A3 8P - tyre advice

M

Michael O'Connor

Guest
I know there's a lot of threads on this but wanted to ask as a lot of them are fairly old. I've got new 18 x 7.5 alloys, so need a 225 40 R18. 215 would be better as that way it doesn't exceed the diameter of the current alloy and tyre, but 225 is only a 0.8% so not a big deal.

Have Continental Sport Contact 2's on the current wheels so considering getting the current version of that tyre, would rather not downgrade. Budget is about £400, could push to £450 or £500 if needed.

Have considered:

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 3
Falken Ziex Ze914
Continental Sport Contact 5
*Open to other suggestions*

I'm not sure if the current tyres on the car are 'all season' but they perform pretty well in the wet. I have seen a few sites say the Sport Contact 2 is an all season tyre, so I thought the SC 5 would be too but apparently it's only a summer tyre?

Thanks
 
How about Bridgestone Potenza ? I had eagle f1’s before my current ones and am more than happy with them.
 
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Keep your existing tyre size, it’s those specifications for a reason. your insurance may not be happy if you aren’t using a size set out by the manufacturer if you were involved in an accident.
 
Michelin PS4 - these would be the pick of the bunch at the mo. I’ve not use Goodyear but they get a good write up.

KwikFit have the PS4 for £105 each fitted at the moment but they may be cheaper elsewhere. Hotdeals UK had a deal a couple of weeks ago where 4 were £380 (fitted I think)
 
An old tyre thread that's a new one on me , one is posted every 5 minutes !

18" - MPS4 .
 
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Darren92 said:
Keep your existing tyre size, it’s those specifications for a reason. your insurance may not be happy if you aren’t using a size set out by the manufacturer if you were involved in an accident.
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255/ 55 on an 18" wheel would look pretty SUV-ish no?
 
Looks like the vote is MPS4 then... Within my budget too!

Not sure about Kwikfit doing them as I've heard some pretty questionable things about them, tyre fitters scratching alloys etc. I've got a really good tyre place near me that will fit them so may get them to order the Michelin's in.
 
Darren92 said:
Keep your existing tyre size, it’s those specifications for a reason. your insurance may not be happy if you aren’t using a size set out by the manufacturer if you were involved in an accident.
Click to expand...

To be fair, 225/ 40/ r18 is the standard tyre size used on S-line 8PA models...
 
KwikFit ruined one of my alloys
 
Last edited:
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I thought a PS4 was some sort of game thing ? I always use Goodyear eagles :)
 
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I use Eagles F1/3s because they are good in the wet and this is England.......its wet :)
They also have a good rim protector and are quiet All IMHO
 
uniroyal rainsport 3
 
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paddy said:
I use Eagles F1/3s because they are good in the wet and this is England.......its wet :)
They also have a good rim protector and are quiet All IMHO
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking of getting to be honest. Heard some great things about them, I guess there's not much in it between the MPS4 and those... Whichever I don't get this time I'll get next time.

How do you mean a rim protector?...
 
So what's the deal with summer/ winter tyres? Yes I get the premise of them, but it seems that plenty of people (in reviews etc) are commenting saying the tyres mentioned throughout this thread are 'great in the wet'... However all of those tyres are also 'summer' tyres.

My current ones are Conti Sport Contact 2s and I'm convinced that's just a summer performance tyre. That being said, I've never had any scares in the wet, they've only spun up a couple times (in the rain), and also they performed 'OK' in the snow we got in February. So what should I be getting?

Are winter tyres just designed to work specifically in the wet AND snow?
 
Those 2's must be an archaic design considering they're on 6 now .
 
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The rim protector is an area of rubber that sticks out further than the rim so will curb before you scape metal :)
 
Gazwould said:
Those 2's must be an archaic design considering they're on 6 now .
Click to expand...

Haha yeah. Mine are holding up OK, you can tell they're old indeed though as they're feathering a little bit at the sides on 1 or 2 of them.

I think I'm gonna go with the MPS4. The S model only comes in 19" and above. Any idea what the rim protection is like on it?
 
paddy said:
The rim protector is an area of rubber that sticks out further than the rim so will curb before you scape metal :)
Click to expand...
Oooh I see! Right yeah. I googled it to have a look at it on the 3 and lots of people were saying it's non-existent compared to the 2. But you say it's still pretty good? I've come down to either that or the Pilot Sport 4.
 
paddy said:
the 2 was better if you can find them
Click to expand...

I can but they are £20-£30 more a corner depending on where you get them :( So annoying, older models should be cheaper not more expensive!
 
I don't see them as older models just different models because i think both are still produced, its just not stocked by most i suppose because its more expensive.. Whether you would notice the difference on the road i don't know. Not sure i did but as has been said the 2 has a better rim protector and is thought to be a better tyre.
 
Well I've found the eagle f1 assy 3 for a really good price. I'm gonna go with that and try the mps4 next time.

Last question is... is there a noticeable difference between 225/40/18 and 225/45/18? I was gonna go 40 but 45 is a tiny difference and if it would make a difference to handling/ comfort etc...
 
well 40 / 45 is a 5mm difference and you only need to ask a woman if that matters , plus mnd if you lower your car at the front the height off your tyre will have to come into it .
 
ch1z64 said:
well 40 / 45 is a 5mm difference and you only need to ask a woman if that matters , plus mnd if you lower your car at the front the height off your tyre will have to come into it .
Click to expand...

Hahaha
 
Ok last question... before I notify the insurers...

It's an S line alloy. Could you in theory spec an s line alloy when buying the car from an Audi dealer, or would you have to spec the whole s line trim? Either is fine really but I think they'd mind a lot less if they knew I was replacing the factory alloys with another spec-able OEM alloy, based on the fact that the factory alloys are no longer in such great condition.
 
There's usually a choice of wheels in the sales brochure that the original buyer specced, so yes. If you Google the A3 brochure for your year car, you should see a selection of wheels and maybe yours are one of them.
Changing from 40 to 45 profile will give a tiny bit more comfort but I would keep all 4 tyres the same size.
 
SootySport said:
There's usually a choice of wheels in the sales brochure that the original buyer specced, so yes. If you Google the A3 brochure for your year car, you should see a selection of wheels and maybe yours are one of them.
Changing from 40 to 45 profile will give a tiny bit more comfort but I would keep all 4 tyres the same size.
Click to expand...

Ah good point man thanks! Just had a look at an online brochure for my year/ model and that '5 arm' 18 inch option is/ was indeed available for it :)

I know the OEM spec tyre for that wheel is a 225/40 so I'm just gonna go with that. For the goodyears the 45 is about £40 more than the 40 also which is pretty mad
 
I went for the Goodyear Asy 3 in the end. Will give the rainsports a try next time or after the sport pilots haha.

Just talked to the insurers and the charge for the Eibach springs was £19+some sort of admin fee something like £28.

They charged nothing for the alloys and can also cover them fully as they are an 'optional factory spec extra' for the car
 
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Michael O'Connor said:
I know there's a lot of threads on this but wanted to ask as a lot of them are fairly old. I've got new 18 x 7.5 alloys, so need a 225 40 R18. 215 would be better as that way it doesn't exceed the diameter of the current alloy and tyre, but 225 is only a 0.8% so not a big deal.

Have Continental Sport Contact 2's on the current wheels so considering getting the current version of that tyre, would rather not downgrade. Budget is about £400, could push to £450 or £500 if needed.

Have considered:

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 3
Falken Ziex Ze914
Continental Sport Contact 5
*Open to other suggestions*

I'm not sure if the current tyres on the car are 'all season' but they perform pretty well in the wet. I have seen a few sites say the Sport Contact 2 is an all season tyre, so I thought the SC 5 would be too but apparently it's only a summer tyre?

Thanks
Click to expand...
I have brigestone potenza s001 17'' and they are great
 
Ordered some Goodyear Asy 3s. For anyone ordering tyres in future, don't be fooled by Tyre Leader's great prices... Ordered on thursday and still haven't even received an order confirmation. Impossible to contact, no email or telephone number...

So basically just waiting now... If haven't received them by end of next week I'm gonna get the bank to pull the payment back :(
 
Michael O'Connor said:
Ordered some Goodyear Asy 3s. For anyone ordering tyres in future, don't be fooled by Tyre Leader's great prices... Ordered on thursday and still haven't even received an order confirmation. Impossible to contact, no email or telephone number...

So basically just waiting now... If haven't received them by end of next week I'm gonna get the bank to pull the payment back :(
Click to expand...
those online shops are fake .. best is go to halfords..
 
Halfords are the last place I'd go to buy tyres.
There are plenty of reputable tyre companies on the high street and online, but people are often sucked in by the very low prices and forget rule number 1... If it's too good to be true, then it isn't true.
Camskill, My Tyres, Black Circles are all very competitive and some have discount codes available and Cashback can be had from TCB or Quidco.
It's all about shopping savvy. I used a company I trust and had 4 tyres delivered for under £300. I'm happy and would do the same again.
 
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Daveyonthemove said:
Halfords are the last place I'd go to buy tyres.
There are plenty of reputable tyre companies on the high street and online, but people are often sucked in by the very low prices and forget rule number 1... If it's too good to be true, then it isn't true.
Camskill, My Tyres, Black Circles are all very competitive and some have discount codes available and Cashback can be had from TCB or Quidco.
It's all about shopping savvy. I used a company I trust and had 4 tyres delivered for under £300. I'm happy and would do the same again.
Click to expand...
well I had brand new tyres done .. I must say guys int every store differs .. in other town they are crap but in other perfect.. These potenzas s001 are very good car sits very good there is no big difference btw 17'' inch wheels and 18''
I reached max speed 135mp/h
 
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