Audi S4 Snow Tire (hopefully not FAQ)
 

I am new to Toronto and potholes.

I am NOT a bad or aggressive driver

I have an S4 Cabriolet with Continental ContiExtremeContacts year round tires with 235/40-18 tires.

In a year I have ruined 2 tires. Luckily the rims have been ok. Since this car is quattro, when you ruin one you need to buy 4. This is getting expensive.

1) Is this usual "wear and tear" for toronto pothole driving?
2) Are the Continental ContiExtremeContacts just horrible?
3) Any suggestions on tires or rims or maybe my driving habits?

Many thanks,

gordon

Re: Audi S4 Snow Tire (hopefully not FAQ)
 

Get a smaller rim, this will have more give I suggest you go with a 17"

Re: Audi S4 Snow Tire (hopefully not FAQ)
 

You don't want to know how many Pilot Alpins I've gone through. I was running 17's for the winter on my B5 S4.

I found the solution though...bought a 91 golf diesel for the winter. :-)

And to answer your questions:

1 - Can't speak for Toronto, but you should try Montreal. You can loose your car in the potholes here.

2 - Don't know about the contis...but the Michelins did the same. Both high end tires.

3 - Yes. Buy a beater for the winter. And drive it like you stole it.

Re: Audi S4 Snow Tire (hopefully not FAQ)
 

I just went with 31" Muds and changed the S4 to S10

I popped a cancer bubble in my summer rims just before winter, so ugly,
Just a huge bulge out the back side of one of the tires.

Kinda sucks i ended up parking the S4 just after i got a sweet set of hankook Ipikes (Amazing tires) ahh well, come next winter i'll be ready. Now i need summer tires.

I head something about if you write the government saying that the potholes broke something and you send them the bill that sometimes they will compensate you. This is only a rumor i've heard though, i dont know what you would do to go about getting such a thing done. Just try and remember where the holes are and drive to avoid. Make an every day easy drive alittle more interesting, just dont do it in front of a cop, they might think your drunk, or hit the hole them selves and understand. Eitherway toronto sucks for pot holes.

Re: Audi S4 Snow Tire (hopefully not FAQ)
 

Thanks to you both.

Yikes very sad, of course, my memory is very short as I have the top down now and I am thinking about waiting for the snow again.

Really appreciate the info on the forum!

Re: Audi S4 Snow Tire (hopefully not FAQ)
 

I would suggest a few things

1. never buy Continental anything...they're just not that good, and they're expensive to boot

2. get a dedicated set of winter wheels with snow tires and a seperate set of wheels for summer with performance tires. All seasons should also be called no seasons since there is no particular season they're best for. Why buy a 340 hp super-convertible if you're going to roll around on 'compromise' tires? Also a winter beater is not necessary for a B6 S4...the B5 guys often get one because the B5 is prone to breaking down with alarming regularity, but the V8, since they're not really moddable and don't have turbos tend to be a bit more robust. With Quattro AWD and snow tires, you'll have the most unstoppable convertible in Toronto. I'd find a set of OEM Audi wheels (17" minimum to fit over our big brakes). I personally run 18" winter wheels on my 2007 S4. No problems, and even on the worst snowstorm of the year, I was one of very few cars on the road...even some SUVs were stuck.

3. look for used sets of tires for your winters (and even summers). For some reason a new set of Michelin PS2s will run you $1400 but if you sell them after 3 months, they'll only fetch $500. There's some value out there as long as you know what you're looking for

Re: Audi S4 Snow Tire (hopefully not FAQ)
 

x2

S4's need dedicated summer/winter set. I run Nokian's on my stock 18'' s and they're a breeze (except when I get big snow build-up between the spokes that causes vibrations)

where do you pick up a set of used PS2's?

what do you all think of the Potenza R050 Pole Position ?

Re: Audi S4 Snow Tire (hopefully not FAQ)
 

I love Potenzas...have them on my IS300 and would love a set of the RE01Rs for my S4. They just discontinued the 01R.

craigslist and kijiji for used tires

also try audizine.com in the classifieds. TONS of sets

there's currently a set of BRAND NEW Michelin PS2s that are 245.40.18 selling for $800. One set in Montreal, one set in Toronto. Both are B8 A4 buyers who took them off instantly in order to use their stock wheels for winters, and bought 19" wheels for summers

scuzzi...
18" Michelin Sport Summer performance PS2 - Audizine Forums