[bry]

I swear by winters. On from November off by April.
If you can get hold of some sensibly priced wheels its worth it.
Whilst you're on your winters your summers aren't getting worn so although its a heavy initial outlay it pays back over time.
The difference is massive and most importantly gives you options should something unexpected happen or more critically allow you to wash off more speed before an accident.

+1 I wouldn't be without them used winters for the last 8 years on various cars.

 

[dieseldoug]

I use winters all the time some are changed over some are on all year because of traction all year round for heavy rain at roadsides and better cold weather driving.
Currently the Q has a winter set, A3 winter set other cars running all seasons

 

[Barbyboy]

Agree with jamiekp.
Currently drive a 3.0 Tdi Q5 with 20" 7 spoke alloys and use both winter (Pirelli Ice and Snow 255/45/20V) and standard tyres. Vehicle spends 12 weeks a year in snowy French Alps and I wouldn't be without the "winters" either in France or the UK!
Have also gone for SQ5 with 21" wheel option but current Q5 20" winter tyres (@ £940 a set!) still have plenty of tread remaining.
Was considering buying a second set of 20" wheels (eg. www.wheelbasealloys.com) for the new car but I hadn't appreciated that the bigger brakes might create an issue.
Can anyone else confirm that this would be the case?

 

[bigironman]

Got a new Q5s+ in March, and always have winters, so bought a set. I wanted 19's or smaller and ordered 17's, but dealer had to call me back to say that AUK specify 20's because of the larger Brembus discs now being fitted. We spent quite a while looking into it, then decided to go for the 20's. The dealer let us have them for cost - the price was not much more than the 17" that was an option on the old Q5. It's a 45 profile which is not so bad, and the winter wheels are less fussy than the standard wheels so easier to clean. You might not need them for 'going' in a 4WD but they sure are handy for 'slowing'. The initial outlay hurts a bit, but over the life of the car it evens out.

 

[Tim Smith]

Guys,

I just ordered an SQ5 and also need to fit winter tyres. My preference was to use 19" rims, my new car won't turn up till September.

I took a chance on a secondhand set of 19" Audi alloys that came off a S-Line car - these were £800 from an eBay Trader. The Audi dealer who I ordered my SQ5 from let me try one of the 19" alloys on the front hub of their demo SQ5. It just fitted giving about 4 to 5mm clearance on the rather large front brake callipers. On a jack with the car in neutral we were able to rotate the alloy with two of the bolts nipped up.

This wheel has an offset of ET39 and is a 19" x 8J. Audi part number is:

8R0601025L1H7​

The 20" standard wheel has an offset of ET33 but is 8.5J, 0.5" equates to about 12mm, dividing by two gives 6mm. So this 19" Alloy is in the same position relative to the 20" wheel but will be 6mm further inside the wheel arch with the 235/55 R19 tyres. I don't know if there would be issues with fitting 6mm spacers, other than there my be difficulties centering the wheel on the hub with a slim spacer that is not hub centric.

I don't know if all Audi Q5 Alloys 19" wheels would fit, the amount of clearance between the brake calliper and this alloy was small, I would try first if possible. It will probably be down to whether the internal profile of the alloy gives sufficient clearance to the brake calliper.

Audi Germany lists a 19" Alloy as a winter wheel for the SQ5, there's also a 20" option too. Interesting the 19" is a 7J wheel but the same 235/55 R19 tyre is suggested in the brochure.

The cheapest decent winter tyres I found were Vredesteins at £156 a corner at love tyres:

http://lovetyres.com...9/season/Winter

They were shipped next day delivery and turned up as advised at 4pm. So good price and good service from Love Tyres.

I used to run Vredesteins on my BMW X3 and they worked very well, i'd like to hear if anyone has had success with the cheaper brands of winter tyres in snow and ice.

Hope this post helps in deciding whether to use 19" or 20" for winter tyres.

 

[missile]

Guys,

I just ordered an SQ5 and also need to fit winter tyres using 19" rims, my new car won't turn up till September.

I got a secondhand set of 19" Audi alloys that came off a S-Line car. The Audi dealer who I ordered my SQ5 from let me try one of the 19" alloys on the front hub. It just fitted giving about 4 to 5mm clearance on the rather large front brake callipers.

This wheel has an offset of ET39 and is a 19" x 8J. Audi part number is:

8R0601025L1H7
View attachment 1036​

That is good to know. I kept the 19" wheels of my old Q5 in the hope / expectation that they would fit the SQ5.

 

[mondie]

Sounds like a good solution and not too expensive. If we go an SQ5 I would prefer to have a second set of rims and tyres so I can have the 21" wheel option and not have to worry about trying to buy winter tyres to suit.

 

[....]

Summer Tyres oh NO !
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=393347934092055&set=a.345287388898110.80227.345274575566058&type=1&theater

 

[marky9074]

Anybody got a picture of the winter kit from the German site? I went through the configurator (annoying as alcantara contrasting seat is a option.. and cheaper) and saw the option, but no pictures...

 

[jamiekip]

I'm just going to buy some of the OEM 20" wheel I think. Paint them in the OEM ti colour and think those with winter rubber will suffice for the UK.
I think it'll look a bit noddy on 19" if I'm honest!

 

[Tim Smith]

View attachment katalog_sq5_2013.pdf

Here's an extract from the Austrian (I think) brochure - pdf file - shows pictures of the Winter Wheels and tyre combinations available in Europe - but no prices!

 

[Tim Smith]

I'm just going to buy some of the OEM 20" wheel I think. Paint them in the OEM ti colour and think those with winter rubber will suffice for the UK.
I think it'll look a bit noddy on 19" if I'm honest!

I wish I could afford OEM 20" plus winter tyres. Price for the same standard 20" came in at £3,100 from Audi, Pirelli winter tyres were £1,100 for the set. Ouch..

 

[marky9074]

View attachment 1041

Here's an extract from the Austrian (I think) brochure - pdf file - shows pictures of the Winter Wheels and tyre combinations available in Europe - but no prices!

Interesting.. the winter 19's are exactly the same as the stock SQ5 20's....

 

[jamiekip]

You can see them on the video I posted

 

[marky9074]

You can see them on the video I posted

Ahh that makes sense now, I thought they were stock 20's...

 

[rudeboy_2777]

Did some test fitting at the shop 18x8 will fit as long as it has a +37 offset or lower. I tried using stock 18 inch q5 rims but they have a +39 offset which caused it to rub ever so lightly on the hex shaped bolt on the outside of the caliper. Just got to get tires that will have the same rolling diameter. When I was on the parts computer at work it recommends 19s but you can do 18 as long as you get the proper offset for the 18

 

[Sq5john]

I note for those of us on standard 20" rims that winter tyres are available off the shelf - Event Tyres are quoting £279 each for Pirelli Scorpion Winters

 

[Snow Man]

Bonus!