velo

My '02 S6 avant is getting a little long in the tooth, so I am considering an '08 or '09 GTS as a replacement. Also thinking about the manual 6-spd.

1. What are folks from the snow/freeze belt doing for winter shoes? I have found only one snow tire in the stock 295/35/21 fitment. Are there any all-season high performance in that size that anyone is familiar with? Or do most have a smaller dedicated winter wheel/tire set-up?

2. Any short shift kits available for the manual, and has anyone installed it?


Thanks,
PF

DMoore

My g/f recently bought an '09 GTS, slightly used with 5k miles. It came with aftermarket 22" Techart wheels, which would be worse than hockey pucks in the snow.

I tracked down a set of 19" wheels on eBay and Nokian snow tires for her car. With shipping and TPMS units it came to about $2k total.

The stock 21" wheels on the GTS result in such low profile, wide tires that I think any snow tire for that rim would be a poor compromise. I initially wanted to go 18" rims, but was told by Wheel Enhancement that they wouldn't fit on an '09 GTS. They'd fit earlier ones, but the brake calipers apparently grew for the '09 model year. Apparently not even all 19" rims fits, but I got lucky and these do.

These wheels:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-P...Q5fAccessories

These tires:

http://www.tiresbyweb.com/p-7783-nokian-wr-g2-suv.aspx

BTW, love your Avant! My winter car is an '08 S4 Avant. I previously had an '07 RS4, but traded it for the Avant when I got my previous 911. If only they'd bring the current S4 Avant into the US, or the RS4 Avant...

DMoore
'09 911 C2S PDK
'08 Audi S4 Avant tip

Cpa4S

18" work on all cayennes save the new model turbo S's. the deeper the snow the more it makes sense to get 18 inch. so it depends on where you live.

no shortshifter for the manual - it would be great though

Bob Rouleau

My wife has a GTS. Bought the 18 inch wheel/tire package from the dealer with Nokian Hakapolitta 5s.. Works very well in our serious snow and ice. No way would I use 21 inch snow tires.

jaholmes

Get 18's for sure. I got a set of the new Blizzaks DMV-1s. They are priced right. I have had the Perilli scorpions before. now that i've had both, the P's have better dry / wet grip but I didn't like the slush and snow grip. The Blizzaks do not seem to have the dry / wet grip and will see what the snow grip is. Maybe it's a tire pressure but the jury is out on these tires.

velo

Thanks for the input. DMoore, I too wish the new S4 avant or RS4 avant was available. New B8 A4 platform is finally "big enough" for my needs. But then, I wouldn't be looking at the GTS. I have been so smitten with my 997 (and 993 before it) and somewhat disheartened by some recent Audi experiences (our Q7 burned to the ground, and Audi kicked us, 8 time repeat buyers, to the curb).

Slow Guy

Sunset Porsche has a couple outstanding deals on winter wheel/tire sets. Check them out in Pano/Excellence or give them a call. They would know if the 18" fit on the newer GTS.

bgsntth

Wheel Enhancement is wrong - they told me the same thing. Yet, I have a set of 18" Victor Equipment Zehn wheels on my '09 GTS at present. Plenty of caliper clearance.

k722070

am I the only person using the 21" pirelli scorpion ice and snow tires?

well they work for me. my house is at 5000 ft, 13 miles and 3000 vertical ft from snowbird/alta. I average a little over 100 days of skiing per season and my GTS gets up and down Little Cottonwood Canyon with zero problems.
I've driven on packed snow, ice, patchy snow and ice, wet and plowed through 18 inches of fresh powder with no problems at all.

don't be afraid, embrace winter tire technology.

DMoore

Hmmm... I just noticed your user name. What kind of bike(s) do you ride?

I'm a bit of a fanatic. At present I have 7 bikes, with #8 on (long-range) order. I have an Orbea Orca, an Abici TT rig, a Richard Sachs, two Brian Baylis', and a Wizard on order. Also an original '84 Ciocc and a Santana MTB. As far as components go, my eBay user name says it all: "fullcampy."

10 years and 25 pounds ago I was a Masters racer. Never more than pack fodder, but had lots of fun. Still ride a bit, but (have you heard this before?) I'm determined to get back into shape. Soon. Really! I promise.

DMoore
'09 C2S PDK
'08 S4 Avant

velo

You are obviously a true connoisseur. My current stable includes a Serotta Ottrott, Seven ti CX/winter special (both full Campy Record, of course), Waterford lugged steel single speed, Ibis SilkTi mtb, Santa Cruz carbon Blur, Litespeed townie, and Cannondale tandem. I am still pretty active competitively when time permits, only now its Masters 40+ (30+ seemed like just yesterday) on the road, with a few expert mtb races and a few cyclocross races here and there. Would love to get my hands on a Richard Sachs cx bike some day.

Bob Rouleau

The 18 inch wheels fit the GTS, they are the standard equipment offering on the turbo after all. My wife has hers on now in fact.

The reasons I would not use 21 inch wheels are:

1) Tires too wide for maximum grip on snow and ice
2) Minimal sidewall. If your roads are bad due to freeze thaw cycles you are far more likely to damage your wheels with the 21's.
3) The price of 21 inch snow tires makes the wheel/tire package pretty attractive.
4) You don't mess up your expensive 21 inch rims with salt etc.

Regards,

pdxjim

As noted above, Sunset has good prices on 18" snow tire packages.

http://www.sunsetimports.com/

TwoSeatsOrLess

Have heard good things about the Pirelli Scorpion as well, if you want to keep stock wheels...

mattjtaylor50

i use 21" pirelli snows
no complaints here. i am in a cold environment which gets lots of snow

smaller definitely would have better traction etc. but i didn't want to sacrifice looks.
i run 22" techarts in summer months