My 1999 A4 1.8Tqms had been upgraded with OEM S4 wheels and tires for approximately 6 months when my right rear tire sustained an "unrepairable" flat. Rather than spending $200+ to replace the miserable Bridgestone RE040, I elected to replace all 4 tires with the new Dunlop SP Sport W-10s. My decision was based on price, availability, performance reviews, and Dunlop's reputation.

Again, my A4 is equipped with the OEM S4 17x7.5" 'Avus' 6-spoke wheels (made by Ronal). I knew that others running these wheels had successfully installed tires sized 235-40-17, so I decided to do the same. I purchased the Dunlop SP Sport W-10, sized 235-40ZR-17 from Discount Tire (www.discounttire.com), and had them mounted and balanced at a Discount Tire shop near my home. The total price for all 4 tires, mounting, lifetime free balancing, and lifetime free road hazard repair, was about $600. The tires themselves were $125/ea. Suspension clearance was not a problem.

My impression of these tires so far is quite good. Steering response is improved and the front end feels much more stable at all speeds. I notice much less "slop" through the steering wheel during high speed cornering over uneven surfaces. Wet weather performance is also seems to be very good. One minor disadvantage is that theses tires are a bit more noisy than the RE040's, particularly in the 40-55 mph range, but the noise level is quite tolerable in my opinion. Ride quality is surprisingly good. Since I went from a 45-series tire to a lower profile 40-series tire, I was expecting a harsher ride. In fact, my impression so far is the exact opposite. The Dunlop Sport W-10s are quite comfortable, even over horrible road surfaces (which are easy to find here in San Antonio). I'm currently running tire pressures of 36psi front, 34 psi rear. In my opinion, the tires have had no effect on acceleration or braking.

In terms of appearance, the larger tires look great and seem to be a more appropriate width than the 225s...the 235s fill out the fenders arches very nicely. The larger tires also have a bit more 'bulge' in the sidewall, which should protect the wheel surface better. The tread pattern is what I would call "conservatively aggressive" and seems appropriate for the A4 body style.

Overall, I'm very pleased with these tires and I would recommend them to anyone considering a reasonably priced high performance tire upgrade.