RocketJohn

I don't understand the use of these second rate OEM tires on the S4. It's not like Audi is choosing to put a combo all-season type hi-po tire on the S4. The 040's are just as expensive as an S-02PP. I know they have switched to another second rate tread... dunlops or pirelli 5000s... but still no PZero!

First of all, why put a Japanese tire on a European car? Makes NO sense to me, since Michelin and Pirelli are both as good if not better than BStone.

Why not put latest and greatest TIRE technology on the S4, Audi's premier technological car... Twin Turbos, Quattro, 5V Technology, etc... but with an inferior tire selection!

I don't understand this blunder... I am probably MORE amazed that the new overpriced Bond Z8 runs BStone 040s from the factory too! The Bimmer family is so caught up in ditchin' Rover they failed to do their due diligence in equipping the fastest, most exotic BMW in history with the best tread money can buy. MR2S also runs 040s... another oversight...

How does a company go to the extreme of cramming ERR engineering a twin turbo engine with extensive piping and just spend about 30 seconds on a crappy tire (040) only to have to change production 5 months later to a safer tire... The freakin' S2000 has S-02s at least!

Rant over...
RocketJohn
'00 S4 in Imola Yellow, THE Audi S4 Color of the Millenium...

godlike rogue

the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec is equipped with the 040's...quite a farce indeed if you condsider all the technology (SUPER HICAS 4-wheel steering, for example) in the car that is focused on making it the most amazing handling car in existence.

the 040's suck ***. they under-perform and are over-priced. If Audi is going to give us a second-rate tire, it might as well be the Pirelli P7000 (a high performance tire that doesn't disappoint). Sure, it's not the S-02 or the Rosso, but at least it's better than these damn 040's.

as soon as i burn my 040's up on the track in the next couple weeks, i am going to get me some s-02's or some rosso's.

tires are a bitch...<p>Adam T. Puzio

adam@impulsedigital.com
'00 Brilliant Black S4 6sp
"Oh wait, no way, your kidding, he didn't just say what I think he did, did he?"

Just a stock S4

Sure, the 040s have had some reliability troubles. In fact, mine feathered and I'm working to have them replaced. But that's not going to be in the spec sheet for the OEM selection engineers. And the tire does appear to have a good set of ride/handling tradeoffs. For the dry.

So many top manufacturers evaluated it and based on price, performance adn ride selected it. And they're all wrong. And dumb? Nah. Hindsight and lousy QC made it a bad decision, but the same could apply to any new tire. Bridgestone actually gets good ratings in QC, generally.

And the S4 is not an unlimited budget car. One of their main selling points was "less than an M3". Cost no object runs about $1m today (McClaren). Super premium runs $75-150 (911-> Ferarri).

Unrealistic.

The Pirelli P6000 (the current shipping tire) has a very solid rep. Give Audi some credit for that switch.

Grant

Just a stock S4

That's the proper criticvism. bridgestone propbably GIVES away the OEMs, then charges us poor SOBs $250 for replacements.

Drug-dealer sales model.

Grant

godlike rogue

<p>Adam T. Puzio

adam@impulsedigital.com
'00 Brilliant Black S4 6sp
"Oh wait, no way, your kidding, he didn't just say what I think he did, did he?"

RocketJohn

Sure I'll give ya the S4 argument... It's not like Audi builds 911s or F355... I expect them to not choose the S02 or the PZero... but BMW with their Z8 or the Skyline? Why would those manufacturers take a chance on an untested tire? Remember the Z8 will list at $130k...

In the end it's not rocket science!

RocketJohn
hehehe

ChuckH

...away the RE040's to get their name on the cars. Problem is, I think it's safe to say that this could be a backfire for them as the RE040 is hardly the tire they should be using to advertise. Regardless, Audi and others are saving money putting these on the cars.<p>Charles
2000 Nissan Xterra SE V6 4x4 (personal)
'98 A4 2.8 Q-Tip (business)

Just a stock S4

My point remains that the 040s vices occured after extended use. The basic tire is quite good in many regards. Its not an ultimate performacne dry tire (too soft) nor a rain/snow tire. But it was not meant to be. And most buyers complain BIG time about rough and noisy rides. You, as a hard-coredriving type, dont.

So are they "wrong" or just in disagreement with you? (and maybe me too).

Grant