mhblaw

If one were to get max performance summer tires for an RS5 would it make a real difference if the tires were for a Porsche or Mercedes vs for an Audi?

uberwgn

Those mfr designations indicate some "fine tuning" that's been done for Audi, Porsche, MBz etc for a specific model. Have you looked at Tire Rack? They pick up this fine detail when you search under your car and ask for OE tires...

uberwgn

Someone wrote to Conti and asked:

uberwgn

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret....jsp?techid=23 and https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret....jsp?techid=22

superswiss

It depends. Firstly, Audi RS has its own designation, which is RO1, I think there's also an RO2. AO is for non-RS models. The OEM P Zero is the P Zero RO1 and is definitely different in design and rubber compound to fine tune it for what Audi wanted in the RS5. The RS7 P Zero is even different from the RS5 P Zero, so yes it can make a difference. Don't get the Ferrari variant, though as they come only with 7/32" tread depth instead of 10/32". Ferrari feels 10/32" makes the tire not as responsive, which is true. Dry grip and responsiveness gets better as the tire wears.

If available I would pick the RO1 variant of a given tire, however, I recently switched to the Michelin PSS, which doesn't have an Audi OEM variant, so I just got the standard PSS. It transformed the car mostly for the better. The PSS has a much sharper turn-in and is very stable in a straight line, but that stability causes it to be reluctant to turn sometimes and it made comfort steering mode rather vague and kinda stressful if there are road imperfections, which is kind of a bummer. Overall I like it, but I still like the P Zero as well. So, each tire whether designated for Audi or not has different characteristics. You'll have to find out for yourself how they transform the car and if it's to your liking.

mhblaw

Thanks for the info. Current summer tires are Michelin Sport with an MO designation. Need to replace at 22k. Tire Rack doesn't seem to list RO1 tires when listing specific car etc., but for my daily driving will not make a real difference to get MO's or AO's.

superswiss

That would be the Mercedes Benz OEM tire. Don't know how it's different from the standard Michelin Sport.

Doc@tirerack

All of our tire vendors have stated that any "marque specific" tire may have specific or unique characteristics (beyond just an OE part number) that they would consider proprietary and (as a result) are not divulged. We do agree with the manufactures that it is best not to mix tires with different OE designations (MO on the front axle / AO on the rear axle) as handing could be affected by any (unknown) differences in rubber compound / tread design / tire construction.

Adam95

If available I would also pick the RO1 variant of a given tire.

mhblaw

Ended up with Michelin Sport 4S, no model designation and ride and handle better than the Sport 2 S. Should get more miles too.