Over the past year or so, I've driven on the stock 16 inch wheels, 17 inch A!AvantGarde Design S wheels, and now currently Hamann Monoblock II 18 inch wheels. When I purchased the Design S's, I chose to run with Pirelli P7000SS (Supersport), mostly for finanacial reasons. When I later upgraded to the Hamann MB II's, the wheels were already fitted with P7000SS's, so I really didn't have a choice.

The first thing to address is cost. P7000SS's are arguable the most affordable 17" and 18" tire on the market (at the time of the writing of this review, there were two other tires in the same price range: Continental Conti Sportcontact and BFGoodrich Comp T/A Euro). In terms of price, you're looking at somewhere around 120-130 dollars for a 225/45ZR17, which fits both 17x7.5 and 17x8, and perhaps even 17x8.5 wheels, and is the standard choice for most A4 17" wheel owners. In the 18s, you're looking at somewhere around 160-170 dollars for a 225/40ZR. As a whole, these tires are more than 20 dollars (sometimes 50-60 dollars) cheaper than other performance tires; you can't beat the price.

Efficiency is the next issue. Tire manufacturers place a treadwear rating on all of their tires; this number is only a relative number to the rest of the tires in their line. However, with a 300 treadwear rating, the P7000SS tire is far and away the winner in endurance for performance tires. These tires will survive no matter what the environment. Living in Los Angeles, I drive in a city filled with speed bumps, potholes, and debris ranging from cigarette butts to bed mattresses (don't ask). These tires will survive even the harshest conditions with flying colors. If you're looking for durability, look no further; you won't find a better tire for such a purpose.

If you stop here, and look simply at cost efficiency and durability, there is no question that the P7000SS is the best possible purchase for an all-season performance tire in the 17 and 18 inch range. If you're not an aggressive driver and are looking for something that is durable and cheap, go for the P7000SS. If you're an aggressive driver, like I sometimes am, and want something that performs, read further.

The next issue to address is performance. I would have to say that, having ridden in cars equipped with Michelin Pilot SX-GTs, Bridgestone Potenza S-02s, Continental ContiSport Contacts, and Dunlop SP8000s, the P7000SS is an average performer. The fact that the P7000SS possesses a 300 treadwear rating belies the fact that the tire is composed of what is probably the hardest compound rubber in tires today. The result of such a hard tire is lack of grip and the inability of the tires to warm up (and thus perform better) at an efficient rate.

This affects the P7000SS's cornering in various ways. First of all, cornering in cold weather is pretty difficult, as it is hard enough to warm the tires up even in the hot summers of Los Angeles. The second effect is that the tire reaches its cornering limit rapidly, and with little warning; soon after the tires start to sing (or screech, if you want to think of it that way), the tires start to lose traction. If you're driving on these tires, take heed: I've lost the back end of my FWD 2.8 right after the tires start singing.

A subtopic of this issue is wet performance. Hydroplaning is pretty much eliminated, as the tires contains numerous treads and sipes. There's little chance of simply sliding out in rainy weather. That being said, I would say that wet performance is also average. The tires refuse to sing at all in wet weather, and will simply lose traction with little warning. If you're looking to have fun with your Quattro in the wet, I would look elsewhere for a wet-weather tire.

The final issue is perhaps the most important, and actually encompasses a variety issues, which I will address one by one:

1) Ride quality: this is probably a big concern with A4 owners considering a +1 or +2 fitment for their cars; since the P7000SS has an extremely hard compound, it also has little room for compression or flex. The result is an extremely hard ride, which many people will not appreciate; if you're looking for a smoother ride, try a softer tire.

2) Aesthetics: the P7000SS is a very aggressive-looking tire, and I would give it an A in that category. However, this tire has no rim protector--if you're running wheels with fat lips, take caution around curbs or islands.

3) Audio: these tires are by far the noisiest tires out of the entire group I have had experience with. You will hear these tires, regardless of whether you want to or not. If noise is an issue, don't go with this tire.

Overall, I would have to say that the P7000SS is a great tire financially, as they are cheap and last a long time. However, I've said this before and I'll say it again: you get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap tire, you'll get less performance and a harsher, noisier ride. But with all of its downfalls, the P7000SS is still a good buy.

Stats:

Driven on 1998.5 A4 2.8 FWD Tip

17s: 225/45ZR17 on 17x8.0 A!AvantGarde Design S wheels; Tire inflation pressure usually set to 37 PSI

18s: 225/40ZR18 on 18x8.5 Hamann Monoblock II wheels; Tire inflation pressure usually set to 43 PSI