markcincinnati

. . .I mentioned last week that my tires got "screwed" -- suffice it to say that a series of circumstances and events coerced me into making essentially a $100 decision and springing for 4 new tires rather than just two.

Update: tires @ about 9,500 miles before getting screwed Falken Azenis ST115's 245 x 45 x 18" on RS 6 replica wheels, tire pressure monitoring and Audi valve stem caps.

I was happy with the Falkens a "summer only" Ultra High Performance Z rated tire designed for very quiet operation and decent UHP characteristics. They had a wear rating of 360. I believe the tires were good for 18 to 20K miles based on my experience and based on my not rotating them at all.

I had kept them inflated to 37f and 35 r.

New tires, were about $40+ less per tire:

also 245 x 45 x 18" also Z rated summer tires - Brand Cooper Zeon 2XS -- Internet reviews from folks I do not know were all favorable to very favorable. They are wear rated @ 280.

120 miles on them -- very quiet, perhaps moreso than the Falkens (at this point). They seem, perhaps a little stiffer than the Falkens and the turn in -- but not for about 30 miles -- is sharper. This could simply be the difference of about 10,00 miles wear, so don't think, YET, that I am saying they are better or worse than the outgoing Falkens.

It is my plan, so to speak, to be ordering a new car in late 2004, so saving the $160 seemed like a good idea and one member here on AW had mentioned his positive experience with these tires.

Since they are not sold by the TireRack or someplace else that has extensive editorial and customer feedback information, I kinda bought these on "faith."

If you are looking for a tire that apparently can pass muster as a Z rated tire and is available in these somewhat exotic sizes, I give you an "early" conditional thumbs up. The condition is, let me put at least 1,000 more miles on it before you even begin to rely on my experience should you find yourself wanting an UHP summer only "value priced tire" other than the fine ones we seem to have latched onto here from Falken.

Nothing I have said here should be taken as anything negative about the Falken Azenis ST115's -- I have had two sets of them (one on a 2001 Audi A6 4.2 sport and one on my 2003 allroad).

I would, if I had +12 months MORE to go on my lease, probably re-upped with them.

Just another new brand to add to the database, at this point.

Later, about 880 miles later, that is. . .

Rhoomba

... now, when the Falken crew (myself included) gets vocal again, we can have one of our most vocal members, Mark, now chiming in for the 'ZEON' contingent.

Thanks for the labwork, Mark!

allroad2point7t

04 allroad came with goodyear F1 allroad and they are very noisy. I would like to get a new set of four but just don't have all the info to make the decision. Any suggestion or recommendation would greatly be appreciated.

Arnzo

If you don't need the capacity, the S4 really is incredible. The 4.2 V8 is beautiful.

markcincinnati

The Pilot Sport A/S are a fave here, I had a set -- very expensive, got noisy after 15,000 miles, kept them 19,000 miles -- they could have gone somewhat longer tread wise, but overall noise level was too much.

Falken Azenis ST115, good looking, good price, very quiet, Z rated summer only -- decent UHP tire, which is not meant to damn with faint praise.

I have used Yoko AVS dbs (not db2's) good tire, quiet tire, all season tire, UHP rated -- very short tread life (10,000) a bit more expensive than the Falkens -- when new they were great.

Thge AVS db2, supposedly last longer.

Pirelli P6's, PZero Nero and PZero Asymetrrico -- the only one I would NOT repeat are the P6's.

That's it over the past 3+ years on 4 Audis, 2 TT's 1 A6 4.2 and 1 allroad 2.7T 6spd.

markcincinnati

An S4 perhaps, maybe an A6 3.2 and I will test drive the new STSAWD, 300CAWD & AcuraRLSHAWD!