When I purchased my A4 1.8tqms my dealer didn't mention anything about the SP 8000's being summer. I don't know whether he assumed that I knew that because I was a car person and had lived in the Northeast all of my life or what. But I am curious if Audi dealers are telling buyers, especially quattro buyers, that if they buy the sport package they will need to change the tires for winter driving conditions.<p>Curiously,<br>Rodney

Quote from 98 manual: The tires for your vehicle were selected for optimal performance under normal driving conditions. For winter driving, the driveability of your vehicle can be improved by installing all season tires or radial winter tires (M+S) with or without studs.......If your Audi is equipped with high performance tires (identified by code letter V on the tire flank) and you drive frequently on ice or snow, you should consider the installation of all season or winter tires. This applies also to vehicles with 4-Wheel Drive.<p>It couldn't be much clearer. Why should the dealer have to read the owner's manual to the customer? Even though my manual only mentions V-rated tires (above), Z-rated tires (Dunlop 8000) are even more agressively designed for dry/warm weather.

I was aware that the SP 8000's were not an all season tire before buying my A4. In fact I was surprised, and pleased, that they were stock. I did read the manual, I weasled one out of my dealer early because the wait was becoming unbearable <g>, and read it cover to cover several times before the car arrived. However, the fact that high performance tires should not be used in the snow is not common knowledge and although they should, many people do not read the manual. Indeed I think that the folks who just hope in the car and drive it without reading the manual are the ones least likely to know that high performance tires are not for use in snow and ice. This is of particular concern since the added safety of awd is a consideration for many Audi buyers. Not mentioning that even with Quattro one still needs snow tires is akin to not advising someone that they still need to wear seatbelts in a car with airbags. Just don't like the thought of A4's, or their occupants getting hurt unnecessarily.<p>Regards,<br>Rodney<p>'99 A4 1.8tqms

How many people read the entire manual for their just-purchased VCR,or clock radio,or garage door opener but never CRACK the manual for their new car? "I've been driving for __ years;I don't need to read some stupid owner's manual!" You'd be amazed at how many trade-ins and cars in for maint. whose manuals have obviously never been touched. Just another example of "It isn't my fault-those jerks DIDN'T TELL ME that the coffee was hot enough to burn me!!"

NT

NT

none of the above sell similar product....only Subaru and they don't<br>come with Z

My dealership in Rockville M.D. firmly told me the sports package tires could be dangerous if I drove "over-confidently" in snow and ice.

Funny, mine also... I wonder if we were talking to the same sales guy. Basically, he said that because I have Quattro, that I wouldn't need it for our Vancouver winters and that the SP8000's would still be really good in the snow. Didn't really buy that line so I bought a set of snows just to be safe...