KHill

For those of you in the snowy areas, who had your TL in the winter, how did it perform in the snow? I'm considering a 6-spd TL, but am just a little worried about snow performance, especialliy comming from an Audi A4 with Quattro.

Thanks for your help.

Nicki

The EL42 tires suck in the snow!

lakeman

The HPT's are a total disaster in the snow, but are much better than the EL 42's in the dry and wet. My recommendation is to buy the 6MT with the HPT's and then get some good snow tires for the snowy season.
And no it will not be as good as a quattro in the snow.

gregory28

EL 42's are mediocre in the snow.

vtechbrain

No doubt snow tires are mandatory. Blizzak LM 22's are great.

PetesTL

If you live in a highly-populated urban area where city snow removal is pretty efficient, you don't need AWD........a good set of snow tires is MORE and adequate!

chas083

My Michelin Pilot Sport A/Ss worked fine in the Minnesota winter.

KHill

Which I don't. I even throw snows on my Audi.

So it looks like if I do get the TL, I will need to get another set of snows.

Thanks for all of your help.

caball88

i have 6MT and used it in the snow, it works great. i used the el42's are well. there was only about 4-6 inches on the ground but the TL plowed through it with no problem. of course the HPT's are going to be bad in the snow, i would just get the el42's and use them for the winter. then spend some money on good performance summer tires instead.

daviddww

I have the 6MT with dedicated snow tires on it. It handled very well in the few times I was able to get it out in the snow. I didn't buy my car up until the end of Feb though, so I didn't get much chance at it. Next year for sure!

This is the first time I have bought another set of wheels for my summer tires....no more mounting every year!!!

soljc

What brand/make of dedicated snows do you have? I've got the HPTs currently, but will surely go with a snow next year.

Also, did you get the same size as the factory tires? Thanks.

daviddww

Yes, they are the stock size (235/45-17). They are Yokohama Profuse. Not the best snow tires, but Discount had a set that only had 500 miles on them so I grabbed them.

dougpt10

Get the TL with EL42s. Get new 18's with summer hp tires and use the stock 17s with el42 for the winter. I'm sure they will do just fine especially on a FWD car. Put the stockers back on for lease return with el42s. Lets face it, 90% of people are driving FWD with all season tires in the snow. You can all complain about the el42s but they will be just fine. The audi TT people cried terribly about the potenza reo40s that the TT came with and actually got re-imbursed for them but many used them without problems at all. :worship:

William_B

I put the winter Blizzak package on my TL from the dealer. Same rims so they look nie. Handled just fine for me.

daviddww

I drove to Discount Tire straight from the dealer and they gave me $100/tire on the EL42's. Then I put the snows on and bought the OEM 18's which I just mounted my Goodyear F1's on last week.

meathead

i live in the same "highly populated urban area" and i wouldn't have minded AWD even for this weak winter.

the TL sucks in the snow, it may just be the stock tires i'm not sure.

dougpt10

for the EL42s towards snows. Then I'll buy my 18s with HPT and add snows with my credit to the stockers!

BlackSunshine

If you have the HPT....

Snow performance is No performance.

taschroth

I put snows on the stock rims in Cleveland, Oh and it was better then my SUV (MDX) by FAR!!!! Was fearless in the worst winter we had in years.

PS, moving to GA so they are for sale!

Acurich

Purchased in November, had no complaints in the snow w/EL42's/AT, and I live in hilly terrain.

Found the traction control more efficient than that on my ES300 in facilitating standing starts. The ability to move the shift lever into the manual gate was also helpful, e.g. in using engine braking in descending hills.

All in all I was pleasantly surprised, as I expected the wide, low profile tires to be a real problem in snow (experience involved snow up to 5/6", plus subsequent driving on hard-packed snow).

DaveyCrockett

The EL42's worked fine in snow for me. I live in Toronto btw. The VSA is a lifesaver.

brahtw8

Tires are very important. Having snow tires in the winter and performance tires in the summer transforms the car. If you live in an area with seasons, I suggest you consider compromising something other than your choice of tires. All-seasons are okay, but don't come close to a tire made for a single purpose.

I run 225/50/17 Blizzak LM22s in the winter on the stock 17s. They work very well, and are my new favorite HP snow tire.

I have 235/40/18s Yoko AVS ES 100s on the factory 18s. I like the Yokos for value and tread life in a HP summer tire. I also like Toyo T1-S for a little more performance and a little less tread life.

I don't know if I would like 255s on the 18s, but perhaps I will give them a try for my next set. A wider tire may help protect the rim a bit more (or at all).