S5 All-Season Tire Question

[snocat17]

I have put 10,000 miles on my S5 and I am getting ready for winter. I plan on driving every day of winter, unless there is more than 1" of snow, so I need to do something about my tires. I live in mid-Missouri and drive 75 miles every day on curvy 55 mph roads that occasionally get freezing rain.

When I had the car inspected before I purchased, two of the tires were low on tread. The dealer put on two brand new Michelin Pilot AS 3+ to replace the tires that were low on tread. However, the original tires were Pilot Super Sport, so now I have 2 summer tires (with 36,000 miles) and 2 all-season tires (with 10,000 miles).

I am now debating what I should do. Should I replace all 4 tires? Should I replace the two summer tires with new Pilot AS 3+? Currently the two all-season tires are on the front axle, so should I keep all the tires until I need to replace the summer tires?

I do not want to get a summer set, so that option is out. Do I need to get an alignment if I replace any of the tires?

What would you do? Vote in the poll!

[HazeMyth]

I can't even fathom why you have 2 different tires on there right now. I'm guessing you didn't buy it from an Audi dealer, because an Audi dealer hopefully wouldn't be brain dead enough to do that to an AWD car. AWD cars are super picky when it comes to tire wear needing to be very close on all 4 corners. Failure to run the same tread and/or not having tire tread within spec can cost you a lot more money down the road.

Replace all 4. Continental DWS06 is what I run for all season, and I've got no complaints about them. You're probably going to want to get an alignment after replacing all 4, too, because it's probably off after running two different sets of tread with two different levels of wear.

[Audiforumuser]

I'd replace all 4 with Continental DWS.

Driving with summer tires in any sort of freezing conditions is unsafe. Also, driving with miss-matched tires is never a good idea and the tread should always be within 3mm of each other. I'm guessing that with your current setup you're already exceeding that.

[snocat17]

I can't even fathom why you have 2 different tires on there right now. I'm guessing you didn't buy it from an Audi dealer, because an Audi dealer hopefully wouldn't be brain dead enough to do that to an AWD car. AWD cars are super picky when it comes to tire wear needing to be very close on all 4 corners. Failure to run the same tread and/or not having tire tread within spec can cost you a lot more money down the road.

Replace all 4. Continental DWS06 is what I run for all season, and I've got no complaints about them. You're probably going to want to get an alignment after replacing all 4, too, because it's probably off after running two different sets of tread with two different levels of wear.

It was a Maserati dealer in Florida, so they have no idea how to maintain cars, although they get lots of practice.

The Audi dealer I got my 35K service done at said the new ones don't show very much wear and suggested just changing the two summer tires out for AS3+.

[HazeMyth]

Eh, if it were me personally, I'd go with all 4 DWS06, and if those other 2 summer tires are within spec for driving with 2 other new tires, I'd later buy the 2 summer tires to throw on in the summer. "don't show very much wear" doesn't necessarily mean they're within spec for running new tires. The only way to know is if you measure them against a brand new set of the same tires.

[wkhanna]

V bad to mismatch tires, let alone on an awd vehicle.....

i would recommend 4 new as's ........specially in a cooler climate region....

i see MO in your sig, how bad are your winters.....how much winter driving do you anticipate doing?

[snocat17]

i would recommend 4 new as's ........specially in a cooler climate region....

i see MO in your sig, how bad are your winters.....how much winter driving do you anticipate doing?

We get 3 or 4 freezing rains and 2 or 3 significant snow storms a year. Not like Colorado where I grew up.

[JoshDub]

Not only can having two different style tires be detrimental to your AWD system (two vastly different tread depths will also do similar damage), they can cause compromised handling characteristics during emergency avoidance maneuvers.

Continental DWS06s are great in the snow for all seasons. I recommended those if you only want a single set of tires.

Depending on tread depth, I'd also keep the two summers and get two new ones shaved down from tirerack to match. You could sell the two current all seasons on eBay. People frequently buy tires like that due to having punctures or blowouts and don't want to have to buy a whole set of 4.

[HazeMyth]

We get 3 or 4 freezing rains and 2 or 3 significant snow storms a year. Not like Colorado where I grew up.

I grew up here and am still here. The last few winters have been relatively mild, but yeah, our winters can sometimes be very brutal. Do you have another vehicle that you sometimes drive in bad weather? If you're only faced with bad conditions a few times a year, it may not be so easy to justify an all season tire, especially if you have access to another vehicle to meet your needs.

I do have access to other vehicles during the winter, but I keep all seasons on there since our weather is bipolar. I can show up to work with 60+ degree weather and no snow in the forecast, yet be stuck in blizzard conditions on the way home that same day.

[wkhanna]

Not only can having two different style tires be detrimental to your AWD system .......... they can cause compromised handling characteristics during emergency avoidance maneuvers.

thanks for detailing that, Josh.....i should have explained in more detail.....as tires with different construction layups/specifications will have differing handling characteristics....

[snocat17]

I grew up here and am still here. The last few winters have been relatively mild, but yeah, our winters can sometimes be very brutal. Do you have another vehicle that you sometimes drive in bad weather? If you're only faced with bad conditions a few times a year, it may not be so easy to justify an all season tire, especially if you have access to another vehicle to meet your needs.

Yes, I have a GMC Sierra. I learned to drive by doing Berthod Pass every weekend in the family Suburban, I am fairly confident in snowy conditions.

Freezing rain, I am not.

[Foxbat]

I would definitely buy two more Pilots, I think they are just a tad better, than the Conties - I have experience with both.

[snocat17]

My summer Pilot Super Sport tires on the rear axle have 1/8" (4/32") tread left and my Pilot A/S 3+ on the front axle have 1/4" (8/32") tread left.

I'm leaning toward getting all new and selling the summer tires on eBay. I can afford to keep the A/S 3+ ones for a while and use as a back up if something happens.

[ICU2]

My summer Pilot Super Sport tires on the rear axle have 1/8" (4/32") tread left and my Pilot A/S 3+ on the front axle have 1/4" (8/32") tread left.

I'm leaning toward getting all new and selling the summer tires on eBay. I can afford to keep the A/S 3+ ones for a while and use as a back up if something happens.

While I understand your position r/t remaining tread depth (although the PSS are w/in 2/32 of being done) & not wanting 2 "extra" tires hanging around the garage, I'd definitely get 4 new AS tires. Personal experience w/the Conti's were excellent but that's my only reference point. The closer you get to winter the more difficult they may be to find.
On any entirely different note, now that you've put ~ 10k miles on it, what do you think?

[Mops@Nemesis]

I've run many 06 sets and one Pilot set. Both are great. The Conti will be better in snow, and quieter. The Pilot has a good bit better dry grip and they're more attractive :)

[doc280]

I dare to be different, but I really have liked this tire and have enjoyed running sets on three diffrent cars. ( BMW M Roadster, Mini Clubman JCW and Audi S5 ) VENTUS S1 NOBLE2

[snocat17]

On any entirely different note, now that you've put ~ 10k miles on it, what do you think?

I can't imagine a better car! So glad I chose it over a 4-series or Benz. It handles so well and looks attractive, but it's not flashy. I left it in Dynamic mode for a week and can't believe the difference in power. Leaving it in Comfort mode I can get about 1.5 better MPG.

I wonder what driving an RS5 every day would be like...

I've run many 06 sets and one Pilot set. Both are great. The Conti will be better in snow, and quieter. The Pilot has a good bit better dry grip and they're more attractive :)

I'm leaning toward the A/S 3+ based on traction on wet and icy roads, also made in the USA. I have a truck for when there's snow.

[EricPro21]

I recommend the new Michelin Pilot AS 3+, have them, love them.

[outatime]

I recently put these on my S5.
https://www.discounttiredirect.com/b...vehicles=true#
Rated higher than DWS at Discount Tire, and research revealed the company is owned by Continental. I've only got 1k miles on them but so far, so good. They're miles ahead of the P-Zeros that my car came with.

[rasetsu]

I've run many 06 sets and one Pilot set. Both are great. The Conti will be better in snow, and quieter. The Pilot has a good bit better dry grip and they're more attractive :)

This

[doug97gxe]

DWS all the way

[ICU2]

I can't imagine a better car! So glad I chose it over a 4-series or Benz. It handles so well and looks attractive, but it's not flashy. I left it in Dynamic mode for a week and can't believe the difference in power. Leaving it in Comfort mode I can get about 1.5 better MPG.

Glad to hear it is bringing you so much joy, it is such a fun car. If you choose to modify, use the AZ search & look up "Gonzoe". He had, IIRC a heavily modded S5 Cab that posted on the forum. Lots of good info. He later traded that for a RS5, then needed 4 doors & is now in a S7(?).

I wonder what driving an RS5 every day would be like...

Stock vs. stock (which all of my Audi's were/are, seems dumb to spend the money for CPO, mod the car & void the warranty for all intents & purposes) the difference is rather stunning. Add to that the rarity of a Cabriolet in this model & you have a extremely unique ride. Others may disagree & that's fine, TEHO. It's what I wanted, it's what I bought. Look around for a better 400+ HP, AWD, 4 seat capable, Premium GT car & most would find themselves looking @ my car. It is glorious to hear her sing & makes me smile w/every rev.