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Before Selecting the Best Tires for Audi A4
Truth be told! There is no one tire that gives you excellent performance in all aspects. Some tires provide optimum comfort and performance, but they will compromise on longevity. Similarly, long-lasting tires might not provide the same comfort as other tires.
With tires performing in some areas and lacking in a few, selecting the best tires for Audi A4 is difficult. The first thing that you want to consider when selecting a tire is whether it suits your car or not. The Audi A4 comes in a lot of variants. Some are fast, while others focus more on luxury and comfort. You chose the variant you have for a reason, and you cannot use the same tire as other variants if you want to get the most out of your car.
The next thing you want to consider is your driving style. If you are more into comfort, you can choose softer tires that do not transfer all the bumps onto your seat. You can opt for tires built for speed, performance, and reliability if you are into speed.
Let us list a few tires that we think will suit your Audi A4. We have divided this list into categories to allow A4 owners to choose the best tires for their variant. If you have trouble understanding the categorization of tires, do not worry, we will discuss tire categories in our buying guide towards the end.
Best Touring Tires for A4
These tires are designed to provide all-weather traction and a comfortable ride. They are also called Grand Touring Tires.
Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack
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The Turanza QuietTrack is a relatively modern addition to the recommended tires list for the Audi A4. This tire is recommended for those owning the basic variant of the Audi A4. An important factor that catches attention for this tire is the 80,000-mile warranty. No competitor offers the same treadwear warranty on any of their tires. Such a long warranty points out the longevity of the tire.
In addition to being long-lasting, the tire provides excellent comfort with Bridgestone's signature ComfortCruise technology. When the tire is coupled with the premium suspension of the Audi A4, you will hardly feel any bumps or imperfections on your seat.
The tire provides excellent grip on both wet and dry roads in terms of performance. Braking and handling are optimal, no matter what the weather is like. The tire also provides good stability at high speeds and can even perform on a little snow.
As the name QuietTrack implies, the tire is reasonably quiet thanks to the highly engineered tread design. Your Audi A4 will be almost inaudible, even when cruising at highway speed.
But all of these features come at a price, in fact, a high price. The QuietTrack is relatively expensive when compared to other tires. But given the 80,000-mile warranty, you will be purchasing peace of mind with your money.
Pros of QuietTrack
- Amazingly quiet, even at high speed
- Superb dry and wet grip
- Amazing comfort and bump absorption
- Great handling performance
- Very long-lasting – 80,000-mile warranty
Cons of QuietTrack
- Higher price as compared to competitor tires
Michelin Premier A/S
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As discussed above, the QuietTrack is a great choice for the base variant of the Audi A4. But if you own a more powerful variant of the car, the Michelin Premier A/S is built for performance. This tire offers the best handling and responsiveness in the touring tires category. Your Audi A4 can handle almost like a performance car with extraordinary traction.
With the Expanding Rain Grooves technology, the tire offers amazing traction on wet surfaces. This tire can also be used in light snow and ice and provides good traction even in those harsh conditions.
Michelin has never compromised on noise and ride quality. Like most other Michelin tires, the Premier also provides excellent comfort and low noise, even when driving at high speeds.
The Premier is also a high-priced option and comes with a treadwear warranty of 60,000 miles. This means that if the tire gets worn down to the tread mark before 60,000 miles, Michelin will replace it for you.
Pros of Premier A/S
- Excellent braking performance and traction on both dry and wet surfaces
- Exceptional handling and responsiveness
- Notably quiet and comfortable
- Safe even after the tire is worn thanks to EverTread technology
Cons of Premier A/S
- Slightly shorter treadwear warranty
- Higher price as compared to other tires
Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring
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The Cooper CS5 provides excellent performance that can be compared to premium tires, and that too at a lower price. With the StabilEdge technology on the tire, which interlocks tread elements, this tire can offer very responsive handling. Traction and road grip does not disappoint, and the braking performance is outstanding.
The tire incorporated decent technology to resist hydroplaning and keep good traction for running on wet surfaces. However, you will find the performance slightly compromised in snowy conditions.
The tire is also designed to provide a comfortable ride. It can be classed as a quiet tire but is not super quiet. At high speeds, your A4 will seem slightly noisy with the CS5 compared to the tires we discussed previously.
Cooper tires offer different warranties for different variants.
- For tires that are W-Rated, or have a maximum speed limit of 168 miles per hour, the warranty is 50,000 miles.
- For H-rated (maximum speed of 130 miles per hour) and V-rated (maximum speed of 149 miles per hour), the warranty is 70,000 miles.
Pros of Cooper CS5
- Great responsiveness and handling
- Excellent grip on dry and wet surfaces
- Exceptional braking performance
- Competitive Pricing
Pros of Cooper CS5
- Lower tread life as compared to competitors
- Average performance in snowy conditions
- Slightly noisy
Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus
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The Pirelli Cinturato P7 is designed to offer an enjoyable driving experience and performance similar to your Audi A4. This tire outshines most touring tires when it comes to responsiveness; we like to say that this tire's responsiveness is second only to the Premier A/S on this list.
The road grip, traction, and handling are very good for this tire, and so is the braking performance. With the advanced tread design, the tire offers high resistance to hydroplaning. It performs well on both wet and dry surfaces. But it is not designed for snow, and you will find it slightly compromising on performance even in light snow.
The Cinturato is also super quiet and comfortable. We were surprised to find a tire with excellent cornering abilities to be this quiet. It comes with a treadwear warranty of 70,000 miles.
Pros of Cinturato P7
- Great responsiveness and handling
- Excellent traction and grip
- Superb wet traction and braking performance
- Treadwear warranty of 70,000 miles
Cons of Cinturato P7
- Underperforms when in the snow; can lose traction and braking performance
General AltiMax RT43
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The AltiMax RT43 is well known all across the US due to its performance vs. price ratio. This means that you get good value for your hard-earned money when buying the AltiMax RT43.
We would not call this tire's performance top-notch, especially when compared to premium tires. But it works absolutely fine for those Audi A4 owners looking for something inexpensive and reliable. The tire offers decent road grip and traction, with a reasonably short braking distance.
The tire is surprisingly quiet and adds to the comfort of your Audi A4. The warranty on this tire also varies by speed rating.
- For T-Rated (maximum 118 miles per hour), the tire comes with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty.
- For H-rated (maximum 130 miles per hour) and V-rated (maximum 149 miles per hour), the tire comes with a treadwear warranty of 65,000 miles.
Pros of AltiMax RT43
- Excellent value for money
- Good responsiveness and braking performance in dry conditions
- Acceptable traction and handling on wet surfaces
- Very little noise and decent shock absorption
- Long-Lasting
Cons of AltiMax RT43
- Overall performance cannot be compared to premium competitors.
Continental PureContact LS
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If you are an Audi A4 owner who lives in a rainy area, you have to look at the PureContact LS tire. The tire boasts deep channels and sweeping grooves that work together brilliantly to resist hydroplaning.
Continental Tires has incorporated the +Silane technology for this tire, making it amazing on wet surfaces. The traction and road grip on dry surfaces is also very good. Overall responsiveness and handling are nice and tidy. In addition to rain, the tire also provides good performance in snowy conditions.
The tire also performs great at highway speeds, crucial for all A4 owners. The ComfortRide technology works wonders to make this tire quiet at high speeds and highly shock absorbing on uneven roads.
The PureContact LS comes with a treadwear warranty of 70,000 miles, which adds to the tire's longevity.
Pros of PureContact LS
- Amazing performance on wet surfaces
- Ability to handle snow
- Good handling and braking performance on dry and wet surfaces
- Smooth and comfortable ride
- Very little noise, even at high speeds
Cons of PureContact LS
- Treadwear warranty is slightly lower than the premium competition.
Michelin Primacy MXM4
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The Primacy MXM4 is Michelin's most popular tire in the all-season touring category. The tire has been designed for high-end sedans and coupes. Many experts believe that this is one of the best tires that Michelin has to offer.
The tire is composed of the revolutionary Helio compound made from sunflower oil. The compound causes the tire to have great traction and an amazingly short braking distance. Surprisingly, the tire does not exhibit a dip in performance even in cold weather. As per the claims made by Michelin, this tire will stop up to nineteen feet before any competitor tire.
The asymmetric tread pattern makes this tire excellent at handling corners and offers amazing traction in dry conditions. The ride is comfortable, and by incorporating digital technology in manufacturing, this tire is extremely quiet and virtually eliminates any road vibrations.
The company offers a different treadwear warranty for different rated tires.
- For the H-rated (130 miles per hour) and V-rated (149 miles per hour) tires, the warranty is for 55,000 miles.
- For the W-rated (168 miles per hour), Y, and Z-rated (186 miles per hour) tires, the warranty is 45,000 miles.
Pros of Primacy MXM4
- Excellent handling and dry traction
- Reasonably good traction on wet surfaces.
- Amazing ride comfort and virtually no tire noise
- Good tire longevity
Cons of Primacy MXM4
- High quality comes at a high price tag.
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
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The Eagle F1 has a lot in common with sports car tires. The tire offers no compromise on handling and traction and delivers well in terms of ride quality and comfort.
The compound used on this tire is borrowed largely from the race car tire department, which greatly enhances traction and cornering abilities. The unique design of the tire makes it considerably lighter than other tires.
The tire has amazing water dispelling abilities and is less prone to hydroplaning. It offers good traction in wet conditions. Goodyear has incorporated the ActiveBraking technology on this tire, which uses tread elements to reduce stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces considerably.
As the name asymmetric implies, the treads are arranged asymmetrically, which greatly reduces tire noise.
Pros of Eagle F1
- Outclass dry and wet traction
- Exceptionally short braking distance
- Stable handling and cornering abilities
- Comfortable ride
Cons of Eagle F1
- Some people find that the tread life is shorter than other tires.
- Warranty is limited to two years.
Best High-Performance Tires for A4
High-performance tires are designed to provide excellent grip, optimal responsiveness, and sporty handling. Audi A4 owners who like to get a feel of the road when they drive will find that these tires suit them better.
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS
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The Potenza RE980AS stands out as one of the few ultra high performance or UHP tires suited for all seasons. The tire provides an amazing steering feel, handling, and responsiveness on dry roads.
The tread design is well suited on wet pavements and offers exceptional braking performance. The tread repels water efficiently to decrease hydroplaning. Interestingly, the tire even performs well in light snow.
The treadwear warranty on the Potenza is 50,000 miles. When equipped on the Audi A4, the tire is amazingly quiet. However, you might have some issues in terms of comfort and ride quality.
Pros of Potenza RE9080AS
- Good Tread life
- Little noise even at high speeds
- Excellent wet road grip and traction
Cons of Potenza RE9080AS
- It can feel slightly hard.
- The ride is not very comfortable.
Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus
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The Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus is designed to offer great dry and wet traction, excellent braking performance, and superb responsiveness and handling. This tire is built for driving enthusiasts who are looking for performance.
The asymmetric pattern of the treads accounts for considerable noise reduction, and the nylon-wrapped steel belts provide good comfort. The tire is comfortable for most parts but can become quite harsh when going over bumps or through potholes.
The overall design provides great road grip, handling, and responsiveness. The tire comes with a treadwear warranty of 50,000 miles, which is lower than many tires on this list.
Pros of P Zero All Season
- Good traction and braking performance on wet surfaces
- Excellent responsiveness and handling
- Low noise
Cons of P Zero All Season
- Lower warranty duration
- Not suited for snow and ice
- Can feel hard on bumps and in potholes
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
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If you use your Audi A4 in areas that have warm weather, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S will offer you an extraordinary handling experience. This UHP tire offers handling and braking performance one level above many other tires in its category. It offers amazing responsiveness, road grip, and handling abilities.
A set of Pilot Sport 4S on your Audi A4 will turn it into a road clinger. The tire not only performs well in dry conditions, but with the advanced tread design, it also dispels water efficiently, making it less prone to hydroplaning.
As you would expect from a summer tire, this tire does not fare well in cold conditions. The summer tire comes with a good treadwear warranty of 30,000 miles.
Pros of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
- Great handling and braking performance
- Good traction and road grip
- Very stable at high speeds
Cons of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
- Expensive than other tires in the category
Best Winter Tires for A4
As temperature drops, the rubber fibers on tires contract. This means that traditional tires will not grip the road as efficiently in colder weather. This is where winter tires come into play. These tires are manufactured using special polymers that work well to grip the road in cold conditions.
Michelin X-Ice XI3
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The X-Ice Xi3 offers reliable performance in cold conditions. They are suited well for all types of A4s. The tire works to provide good road grip, traction, and reasonably well braking performance on cold roads. As a winter tire, the X-Ice works great in snow and even on ice, beating almost every other competitor in this category.
This tire comes with a 40,000-mile warranty, which you can hardly find on any other tire.
Pros of X-Ice
- Amazing traction on snow and ice
- Good handling in both wet and dry conditions
- 40,000-mile warranty
Cons of X-Ice
- Better braking performance is offered on some competitor tires.
Understanding Tire Categories
Touring Tires
The lower-end variants of Audi A4 provide a considerably sporty and engaging driving experience compared to many mid-sized sedans. But to think of them as sports or performance cars will be quite a stretch. For this reason, you will want to focus more on comfort rather than performance. Touring tires work best for lower variants of the Audi A4.
Touring tires for the Audi A4 are still more performance-oriented than what you would find on a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord. Audi owners like to use them because of the balanced driving experience they offer. Simply put, they perform fairly well in all areas and do not offer any considerable disadvantages. Think of them as the jack of all trades for your Audi A4.
Touring tires offer good handling and traction on the road and are usually very good at short braking distances. Not to mention, the tires are stable at high speeds and generally fare pretty well in wet conditions. With advancements in technology over the years, modern all-weather touring tires can also run on light snow and deliver above-average performance.
In terms of comfort, touring tires are manufactured with softer polymers, making them shock absorbent. They absorb most of the unevenness in the road and do not transfer every little pothole to your seat. The tires are also very stable at high speeds, with no or very few vibrations when installed on properly balanced out rims.
The A4 is built with a lot of soundproofing. But adding touring tires to the equation will make the car noticeably quieter at high speeds.
With long-lasting treads and all the above qualities, touring tires are usually the first choice of Audi A4 owners.
It is important to mention that if you are more into speed, touring tires might not suit you. If you are more into performance than comfort, you will find that touring tires lack performance at higher speeds, especially on twisty roads. It will not take you long to notice how these tires offer less traction than performance tires. We advise not to use these tires on the more powerful variants of the Audi A4, as they can lead the car to underperform.
High-Performance Tires
If you are more of a performance enthusiast and want to get the most out of your powerful variant of the Audi A4, you should put on a set of high-performance tires. These tires focus more on performance and less on comfort. You will immediately notice a difference in your car's handling after mounting high-performance tires onto your A4. With more grip on twists and turns of the road, your car will also be able to take corners at higher speeds.
Since these tires are built for speed, they offer amazing traction. If you drive a supercharged variant of the A4, you will notice your launches become better with less wheel spin. The only thing more important than going fast in a performance car is to stop when you have to. High-performance tires offer the shortest braking distance of any other category.
High-performance tires generally work well on damp surfaces, but their performance is considerably reduced in heavy rain. They are not as efficient at dispelling water as their touring counterparts, making them more prone to hydroplaning. It is best to be extra careful when driving your high-performance tire-mounted A4 in rainy or snowy weather.
These tires also come with their downsides, making them a less desirable option for an average Audi A4 owner:
- They are highly expensive, much more expensive than touring tires.
- They have shorter treadwear warranties and do not last as long as touring tires.
- The high-performance stability comes at the price of comfort and ride quality.
They do not offer much benefit at lower speeds and can be quite noisy on the highway.
Since we are talking performance here, it is notable to mention ultra-high-performance tires. If you own the top-of-the-range variant of the Audi A4, more commonly known as the S4, we highly recommend you put on a set of UHPs. With the advanced suspension, you will not feel much difference in the ride quality, but you will surely see a great improvement in your car's handling abilities, responsiveness, and road grip.
If you still need more performance, there is a category of max-performance tires, which are mounted on premium sports cars and exotic cars. They are built mostly for tracks and do not do very well on city roads or highways, so we will not go into much detail about them.
Weather-Specific Tires
What does the weather do to tires? Unless you have been living under a rock for most of your life, you will surely know that tires are made of rubber compounds. These rubber compounds are designed to work in a predefined temperature window.
If you have a compound designed to work in warmer conditions, exposing it to extreme cold can cause the rubber compound to harden up and become brittle. Where softness is necessary to grip onto the road, a hard and brittle tire will not be able to mold into the shape of the road and will lead to a loss in traction and road grip.
Similarly, if you take a winter tire and use it in warm conditions, you will notice that the tire starts to deform out of shape, especially when a load is applied to it, such as a powerful launch or a hard corner. The warm weather will cause the tire to wear out much quicker and lead to unexpected blowouts.
Now that we know why summer tires cannot be used in winter and vice-versa let us discuss a little on the so-called all-season tires. These tires are the ones that have the least amount of problems. If you live in an area where your summers are not too hot, and your winters are not too cold, you can use one set of tires all year round and not feel much difference in performance.
Many tire experts believe that although all-season tires work just fine all year round, they can get a little unreliable in winter. If the winters are very cold; or in snow and ice, these tires lose their traction. Experts now like to call them "three-season tires" instead of the common all-season terminology.
Building on all-season tires is all-weather tires. These tires comprise of a compound that is more biased towards cold weather driving. But at the same time, they do not lose their performance in warm weather. They perform just fine on all types of surfaces, whether snow, ice, rain, or dry. But since all-weather tires are complex to manufacture and relatively a new technology, they are a hard find and are also priced accordingly. You will not find all-weather variants among high-performance tires.
Although all-weather tires are a reasonable option for cold weather, they do not offer the same performance as winter tires. Winter tires are designed to work in the coldest conditions and will not fail to provide you good performance even in the harshest of winters.
Similarly, summer tires will work best for you if you live in areas with higher temperatures. Although all-weather is a good option, again, it is not the best if you want to extract that last drop of performance from your Audi A4.
About The Author
Matt Meurer
Matt is a VW Master Technician since 2009 after proceeding through the ranks as a Team Leader and Shop Foreman. He has developed software to increase car dealership efficiency, managed 10+ techs, and instructed students at multiple high-performance driving events since 2011. He is also the lead mechanic, engineer, and driver for Blue Goose Racing.
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