After a series of harsh UK winters in recent years Audi has decided to act early this year, offering new winter tyre and wheel sets for key models, which offer big improvements in traction when driving in difficult conditions.
With extremes of weather not seen in the United Kingdom for 30 years, and with statistics showing that it rains on an average of 154 days out of each year in the UK's key regional capitals, Audi believes that there is a strong case for drivers to equip their car with a good quality set of seasonal tyres.
The new winter tyre sets are available now from Audi Centres across the country and can be bought for the vast majority of models, from the A1 premium subcompact to the Q7 luxury SUV. When fitted to existing wheels they are priced at £550, including VAT and the fitting, or they are also available for £792 (also including VAT and fitting) with 16-19 inch wheel and tyre sets which also offer protection from corrosion caused by snow and salt. They also come with free heavy duty storage bags for your summer tyres and wheels, or if you do not have much space to spare then many Audi Centres are offering to store your summer tyres for you if you pay extra.
Made from a special rubber compound, the winter tyres offer a substantial increase in braking effectiveness and grip when you are driving in temperatures of below +7 degrees, and in snow. The improved traction also reduces the risk of aquaplaning when you are driving in cold wet conditions.
Unlike regular tyres, which become stiffer and suffer from reduced flexibility when the temperature is low, the new winter tyres remain soft and pliable, enabling them to maintain grip. In addition to this they also have a special tread pattern to optimise water displacement, plus extra grooves called 'sipes' which serve to increase traction.
Taken together all of these features mean that grip is improved by up to 60% when driving on snow, ice, slush, or on cold wet roads. Braking distance is also improved by up to 20%, which is equivalent to two car lengths.
For maximum winter traction the new wheel and tyre sets can also be combined with the quattro all-wheel-drive system which is now widely available for most Audi cars.
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