SQ5 Winter tire/wheel recommendation
 

Picked up my SQ5 earlier this month and got to drive it in the snow for the first time last night. Came with Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sports that are really meant for summer use. I was able to get around ok, but definitely had to watch throttle, steering and breaking inputs extra carefully or else it would break loose pretty easily.

Thinking about getting a set of inexpensive wheels and winter rubber to put on from Dec-Mar. My wheels are the stock SQ5 20-inchers and I'm in the Boston area where the roads are pretty rough so I'm thinking 19-inchers plus Blizzaks or similar but would love to hear and see what others have done before pulling the trigger. If you have winter wheels/tires on your Q5 and are able to share pics, I'd appreciate it.

winter set up
 

I went with 19' wheels and tires from tire rack. Got Michelin X-Ice 2's, but Blizzaks would be good choice too. The vehicle handles very predictably in the snow and ice - I like it more than the X3 I had with Micehlin PA3's. On the SQ5 I had 21" summer wheels and didn't notice big difference in ride but big reduction in road noise - the 21" tires transmit a lot of voice.

I have an SQ5 w/ the prestige trim & 20" wheels. I'm in VT. Looked @ for winter tires & quickly gave into the indulgence of the Audi wheel package: 235/55 R19 Continental CrossContactWinter & 19 alloys. Package works & looks great. This winter, it's done great in some nasty storms & snow. Maybe another package at ½ the price would work just as well but, the SQ5 is itself an indulgence so, for me, the cost, compared to convenience & confidence, wasn't a big deal.

I just got my SQ5 as well a week ago. Love it, but it is an ice skate on the snow without winter tires.

The winter wheel options are a little more difficult to sort out - there are a lot of recommendations on this forum and Audizine if you look around.

I ended up going with 19" wheels from Hartmann and Blizzak DV-M1s from Tirerack even though they don't offer those as a recommended option when you go through the drop down menu. I'm having them put on tomorrow and will let you know how they feel. :)

Search is your friend:
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...er+tire&page=3
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...Q5+Winter+tire
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...er+tire&page=2
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...er+tire&page=3
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...Q5+Winter+tire
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...er+tire&page=2

S5 peelers are what I went with.

Where did you get the peelers from out of curiosity?

And...yes, spijun, search is a friend - there is a lot of good information on these forums about this specific question and I have read through it all. So thanks for reposting those links so they are all in one place.

But, consider that this question has been asked again and again and again. There must be a reason for that, right? Perhaps it is because the answer is not straightforward at all -- the complexity was evidenced by much of the discussion on the threads you posted where wheels were thought to fit that did not fit, etc, etc. Perhaps this is why Audi thinks it is justified in charging $4,200 for their OEM winter wheels for the SQ5...

For my SQ5, I acquired 20" OEM titanium peelers that came off a Q5 TDI S-line and mounted them with 255/45 Blizzak DM-V1. I have already put these tires to the test with all the snow, ice, and extreme cold that have graced Chicago and they're phenomenal. Best winter tires I've ever had and they truly make the SQ5 unstoppable even in the worst winter conditions! I have Dunlop Wintersport 3D in the other Audi, and as great as that setup is, I must say that the Blizzak DM-V1 still makes the SQ5 a more capable winter beater when things get heavy (and icy). I've posted these pics before on another thread but can't find the link, so here they are again.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/11280611356/" title="DSC00049 by lrzv, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/11280611356_110e6b746d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="DSC00049"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/11280150415/" title="DSC00045 by lrzv, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/11280150415_283e81423b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="DSC00045"></a>

I've spent around $1200 for full winter setup with DM-V1's and OEM 19" Q5 wheels I got cheap off ebay. Tires are extraordinary in the snow and much quieter than summer rubber. Will try to post some photos once I get the car washed.

I have these wheels: http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-Q5--3....oys/ES2143196/

And these tires: http://www.tiresbyweb.com/p-10774-no...suv-tires.aspx

Using stock lug nuts and $20 ebay Audi center caps.

Total Price: ~$1300