Need some tyres for an A4 Quattro - what do you reckon?

Need some tyres for an A4 Quattro - what do you reckon?

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Ixnay

Original Poster:

11 posts

108 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Hi All, long time lurker and first time poster.
I have an old A4 2.8 Avant, and its about time for new tyres. When I bought it it had Michelins on it, but they were really old and the sidewalls were a bit cracked, although it drove really well. My local tyre dealer recommended they they be changed, so I got a set of Cooper Zeon CS6 as they came recommended by him and had good reviews on Tyrereviews website. Good chunky tyre at a good price.
I have had no problems at all with these and they have been on the car just over three years and are okay for the summer but am thinking ahead. I do think however that although the grip/noise/wear is fine that the handling is a wee bit numb, esp compared to the old Michelins. Now, Audis do not traditionally give the best road feedback to the driver anyway so maybe I could do better?
So, I live in Somerset and do a lot of driving on wet muddy dirty country lanes, along with the usual general road, plus a bit of motorway driving, but not much. I also only drive it a couple of times a week as I work from home. So requirements are that it have a nice aggressive tread pattern to cope with difficult terrain - I do not need an outright performance tyre, although on good empty roads I do like to give it some beans.
Size of tyre is 205/55/16 91W

So far choices are narrowed down to: Uniroyal RainSport 3 and Michelin Pilot Sport 3 - any other suggestions? Out of those two which might be best? Dont care too much about the price difference, I know the Michelins are more expensive.
I have used Contis in the past on my old Audi 100 and they were good but not enough to make me want them again I dont think. Looking at premium and mid range brands only, and dont like Pirellis at all.
Appreciate any input
Cheers.
James

Adrian E

3,248 posts

176 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Don't think you'll go far wrong with either option tbh. Not used the Uniroyals myself but heard good things from other Audi owners. Money no object the Michelin gets my vote. Had them on last 3 audis in various forms. The PS3 lasted really well on our A6 and they seem to resist aging better than the average too

Had conti SC5 after the PS3s on the a6 and they lasted no time at all!

Ixnay

Original Poster:

11 posts

108 months

Saturday 9th May 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Adrian, probably go with the PS3 then
Cheers

GrahamC230K

384 posts

244 months

Saturday 9th May 2015
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Have had both, although on different cars.

Didn't like the Rainsports. Noisy and squealy on a dry road.

I really rate PS3. On my second set on the S4.

Ixnay

Original Poster:

11 posts

108 months

Saturday 9th May 2015
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Oh okay, were they the new Rainsport 3?

GrahamC230K

384 posts

244 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
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The rainsports were going back a few years, so no.

RobT1

13 posts

221 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
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have continental contact 3 on my S4, which were original tyres and been very happy with them.

will be replacing them with the contact 5s which came 1st in a recent tyre test I read.

Defcon5

6,184 posts

191 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
quotequote all
Rainsport3 is really cheap in the size from tyre leader - £41

Edited by Defcon5 on Sunday 10th May 11:06


Edited by Defcon5 on Sunday 10th May 11:59

Doink

1,652 posts

147 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
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http://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s291p0/Car_Tyres_-_...

Got my rainsport 3's from here and paid a local backstreet tyre place to fit them for £10 a tyre new valve and balanced up, one of the best tyres I've had and the price was very easy to swallow, nice looking tread pattern as well if that's your thing

TonyRPH

12,973 posts

168 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
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I usually opt for premium tyres, however a year ago I fitted a set of Barum Bravuris 3HM to my Octavia Estate (1.8T) and having done a 600 mile round trip to Scotland and other general usage, they have proven to be pretty good IMHO.

Really good at speed on the motorway in (very) wet conditions, and give a fairly quiet ride too.

National tyres have the 205/55 on bogof at the moment too.


QBee

20,987 posts

144 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
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The Rainsport 3s are well loved as all weather tyres on the TVR forums and the prices are good. About to buy a set for my Saab 9-5 estate, so if you do go that route please post what you think of them.

They have a Euro A rating for wet weather grip

aka_kerrly

12,419 posts

210 months

Monday 11th May 2015
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Currently running rainsport 3s on a Vr6.

They are grippy, they are noisy and the sidewalls are a bit more flexible than those of the Bridgestones/Michelins that i ran previously but given I paid £53 a corner from Camskill for 205/45/16 they are outstanding, a million miles away from the "Sunnys" and Toyo T1Rs that I ran for a few miles that are near enough the same price.

I found increasing the tyre pressure on the Uniroyals by 2psi helped reduce tyre wall flex and improve the turn in with only minimal increase in NVH.


Ixnay

Original Poster:

11 posts

108 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
Thanks, thats good to hear. I really think that soft sidewall is the only negative I have heard about this tyre. Maybe going for the XL rated ones would be a good plan?