I can't recommend Vredstein Wintracs high enough - if you are after performance in all weather. You owe it to yourself to check them out.

 

sillyboy-the ws-50's are not the best performer on dry roads, but by no means are they awful. I am not sure about the lm-22/25. i am sure they offer better handling, but they compromise foul weather handing. Personally, i chose the ws-50's because they offered better weather reliability and for where i live, i needed it. I am actually selling my winter wheels/tires. They are the standard 6-spoke avus design wheel that came on the 2000-2002 S4. They are in decent shape, a few nicks. The tires are the Blizzak WS-50's and they have one season of use, about 2,300 miles. If you or anyone else is interested, let me know

schianbm@muohio.edu

 

I had the Blizzak LM-22s on my G35 Coupe last year and they were great. I plan on getting either the LM-25s or Dunlop Wintersport M3s for my S4

 

Another question as the time is nearing. I believe my stock tires are 235/40vr 18. I am thinking about getting another set of stock rims from the dealer, and was wondering whick size winter tire to go with. Would you go a size narrower, say 225 ??? I've also considered getting a non-stock set of rims, throwing the summer tires on them and the winters on the stock rims?? Thanks.

 

I just did what you are talking about. I got a set of bbs rs-gt's and put my summer tires on them. I also picked up a set of Blizzak LM 25s...and put those on the stock avus wheels (04 b6 s4). I went with 235/40 cause that is what was specified for the 18x8.5 stock wheel, though in theory going a bit narrower should be an advantage in the snow.

I looked at allot of posts, and did some reading on winter tire comparisons. I live in ny and go snowboarding in vt almost every weekend. Thought about the ws-50s but where I live we probably get 3-4 storms a year..the rest of the time, the roads are in pretty good shape. The lm-25s seemed like the way to go. I guess I'll know at the end of the upcoming season.

 

Though we do get snow that actually sticks to the ground once every year or two (even though I'm less than 20 miles north of the Mexican border we're at around 4600 ft elevation so we do get snow sometimes) most of the white powder here gets smuggled in on trucks or such.

 

damn dude u have 3 05 or higher cars. 2 audis and a porsche. can i ask what u do?

 

I got a set of Dunlop M3s put on last week and they are amazing. Dry & wet handling is much better then the LM-22 I had last year. Even the guys at my performance shop were commenting how good the traction was in the dry. They got a realy aggressive tread pattern too so they should be money in the snow. I can't wait for the first snow.

 

thanks all. Now, I am still debating the Dunlop M3 vs the LM 25...but, once that decision is made..where to get em. Tire Rack?? or should I search local??

 

I considered both the Dunlops and the Pirelli snows prior to purchasing Vredstein. As good as those two might be regarding high performance driving I cannot believe they will even come close to the Vreds - this was the advice I got from Radial Tire in Maryland - a high performance tire shop - and what sealed me was their stating that every single salesman (5 or 6 of them who pretty much are all into performance driving & racing) all said that they only use Vreds in the winter and that no other snow tire would do. My experience absolutly confirms their confidence in these tires. Aside from the fact that they are 17" vice 19" - thus have a bit more sidewall wobble - not bad mind you - but more then tires on 19" wheels...) the Vreds perform nearly at the level of my Yoko AVS sports - in dry - and certainly exceed their performance in the wet. I have passed various performance cars (BMWS and various) in high speed sweepers while on the Vreds and they grip like you wouldn't believe. Wet/snow traction is phenomonal - I once did 70mph in a somewhat twisty (not too severe) stretch on an unplowed ice & snow covered road - without traction control ever kicking in! These tires are incredible - the best - I can't imagine a better performance snow tire and I could imagine riding on them all year without wishing to change them out (but my 19" wheels look better!) - they also are not overly noisy )just slightly worse then the Yokos - and the wear has been great - after 2 seasons - 1 extended into June - and probably 30K miles - they look brand new!)