Tires Continental or FEDERAL

you don't need studs, continental extreme contact dws are the best tires for chasing snow around colorado in an awd car.

I've been running 18" Conti Pure Contacts for about 8k miles now. Initially, I didn't love the tire but they handled good so I decided to keep them. Recently had them rebalanced and rotated which that made a difference. Ride is firmer than Michelin's or OEM Contis but this is one of the best handling tire I've owned on any of my cars. Hydroplaning resistance and snow traction for an all season tire is excellent.

I have had Conti DW performance summer tires on my TDI for over a year, now, and run them between 40 - 41 psi. For me, that is a good compromise between handling and comfort, and gives the added benefits of longer tire life and better fuel economy. Note, however, that the standard sport suspension on the US TDI, while about equal in handling to the GTI on real roads, is a bit softer and more forgiving on bad roads. Also, 16" wheels help and are better suited to the chassis than 17" wheels.

four tires (Continental DW)

If its the tires its time to invest in some Continental DWS

Here are some of the 165/40-16s Federal 595 EVO I just picked up. The wheels are RH Classics 16x7.5 these tires (like most Federals) run a full size wide, so they run like a 175. They also stretch more round, less "quarter pipe" like a Nankang. I'm not a huge fan of the flames, but they ride nice and at least they'll wear off the tread. haha

I replaced the OE tires with Continental DWS tires and they've been pretty solid. I've got 35k on them at this point and they have good tread remaining. However, I took my car in for rotation recently and they informed me the tires were cupping really badly.

The federal rsr 595s I'm using on the rse05s hold up much better at the track.

Mine actually came with Continental Pro contact tires. However, I did buy it certified pre owned with 24k miles so I'm not sure if the PO changed them before trading. Whichever, this tires are pretty damn good!!! I'm used to buying Falken Ziex performance tires which I have had on all my previous cars but these seem a lot better. Might have to stick with these now....

The Continental ExtremeContact DWS I have on the car now, are pretty much worn out after about about 45,000 miles.