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D3 - Wheels and Tyres Refurbing, center caps, tyre brands, tyrefitters - discuss it here

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  #1  
Old 30th October 2017, 12:52 PM
Alex C Alex C is offline
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Default Winter / cross climate tyres

Hi All

There is 3-4mm left on my Sport Maxx GT (Rear) and RT(Front) tyres which I think are OEM fit (or equivalent Dunlop update)

Just wondering if other D3 owners go for full winters, cross climates, or don't bother for typical UK winters?

I know how good winter tyres are when its really cold / snowy coming from a few RWD BMWs but this isn't actually that often and I'm wondering if its worth the bother with the Quattro drivetrain?


Cheapish solution would be some winter wheels and tyres from e-bay but I'd have to buy another outdoor storage bin and wheel bags so its a bit of a faff.
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Old 30th October 2017, 01:16 PM
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Architex_mA8tey Architex_mA8tey is offline
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I've got Yokohama W drive V905's fitted to our D3's for the winter season and theyve proved to be very good grip wise and also very hard wearing
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Old 30th October 2017, 01:28 PM
snapdragon snapdragon is offline
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For the last 5 years we have had no snow in the midlands to speak of. Glad I didn't invest in winter tyres. They say they are good in cold weather nyway, but so are my summer tyres. When it snows (over 5 years ago) I have found summer tyres adequate to get up hills due to Quattro but of course, still risky when steering.
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Old 30th October 2017, 02:23 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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I don't think all-season/cross-climate tyres are made in sizes suitable for 8's yet. Though I'm thinking about getting them for my Volvo when it needs tyres.

Personally I stick my winter wheels on the S8 regardless around this time of year, they do work better than summer performance tyres (I have Michelin PS4S now) when it's cooler; doesn't have to be freezing.
(And I use smaller wheels with deeper tyres in winter too, all equivalenced to keep the speedo accurate. And my nice summer wheels are kept away from winter potholes etc.)
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Old 30th October 2017, 02:35 PM
Alex C Alex C is offline
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This is the dilemma, I had 2 days of snow 3 years ago and nothing since, so am trying to justify it for wet and frosty conditions really.

In the end however as I transport the sprog a lot on cold mornings I think the piece of mind is probably worth while for colder temps regardless of the white stuff.
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Old 30th October 2017, 02:46 PM
Alex C Alex C is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HPsauce View Post
I don't think all-season/cross-climate tyres are made in sizes suitable for 8's yet. Though I'm thinking about getting them for my Volvo when it needs tyres.
I had the Michelin Cross Climates on my V70 - they were very good in the wet and cold, and surprisingly wore very well, with 4mm of tread left after 20k miles from new.

They were a bit baggy in the dry summer conditions and squealed a bit on roundabouts if a little spirited, which in a wobbly Volvo is not very spirited at all.

So like you I have my concerns about using these all year round on an A8.

I think I might just get a duplicate set of wheels for winter, keeping one set as the 'good' wheels with decent sport tyres.
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Old 30th October 2017, 02:48 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Spare wheels can be pretty cheap and are a one-off cost, mine are the 18's that came with the car (20's for summer) and you stop worrying about the inevitable minor damage you pick up in winter conditions.
I reckon I've recouped the capital cost purely in savings on refurbishment.

And in the long run you spend the same on tyres, possibly even a bit less as the correct tyres for the conditions actually wear a bit more slowly.
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2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!
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Old 30th October 2017, 05:53 PM
richardracer richardracer is offline
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Default Winter wheels and tyres for Audi A8/S8 D3

Hi Alex,

I am selling my S8 winter wheels and tyres after selling my D3 S8 (see thread on here). They are 18" by 8" rims with Dunlop D3 winter tyres with 3- 4 mm tread. Rim style is standard D3 S8. Pictures and prices in the thread on sale of my D3, £350. Let me know if you are intereested. I also adopted the approach of fitting on Dec 1st, taking summer wheels for refurb and swapping back in March.

Cheers

Richard
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Old 30th October 2017, 06:40 PM
Alex C Alex C is offline
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Hi

Thanks, just aquired a duplicate set of 19” shod with winters however, otherwise I would’ve taken you up on that.

But this way I get to keep the car looking as is whilst maintaining the other set in good nick

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Old 30th October 2017, 07:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richardracer View Post
Hi Alex,

.... I also adopted the approach of fitting on Dec 1st, taking summer wheels for refurb and swapping back in March.

Cheers

Richard
Thats a short winter you have down there! This morning it was 3degC and I am considering just when to put my winter wheels in the coming weeks!! I think that last year the winters were on from early November to late MArch.
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