I have a Prestige B8, and last time I spoke with the parts dept. at my local Audi dealer, they said the 18" wheels that come with the B8 are too big for the chains Audi has. Anyone can recommend a set of chains, and where I can get them for the 18" wheels that come with the B8. He said Audi doesn't make them for the Prestige because there is not enough clearance between the tires and the wheel lining of the fenders.

 

No, don't chain up. Buy snowflake-on-mountain emblazoned winter tires instead.

 

Just get your winter tires studded and your set

 

Don't have winter tires. I imagine they cost a lot. Plus, I wanted to go up to the local mountains here in California, but it is snowed in, and according to their website, ALL vehicles require chains including 4-Wheel drive with Snow Tires.

 

Any suggestions for the type of chains to get? I heard somewhere you can't put chain on 18" tires, or risk damaging the interior wheel lining. Also, are there any restrictions for the A4, such as NO Chains, or S Type Chains, or Low clearance chains?

 

California requires you to CARRY chains when in the mountains in the winter. You can get a ticket if they check and you don't have them. But if you have quattro and M&S tires, you almost never need to put the chains on. In the extremely rare case where even 4WD are required to put on chains, you really should get off the road.

 

I just recently noticed the M&S letters on my tires. What does that mean?
I just recently saw this on the roads up in the mountains: "All cars require chains except All wheel drives with snow tires".

I know I have all wheel drives, but does the M&S put me in the catagory of "With snow tires"?

 

I've been told by a chain control guy (and others) that I just AWD and M&S tires for the normal R1 and R2 categories of chain control in the Sierras. R3 is rarely reached--they close the road instead. The link below says MSS tires--I'm not sure if that is a typo or what.

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/winter_driving.html

However, this link is more clear: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/chcontrl.htm

Types of Chain Controls:
During the winter months, motorists may encounter traction chain controls in the mountain areas within California. When chain controls are established, signs will be posted along the road indicating the type of requirement. There are three requirements in California.

Requirement One (R1): Chains, traction devices or snow tires are required on the drive axle of all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles.

Requirement Two (R2): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels.
(NOTE: Four wheel/all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.)

Requirement Three (R3): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

Snow-tread Tires:
The California vehicle code section 558 defines a snow-tread tire as follows, " A 'Snow-tread tire' is a tire which has a relatively deep and aggressive tread pattern compared with conventional passenger tread pattern". Snow-tread tires can be identified by examining the sidewall of the tire where the letters MS, M/S, M+S or the words MUD AND SNOW have been stamped into the sidewall.

 

Oh man, thanks for that. That is some good news. Makes me feel my Audi is invisible now. All this time I was driving without chains in the mountains during R2 conditions, and hoping not to get a ticket. Nice to know that M/S is sufficient, and I fall within Legal limits of R2 category.