Pirellis on new RS3
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Pirellis on new RS3
Why Pirellis? I picked up my RS3 last Friday and already had a flat 100 miles later on Saturday afternoon. These tires aren't exactly common, so the car has been stuck at the dealer waiting for a new one to arrive until today, and now it looks like I'll have to eat $350 for the new tire. Apparently a pinch managed to rupture the sidewall, and I haven't even been over a pothole deeper than half an inch!!! Grrr...why are Pirellis such $hit? Anyone else ever have such bad luck? How have the reviewers managed to drive around Oman without destroying the tires?
Thanks for listening to me rant...
Thanks for listening to me rant...
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
Which Pirelli's? I assume the P Zero. The P Zero is a pretty popular tire on Audi R(S), Porsche, Ferraris etc. It's getting an unfair negative opinion from many folks. The P Zero Audi Sport uses is the R01 variant, which is a different compound and construction from the standard P Zero. It's a max summer performance and sticky tire, meaning soft compound so it doesn't last very long, but sticks like hell if driven hard. Wet traction is not so great, but dry traction is very good and it breaks away progressively. If you drive over something that pierces the sidewall, then no matter what tire you have you'll be out of luck. I agree the Michelin PSS and PS4 are admittedly a better tire, especially the PS4 being a brand new design and compound, but Audi hasn't used Michelin in a long time on their performance vehicles. They've been using Pirellis for a while and now I hear they are putting Hankooks on the S models now :-(.
Here, Audi spec P Zero OEM tire for the RS 3 is in stock at Tirerack:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...3&autoModClar=
BTW, Tirerack includes free road hazard so if you bust it again they'll pay for the replacement. I've used their program several times already. Busted two of my current rear tires (Michelin PSS) on my RS5.
Here, Audi spec P Zero OEM tire for the RS 3 is in stock at Tirerack:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...3&autoModClar=
BTW, Tirerack includes free road hazard so if you bust it again they'll pay for the replacement. I've used their program several times already. Busted two of my current rear tires (Michelin PSS) on my RS5.
Last edited by superswiss; Aug 17, 2017 at 05:49 PM.
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Yeah WTF is up with Hankook being used now?!?
I'm intrigued with the Michelin PS4s as I've not had them yet but have loved the Super Sports prior to that. Discount Tire is where I usually buy my tires and they have the same program as Tire Rack I think. It only costs an additional $25/tire for the coverage which is great. They've always been a great shop as they're everywhere, at least where I live. You can take your car in with a flat and they'll repair it for free, even if you're not a customer of their's.
I'm intrigued with the Michelin PS4s as I've not had them yet but have loved the Super Sports prior to that. Discount Tire is where I usually buy my tires and they have the same program as Tire Rack I think. It only costs an additional $25/tire for the coverage which is great. They've always been a great shop as they're everywhere, at least where I live. You can take your car in with a flat and they'll repair it for free, even if you're not a customer of their's.
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From: Switzerland
Potential noise issue with MP4S if using the staggered wheel option, to the extent Michelin (in the UK) do not recommend their use with the RS3 according to this thread:
Annoying rubber. | Audi-Sport.net
The new Pirelli P Zero (which are not the same as the old P Zero), use a foam damper in the RS3's R01/R02 Audi OEM versions to control harmonics from the staggered set up. Which is what Michelin were referencing by "noise cancelling system", see post #39.
The cars in question were Sportbacks, and pre-face lift 8V. May behave differently with the sedan's LWB. And only an issue with staggered sizing. Also the guy who spoke to Michelin was running mixed brands.
And the tyres referenced from Superswiss' TireRack link are an AO spec rather than R01/R02. The latter may be very hard to source, particularly in the US.
Annoying rubber. | Audi-Sport.net
The new Pirelli P Zero (which are not the same as the old P Zero), use a foam damper in the RS3's R01/R02 Audi OEM versions to control harmonics from the staggered set up. Which is what Michelin were referencing by "noise cancelling system", see post #39.
The cars in question were Sportbacks, and pre-face lift 8V. May behave differently with the sedan's LWB. And only an issue with staggered sizing. Also the guy who spoke to Michelin was running mixed brands.
And the tyres referenced from Superswiss' TireRack link are an AO spec rather than R01/R02. The latter may be very hard to source, particularly in the US.