audisession

Hi,
So after reading some posts here I believe I can run 275 40 20 on the 20" forged Audi RS7 wheels that I bought for my Audi S8.

All the winter tires in that size appear to be SUV tires - can I run those on my car and not suffer terrible ride quality or handling?

Thanks

MP4.2+6.0

First, decide what general type you want--the very aggressive stereotype Blizzak ones w/ attendant best grab--and most noise--or the more (modestly) performance oriented ones. In the latter, you can get the Pirelli Sottozero's in 275/40, and the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D in 265/40. Neither are classic "SUV/truck" tires. I have run both on recent Audis over a bunch of seasons. Very close comparison wise. Dunlops are a fair amount cheaper and wear is the same for me, so I get the Dunlops when available in a given size. There are some others sort of in between these two specs in 275/40, nominally for (sorta) sporty SUV's. I will probably end up going w/ the Dunlops myself on another set of the Fuchs OE forged wheels I picked up.

BTW, are the part numbers for the RS7 wheels you got stamped into wheel (usually near hub area) or cast in (usually on back of a spoke).

Glisse

Michelin make a PA4 in 265/40 x20, available in Europe at least. Dunlop also do a 275/40 SP Winter Sport 4D. Continental have a 265/40x20 WinterContact TS850-P, but these might not be in your market.

Dunlop are still making the WS 3D, in addition to the 4D and now the 5. As the 3D has been around for quite a few years, I would check manufacturing date (it is printed on each tyre) to ensure you are getting relatively fresh stock. Compounds harden over time, you don't want to be buying 5 year old tyres, especially for winter performance tyres. Demand for these sized tyres is small, so there is greater risk of buying old stock.

I have 20" Fuchs OEM polished forged alloys on my A7 (the 7-twin-spoke design), and Audi regard these as a summer-only wheel in Europe - vulnerable to salt corrosion. If where you live does use salt in winter, hosing out the wheel well and wheel regularly would be very worthwhile. I don't use mine in winter.

audisession

Thanks I want to avoid the d3 if possible

Would really like something else but in North America choices seem limited to suv tires

Wheels are these:

MP4.2+6.0

Again, Sottozero is 275/40-20 and is not an SUV tire.

Please be more specific on spec though. There are lots of flavors of "winter" tires.

You can also look at 1010tires.com Canadian. Not cheapest but may give you some idea of some other tires that may be in North America in some channel. You can also search for some other specialty brands directly from Google like Vredestein and Nokian. TireRack definitely does not have some brands and specific tires if you are looking there. They tend to only order and then carry limited stock that can sell out in a few months in some sizes. If it is sold out, it also tends to disappear from their listings/site.

audisession

Thx all - just bought Vredestein xtreme S. Had to special order them