One of the functions of my A3 when it enters service is to transport me, two children and equipment to a ski resort through a moderate New England snowfall.

First of all, the original tires that come with with the 18" optional wheels aren't going to cut it. Any recommmendations? Since I'll be spending much of my time in relatively warm Northern VA, I'm wondering if a decent all-weather four season tire (e.g. Nokian WR) might be an adequate alternative to winter tires.

Second, I'll need greater carrying capacity. I'll probably get the Thule roof rack because they seem to have a somewhat lower profile then either Yakima and OEM set-ups. Does anybody have experience with cargo boxes? Are there any stability issues with pairing a Yakima box with a Thule rack? Any comments appreciated.

 

Another alternative could be to get pre-mounted snowtires on steel rims so your nice factory wheels don't have to suffer the beatings of ice, snow, salt, sleet, sand, potholes, and everything else that comes with wintertime driving. Places like TireRack.com offer these solutions. It will also extend the life of your current tires.

 

i've got the thule setup with the aero bars and it works great. i just leave the bars on during the winter and slide on the attachments when i need them. it only takes about 2 minutes to slide them in.

in terms of their profile, they're pretty much the same height as the oem bars, just thinner. plus the oem bars don't have a rubber coating on the piece that clamps onto the door jam. i've got a couple of scratches from them. the thule ones are rubber coated and are easier to put on.
stick with the thule w/ aero bars. better quality and easier to use.