Dunlop SP Sport Maxx on A4 Avant

[Roley130]

My new Avant came with these tyres in 235/45/17 size. I was wondering if any PHers had any experience of these tyres, good, bad noisy, quiet etc etc ?

Edited by Roley130 on Tuesday 24th April 08:41

[drybeer]

I've got them on my current S4 = 235 / 40 / ZR17.

Quite pleased with them - and they're not too dear to replace either.

Maybe a bit stiff on ride quality, but no complaints.

[Redlake27]

I used four different tyre brands on my A4:

Goodyear Eagle F1 - Superb in wet, good in dry but not great feedback.
Sport Maxx - Quieter than others, good all rounder in wet or dry. Most precise on steering
ContiSport Contact - Very good in dry, not so good in wet. Noisier
Goodyear Eagle NCT5 - Quiet, but the comfort option compared to the top three


However, none of these tyres were talented enough to give the A4 any steering feel or adequate damping. So I got a BMW instead.......................

[Bomber Denton]

Roley130 said:

My new Avant came with these tyres in 235/45/17 size. I was wondering if any PHers had any experience of these tyres, good, bad noisy, quiet etc etc ?

Edited by Roley130 on Tuesday 24th April 08:41

Dunlop will have paid to put this tyre on the car, not generally Audi's choice or the best for the car but Dunlop bank on the aftermarket sales from the general public.

If I owned the car I would lean towards the Conti Premium Contact 2 as a replacement, superb all rounder.

[Redlake27]

I have to disagree with Denton. If car manufacturers get 'paid' to put tyres on the car, the OE fitment list would be full of obscure brands trying to gain a foothold.

All the OE tyres would have gone through a rigourous development and testing programme, and although all the brands will be different in performance they will fit within the tolerances and benchmarks set by Audi for ride, handling, noise, wet and dry grip and rolling resistance.

[Bomber Denton]

Redlake27 said:

I have to disagree with Denton. If car manufacturers get 'paid' to put tyres on the car, the OE fitment list would be full of obscure brands trying to gain a foothold.

All the OE tyres would have gone through a rigourous development and testing programme, and although all the brands will be different in performance they will fit within the tolerances and benchmarks set by Audi for ride, handling, noise, wet and dry grip and rolling resistance.

boocks, I know, I have worked in the tyre industry for nearly twenty years. As for obscure brands, yes it does happen, both Kleber and Handcook are O.E. to VAG.

You will only get manufacturer tyre placement on performance vehicles the RS Audi models I would imagine being the only one.

[drybeer]

Bomber Denton said:

Redlake27 said:

I have to disagree with Denton. If car manufacturers get 'paid' to put tyres on the car, the OE fitment list would be full of obscure brands trying to gain a foothold.

All the OE tyres would have gone through a rigourous development and testing programme, and although all the brands will be different in performance they will fit within the tolerances and benchmarks set by Audi for ride, handling, noise, wet and dry grip and rolling resistance.

boocks, I know, I have worked in the tyre industry for nearly twenty years. As for obscure brands, yes it does happen, both Kleber and Handcook are O.E. to VAG.

You will only get manufacturer tyre placement on performance vehicles the RS Audi models I would imagine being the only one.

Disagree with you old boy, I'm afraid.

Most tyre manufacturer's (Pirelli, Michelin, Contintental, Dunlop included) work closely with the auto makers to have a tyre built to spec for the car for factory built for the best test driving and ownership experience.

Indeed Continental, Firestone, Michelin, and Pirelli all come as OE on Audi in particular. And all for even "cooking" versions of the car.

I have Continental Sport Contact 2 on my S4 previously, and now have Dunlops on it.

My last A4 Avant TDi also had Dunlop Sports and were great.

Frankly IMO the Dunlops suit the car better.

I will give you one thing, RS4 only appears to come on P-Zero Rosso tyres, but I suspect that's down to the 19" size.