Snow packed tires.
01-20-2009, 11:02 AM
#1
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 36
Snow packed tires.
This may be a stupid question but it really bugs me and I have to ask to see if anyone have the same problem or solution.......
Every time there's snow accumulation on the road (a few inches), I like to take the back roads to commute. The highway gets dirty and busy, while the back roads are quiet and empty. I really enjoy my Quattro in the empty, snow covered country roads. My problem is that even after one stretch of country road, the wheels will be packed with snow and it's hard to clean the packed snow off. A lot will sit inside the rims and when I travel back on the highways, the wheels will be, naturally, unbalanced. The car will shake like crazy at any thing over 80km/50mph. I keep a coat hanger in the trunk to clear the snow but it doesn't work well enough. It also takes a long time too dig/push all the snow/ice off the rims for the car to travel smooth. I get home and I have to use a hair dryer. Mine is the stock1998 16" A6 alloy. Anyone have the same beef? Is it rim profile design? I know a 5 spoke design will be easier to clean comparatively of course (easier to reach through between the spoke to clear snow off) but the snow will still sit on the inside of the rim? Does other rim design helps throw the snow off? I use to 4x4 with a jeep and while at first, after mud bogging, the wheels will seem unbalanced, eventually all caked on mud will get thrown off and I won't feel any bad vibration anymore before I reached home. Any thoughts? Sorry for being long winded.
Every time there's snow accumulation on the road (a few inches), I like to take the back roads to commute. The highway gets dirty and busy, while the back roads are quiet and empty. I really enjoy my Quattro in the empty, snow covered country roads. My problem is that even after one stretch of country road, the wheels will be packed with snow and it's hard to clean the packed snow off. A lot will sit inside the rims and when I travel back on the highways, the wheels will be, naturally, unbalanced. The car will shake like crazy at any thing over 80km/50mph. I keep a coat hanger in the trunk to clear the snow but it doesn't work well enough. It also takes a long time too dig/push all the snow/ice off the rims for the car to travel smooth. I get home and I have to use a hair dryer. Mine is the stock1998 16" A6 alloy. Anyone have the same beef? Is it rim profile design? I know a 5 spoke design will be easier to clean comparatively of course (easier to reach through between the spoke to clear snow off) but the snow will still sit on the inside of the rim? Does other rim design helps throw the snow off? I use to 4x4 with a jeep and while at first, after mud bogging, the wheels will seem unbalanced, eventually all caked on mud will get thrown off and I won't feel any bad vibration anymore before I reached home. Any thoughts? Sorry for being long winded.
01-20-2009, 01:00 PM
#2
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: GTA
Posts: 172
Re: Snow packed tires.
Hey JCSiu,
Funny you should mention that as I do the same thing (prefer to drive in the snow covered roads). I usually go to a coin carwash & spay the rims with hot water afterward.
Funny you should mention that as I do the same thing (prefer to drive in the snow covered roads). I usually go to a coin carwash & spay the rims with hot water afterward.
01-22-2009, 04:06 PM
#3
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 19
Re: Snow packed tires.
This did not happened to me last winter, but has twice this year. I'm usuing my stock S4 wheels during the winter.
Really, we should buy alloys designed as winter wheels, as they make them so that snow is less likely to build up.
Really, we should buy alloys designed as winter wheels, as they make them so that snow is less likely to build up.
01-25-2009, 08:25 AM
#6
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SHELLBROOK SASK.
Posts: 3
Re: Snow packed tires.
Happened to me to so I broke down and bought steel rims from VW dealer for $75 for my winter tires and have no problem now.They don't look as pretty but I live in the country and do a lot of back road driveing so it is practical.
01-26-2009, 09:10 AM
#7
Audi Forum - Posts like an RS4
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Etobicoke
Posts: 864
Re: Snow packed tires.
QFT, this seems to be a pretty good fix. Using the stockers doesn't bug me in Toronto but I can see it being a problem up north.
01-27-2009, 08:41 AM
#8
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kitchener
Posts: 41
Re: Snow packed tires.
It will happen all the time with wide open wheels. Only thing you can do is stay ontop of cleaning them. Or Get yourself a set of Steelies..
Although the 16" B6 A4 wheels that look like Phone Dials are pretty good in the winter too as they don't have very wide openings
Although the 16" B6 A4 wheels that look like Phone Dials are pretty good in the winter too as they don't have very wide openings
02-13-2009, 09:43 PM
#9
Audi Forum - Posts like an S6
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Oakville
Posts: 1,155
Re: Snow packed tires.
Here is my S4 on its winter setup...18" OEM S4 wheels/Pirelli Snowsports. These wheels LOVE to get packed with snow, thanks to the 14 spokes.
No real solution other than:
1. park in a garage (melts off)
2. hockeystick out the snow
3. drive slow
steelies are NOT an option on our nice Audis!
No real solution other than:
1. park in a garage (melts off)
2. hockeystick out the snow
3. drive slow
steelies are NOT an option on our nice Audis!
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