JimN

Greetings All! Yes, another Audi on the island. About 2 months ago we encouraged a fairly new A4 Avant Quattro to leave Richmond and come live with us. She agreed (with a little help from 0.9% munny). Will try attaching a couple of pix.

Reasonably pleased with the A4. My spouse ("dee" for these purposes) drives it to work daily leaving me the weekends for a few turns. I've owned an Audi before (1982 4000S), a car I loved a great deal, and that set up my high expectations for this one. The A4 is 'near new' having been a demo/loaner in Richmond for the first 8 months of its active life but comes to us for all intents and purposes as a 'new' car. A few rock chips and interior scratches...but there has to be something to justify a better deal, eh?

Dee and I have slightly different approaches to the driving experience; she grew up as an urban girl where a car was simply a means (4 wheels) to an end (destination) whereas for me, cars and pretty much anything on wheels were a way of life and to a degree, worshipped. (Always had to have the right look/performance/interior treatment...etc. for the purpose intended). Yeah ok, that's not too healthy...I could go on and on about vehicles but I'd better get to the point.

This preamble though is to explain that Dee and I notice quite different things about the A4. I'm pretty picky about "my" vehicles - she will wonder what all the fuss is. My principal concerns are 2 things - transmission (6 speed tiptronic) and brake performance. I'll bet some of you have noticed these things and more...but for now I'll park those issues and get on to today's challenge: winter rims and tires. (All of you islanders reading this should be aware that 'winter' is forecast to hit here next week...are you ready? Maybe you all are and I'm the tardy one).

I'm well aware that typical all-season tires are not adequate in winter anymore (recall...this is wet coast lotus-land where 'winter' that most of you have, doesn't affect us much). For the record, the car has 245-45R-17 tires on 7.5 x 17" wheels. I'd like to get 'winter rims' too for the new tires but that appears to be a challenge from what I've heard today, from local VW/Audi dealer, tire dealers and Canadian Tire - they say there is nothing. I see online that 1010tire in Richmond has "M104 winter rims" that apparently fit the 2010 A4, if I read the table correctly. Not sure who the wheel manufacturer is.

Anyone have experience with these M104 rims? Two questions come to mind: is clearance adequate (from calipers, etc.) on the newer A4's? How does the finish stand up to salt etc.? Any other suggestions for winter rims? (5/112 pattern, so I read).

And as for tires...any experience (esp. bad) with the Nokian Hakkapelliitta (sp)? Kal Tire has these...but they cost more than a small fortune. Possibly other tires would perform acceptably at vastly less cost.

And as for tire dealers...any comments about Kal Tire or others in this region? Anyone not happy with 1010tire?

I'll check the forum for other comments but I'd appreciate a heads up response for the timely stuff. Thanks much.

mikeh

Welcome to the forum and the lengthy intro. For wheels and tires info check out the appropriate section or use the search tool. There is PLENTY of info on that topic.

midrange

Hey.. welcome to the forum. As Mikeh said, lots of talk about rims and tires in the Wheel Tire section.

I believe the m104 rims are aluminum.. I'm not a fan of using aluminum in the winters but you do have a much milder winter than we do here in Ontario so its up to you. I'm surprised you are having trouble finding winter rims but perhaps your not a fan of the steel rims. I can't see audi/vw not being able to find a set.. weird.

Again welcome..

Ryan_T

Victoria's a very nice place. Got stranded there once. Nice VW van. Haha.


Avoid Canadian tire.

At the very least, you need 17" wheels to clear the brakes. For winter rims, there are some good budget alternatives out there. I highly recommend VMRs. They have a good selection of 18" wheels. The reason I'm mentioning this is because 17 looks really tiny on the B8. 19 looks good, but 20 is perfect. So for winter, I'd say 18 is right. I still have 17s on mine (OEM rims for winter), but they look wrong after my 19" summers.