a bit lighter. By the time winter was over [here in the upper mid-west] I thought they were so good I didn't crave a separate performance set.

Their noise is confined to a narrow frequency spectrum, creating a whining sound, so it's a little more noticeable, especially when driving in light rain. Just wait until spring comes and you put the SP8000s back on! I couldn't believe how much more full-frequency road noise the SP8000s had in comparison. I almost can't wait to put the Alpins back on for the winter, but it's a little early for me, yet. Are the Pilot Alpins new for this year?