Best all season tires

[TristanT14]

Getting the Michelin sport A/S 3+ installed Wednesday (tire guy didn't have DWS06 in stock). Now I'm worried about road noise

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Hahaha, let us all know your thoughts on them in here. Post whenever you get the time after driving for a bit!

[Dr GP]

didn't you created a thread a few days ago saying you got screwed because of your ''winter'' tires ?

it takes one ice patch and your loved modded car can be totaled. Good luck getting reimbursed for your mod with the insurance. Or get it repainted and see your resell value going down. Why? because someone wanted to ''save'' 400-1000$ on running dedicated winter tires (and performant summer tire) Vs. running A/S and having bad performance both in winter and summers. Yep, sounds like a genious idea lol.

A/S could work for my sister or my grand-ma if running in ''super mild'' winter as you say, but if you buy a S4, it deserve dedicated summer performance tire. If not, then, why buy the ''sport version'' if you don't drive it lol? Okay I'm out, you guys do what you want if your tires :)

Actually,the point of the post was that winter tires didn't matter since regardless of what tires you had or what type of drive,you couldnt go anywhere due to the gridlock caused by the fvtards with FWD and worn out A/S tires thinking they could actully go anywhere . Or drivers with AWD/4WD thinking the summer tires would be ok since they had AWD/4WD

[Dr GP]

I had the earlier version of the DWS on my car at one point and I hated them. I hated them so badly that I'm unwilling to try the DWS06. The sidewall was woefully weak. And, while I do sometimes drive in snow because most of my family lives north of here and we do get snow in N. MS, I still can't bring myself to give them a go again.

I had the Michelin AS3+ through last winter here in N. MS and I liked them. They're expensive but I have the new Pilots Super Sports on my car now and don't want to waste them during winter. I was visiting family north of here recently, the temps were in the 20s, and I did a nice little tank slapper on a corner I took too quickly that I think was down to the tires being rock hard.

If I can get 90% of the tire for 75% of the price I'm really inclined to do that. Especially since snow over 1" deep is really unlikely here (again, it might blow your mind, but we do get snow in N. MS). I've been eyeing the Kuhmo ECSTA PA51 or ECSTA 4X II. Any thoughts?

Check out the snow ratings of those on Tire Rack and you will likely change your mind. And yes the sidewall on the DWS were not as stiff as you would like for summer performance. Dont know how the new DWS 06 compare. Actually, Tire Rack gives Bridgestone Potenzas RE980AS the highest rating overall, snow,wet and treadwear. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surve...jsp?type=UHPAS

[4RCFED]

Check out the snow ratings of those on Tire Rack and you will likely change your mind. And yes the sidewall on the DWS were not as stiff as you would like for summer performance. Dont know how the new DWS 06 compare. Actually, Tire Rack gives Bridgestone Potenzas RE980AS the highest rating overall, snow,wet and treadwear. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surve...jsp?type=UHPAS

Those RE980AS are what I ended up going with based off the ratings. I had Yokohama Advan Sport and they were pretty good, but I like these better.

[hilmar2k]

Those RE980AS are what I ended up going with based off the ratings. I had Yokohama Advan Sport and they were pretty good, but I like these better.

Dammit. Now I have another tire to add to the list of possibilities. And I really hate Bridgestones, so these will have to be pretty awesome for me to actually buy them.

[Dr GP]

Dammit. Now I have another tire to add to the list of possibilities. And I really hate Bridgestones, so these will have to be pretty awesome for me to actually buy them.

I understand your angst. My current QX 50 AWD has some shity low grade Bridgestone A/s tires. They were so bad that I had to check the window sticker to be sure the car actually had AWD since there are no emblems to indicate it is AWD. Plus when i purchased my 2011 S4, it had a set of MORE THAN 1/2 Worn Bridgestone Potenza A/s tires, but I dont remember which variety. The were really noisy and not very good in the little snow I had to drive with them. Plus its not fair to evaluate with less than 1/2 of tread left.

[QS4]

tire types.png
This is a very complex question to answer because of so many variables! Besides the difference in tread patterns shown above, the rubber compound composition also varies for the expected temperature ranges! You will have to tailor your driving for the tire (type, tread remaining, & age) and road conditions (hot-cold, dry, wet, & snow)- We don't know your typical or worst driving conditions!

So if you are going to go with all-season tires, start with the understanding that A/S tires begin as a compromise (Seasonal tires have THEIR limits). I'm not trying to dig on the tires or the choice to go with them; just saying when you want to push your Quattro (really any car) know that typically there are seasonal tires that will perform better than all-seasons for the current driving conditions.

Having the best traction should be the goal for all drivers and when you are choosing tires, you are also deciding WHEN you want to have your best traction!
Read those reviews! Understand how you drive where you drive, and at the extremes of hot/dry or cold/snow your traction will be less than dedicated seasonal tires.

On these forums you will find recommendations for 6MT and sports diff, stage 1 or 2 mods, big brakes, etc. I'd argue that the four contact patches are just as important!
My all-season recommendation: buy the ones for whatever factor is most important to you and slow it down when faced with bad/extreme weather.

[mojangles69]

CONTI DWS 06
Previously ran Conti DWS 06's when they were first released. Huge improvement over previous gen and better sidewall.
Was very happy with tires, unfortunately had to replace prematurely because of uneven wear.

CONTI CONTROL CONTACT SPORT A/S
Per recommendation of service advisor at Discount Tire, replaced DWS 06 with the "new and improved" version.
Tire did well. Not sure I can define any differences between it and DWS 06's.
Even tracked at VIR in Dec 2017. Did well on track and as well as one would expect out of an A/S tire.
HOWEVER, 22k miles into the tires I'm at 4/32 tread and these tires have gotten very loud. Not happy that they have 50k treadlife warranty and have lasted only half expected mileage. Even wear across each tire. Not sure such a short treadlife. No rubbing or alignment issues. Discount Tire is giving me a mileage discount to get new tires but still disappointing nonetheless.

Just ordered relatively new tire - Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS in 255/35/19. Tire has Speed Rating of "W." The conti's had higher level of "Y."
However, Discount Tire was completely out of the tire in my size and only had one available set that made specifically for Mercedes. Only difference is this set more expensive (of course) and has "Y" Speed Rating.
Getting the tires installed tomorrow, so i am excited to see how these tires perform, as I've never run Bridgestones before. I've run Goodyears, Pirelli's, Conti's and Michelins. Conti's on my Audi's have been far and away my favorite tire brand. Best bang for buck. But given this most recent experience, wanted to try something different. Reviews and tests suggest this new Potenza is really good. It's main drawback being snow performance versus DWS 06, Pirelli P Zero Nero A/S and Michelin AS3+. but with me being in NC, we rarely get snow. So, not a tremendous concern for me. Performance wise it does very well in dry and wet.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

But as others have mentioned and as you'll see in various forums, there is no "perfect" A/S out there. each has their owns pro's and con's and the right tire really depends on your primary concerns, your driving conditions and your driving style. The right A/S for one individual may be the wrong choice for another. Cheers!

[hilmar2k]

W speed rating should be more than sufficient, as that is 168 MPH.

[mojangles69]

2 years ago i would have 100% agreed with you. Since then, few friends now run twin-turbo lambos by Underground and 1200+ HP GTR's.
168mph comes about all too often and i'm usually a couple miles behind. Hahahaha

W speed rating should be more than sufficient, as that is 168 MPH.

[TristanT14]

Getting the Michelin sport A/S 3+ installed Wednesday (tire guy didn't have DWS06 in stock). Now I'm worried about road noise

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Let us know how it goes! Getting them put on tomorrow if I am correct, let me know how you like them and if the noise is really there when you get to driving!

[toastsauce]

About 20 miles on them so far (have 600 miles ahead of me for the holiday) and I honestly don't know how someone would consider these Sport A/S 3+'s loud. It was an awkward 20 miles with the radio off but between the exhaust and the supercharger whine I couldn't hear any tire noise. Maybe in summer with windows down but for now not noticeable.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[hilmar2k]

About 20 miles on them so far (have 600 miles ahead of me for the holiday) and I honestly don't know how someone would consider these Sport A/S 3+'s loud. It was an awkward 20 miles with the radio off but between the exhaust and the supercharger whine I couldn't hear any tire noise. Maybe in summer with windows down but for now not noticeable.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sounds like as they wear they get noisy.

[rglax]

Has anyone run the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 and Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S?

I currently have the BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S, which have been fine (40k+) but were pretty noisy and need to replace them now.

Drive in NYC / West Chester w/ terrible roads so slightly worried about profile (read Yokohoma's had a smaller profile). Would be curious for others thoughts.

[Dr GP]

Has anyone run the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 and Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S?

I currently have the BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S, which have been fine (40k+) but were pretty noisy and need to replace them now.

Drive in NYC / West Chester w/ terrible roads so slightly worried about profile (read Yokohoma's had a smaller profile). Would be curious for others thoughts.

Get the Contis not the Yokahamas

[Marilius]

I have Nokian WRG4s, and, kinda regretting it. They're OK(ish), they handle the cold and snow/slush just fine. They do not handle ice very well at all. Quattro had its hands full this year. I had WRG3s on my Dodge Dart and it made that car handle very nicely (which was an improvement from completely undriveable). I think next year, finances allowing, I'm getting some dedicated winters and summers.

[TristanT14]

Has anyone run the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 and Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S?

I currently have the BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S, which have been fine (40k+) but were pretty noisy and need to replace them now.

Drive in NYC / West Chester w/ terrible roads so slightly worried about profile (read Yokohoma's had a smaller profile). Would be curious for others thoughts.

Conti DWS06 all the way! Love them.

[SSMOKE-U]

I am running Michelin PS4S and they are above and beyond the best tire out there. Super quiet and comfy ride and dry and wet handling is outstanding! I bought a set for just under $1100 mounted and balanced on OEM 19' Peelers.

[hilmar2k]

I am running Michelin PS4S and they are above and beyond the best tire out there. Super quiet and comfy ride and dry and wet handling is outstanding! I bought a set for just under $1100 mounted and balanced on OEM 19' Peelers.

Sees thread titled "Best all season tires".... Posts about summer tires.

[tmoe]

I have the all season Nokian WR G3 245/40 R18 tires on my S4 currently. I think they are all right but I have no comparison. For the record, when the time comes, I'm going with DWS06.

Had the same impression about the WR G3 about the same as DWS in the winter but not as good in the dry. I tried the WR G4's this last year and hands down a big improvement over the G3's for the snow and slush, so far warm weather about the same. If I didn't have to deal with snow and slush as much I'd probably go Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+.

[BucDan]

I read that the Conti DWS06 dry rots faster than the Michi A/S 3+ and can have flat spots if you park it for extended time. Reading how the Michi A/S 3+ gets louder as it wears doesn't seem too great either. Doesn't leave much confident for both, imo, yet they're the most recommended two. I'd say if it's your daily, get the DWS06 as road noise will get annoying.

Too bad you guys aren't in dry areas where snow is when hell freezes over. Summer tires year round!

[Duke87Nuke]

I currently have the ContiSport summer tires on the 2015 S4 I just purchased. They are unevenly worn / cupped and loud, so cannot wait to swap them out.

I've always run A/S tires and went thru multiple sets on my past car, a 2006 350Z Grand Touring. The BFG Comp 2 A/S were one of my favorites, but sadly had to given them up when they stopped making the back tire size in it for my staggered fitment. They were great - lasted well over 40k and were good all around in summer/winter, and affordable. They also had a good rim protector bead, which was rare on most of the tires I had on the Z rims. Only downside was looks - tread grooves wrap around the side wall a bit and look a bit "trucky"

I've had multiple sets of Continentals including DWS06's on the Z. I always wanted to like them but never did. Rim protetctor was never very good and sidewall profile always seemed tapered, like they shortchanged you on the tread width. They just always looked cheap on my Z rims.
Also had some bad cupping and noise isues with them, so I cannot even think about a Continental product for my S4. My wife has Mich PS AS-3's on her A6 and they have been quiet and have a great sidewall that comes out past the rim edge. Just pricey.

Been thinking about the Goodyear F1 Asymetric A/S's as an option from the Michelin's. Have not seen many posts about them. Would appreciate anyone sharing that has some experience with them.

[Dr GP]

Go with the Michelins if you dont like the Contis. Better dry weather performance. Not as good in snow. Probably wont matter in NC

[evanb]

Listen to the doc. You can't go wrong with Michelins

[WJN S4]

I've had Conti DWS, BFG Comp2 A/S, and now Michelin A/S3+.. just a brief review on each. Theses were all on the same peeler spec, 255/35/19, driven in combination highway/city driving around Tri-State/New England area.

-DWS were the best in the winter/snow, but softer sidewalls made the steering response super soft, made the S4 feel too floaty. Very comfortable ride though, asymmetrical was nice to help rotate and max life out of the tires. I didn't get too much of the flat spotting, but I did remember that I found these tires very hard to keep balanced, and had an annoying vibration every so often.

-BFG Comp2 A/S were excellent in dry, made the car feel re-connected and performed like summer tires. Great pricing, loved the beefy sidewall protection. Downside was that it was directional tires, and from the driving habits/quattro biases, you get uneven wear. It also got louder as it wore down. Lasted me around 35K mi, probably had a little more left but changed them out early. If these sat for a while, they get a slight flatspot that is annoying the first few miles of driving.

-Michelin AS3+ are still relatively new to me, but they are pricier than the two. Initial reaction is that it's does everything well so far in dry weather. Might not have as harsh/responsiveness as BFG, but it's similar manners. Very comfortable and rides great, takes bumps better than BFG. Haven't used it in winter weather yet. Flat spotting has not been an issue and I've actually kept this car/tires sitting much longer than the BFG and DWS lately, so that's a big plus for me.

Just initial reviews for the big contenders - let me know if anyone has any questions.

[03redgti]

I vote conti DWS 06 for sure. awesome tires..

[hilmar2k]

I've had Conti DWS, BFG Comp2 A/S, and now Michelin A/S3+.. just a brief review on each. Theses were all on the same peeler spec, 255/35/19, driven in combination highway/city driving around Tri-State/New England area.

-DWS were the best in the winter/snow, but softer sidewalls made the steering response super soft, made the S4 feel too floaty. Very comfortable ride though, asymmetrical was nice to help rotate and max life out of the tires. I didn't get too much of the flat spotting, but I did remember that I found these tires very hard to keep balanced, and had an annoying vibration every so often.

-BFG Comp2 A/S were excellent in dry, made the car feel re-connected and performed like summer tires. Great pricing, loved the beefy sidewall protection. Downside was that it was directional tires, and from the driving habits/quattro biases, you get uneven wear. It also got louder as it wore down. Lasted me around 35K mi, probably had a little more left but changed them out early. If these sat for a while, they get a slight flatspot that is annoying the first few miles of driving.

-Michelin AS3+ are still relatively new to me, but they are pricier than the two. Initial reaction is that it's does everything well so far in dry weather. Might not have as harsh/responsiveness as BFG, but it's similar manners. Very comfortable and rides great, takes bumps better than BFG. Haven't used it in winter weather yet. Flat spotting has not been an issue and I've actually kept this car/tires sitting much longer than the BFG and DWS lately, so that's a big plus for me.

Just initial reviews for the big contenders - let me know if anyone has any questions.

I can confirm the crazy uneven wear with the Comp 2 A/S tires. They are a good tire, but the quattro just eats them alive. My buddy with an AWD Jaguar XF had the same problem with them. I just rotated my Toyo Proxxes 4 Plus's and finally noticed enough wear to warrant replacement before winter. Definitely going with the Michelins.

[Duke87Nuke]

Thanks everyone!! I think the experiences the 2 of you had with the BFG Comp 2 A/S directional aspect would apply to the Goodyear F1 Asymetrics I asked about. I never would have thought about the quattro interactions with those since this is my first AWD vehicle. I think I'll stick with the Michelin's. They've been great on my wife's A6 but wasn't sure how that much less sporty size would translate. Appreciate the detail in some of your answers!

[brs2c]

I've had Conti DWS, BFG Comp2 A/S, and now Michelin A/S3+.. just a brief review on each. Theses were all on the same peeler spec, 255/35/19, driven in combination highway/city driving around Tri-State/New England area.

-DWS were the best in the winter/snow, but softer sidewalls made the steering response super soft, made the S4 feel too floaty. Very comfortable ride though, asymmetrical was nice to help rotate and max life out of the tires. I didn't get too much of the flat spotting, but I did remember that I found these tires very hard to keep balanced, and had an annoying vibration every so often.

-BFG Comp2 A/S were excellent in dry, made the car feel re-connected and performed like summer tires. Great pricing, loved the beefy sidewall protection. Downside was that it was directional tires, and from the driving habits/quattro biases, you get uneven wear. It also got louder as it wore down. Lasted me around 35K mi, probably had a little more left but changed them out early. If these sat for a while, they get a slight flatspot that is annoying the first few miles of driving.

-Michelin AS3+ are still relatively new to me, but they are pricier than the two. Initial reaction is that it's does everything well so far in dry weather. Might not have as harsh/responsiveness as BFG, but it's similar manners. Very comfortable and rides great, takes bumps better than BFG. Haven't used it in winter weather yet. Flat spotting has not been an issue and I've actually kept this car/tires sitting much longer than the BFG and DWS lately, so that's a big plus for me.

Great write up; I completely agree with your experience. I’ve tried all these and like the AS3+’s the best. If handling was less important to me, I would run the very comfy Contis- noticeably comfier ride and great bad weather grip.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[mercedesinfarct]

I run Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus. No complaints, and very quiet.

[thendisnear4u]

My 2016 S4 has:

Continental Extreme Contact Sport 255/35 R19 96Y XL BSW

Tires have been in use for ~21,700 miles. Took the car in for state inspection today, they say 3 of 4 tires are 4/32, and one is 3/32. I hope to get a set of tires that will last longer than 20k miles. I'm going through Discount Tire. Their website says these three tires as "recommended":

GENERAL GMAX AS-05 255 /35 R19 96W XL BSW --170/ea.
YOKOHAMA ADVAN SPORT A/S 255 /35 R19 96Y XL BSW --179/ea.
GOODYEAR EAGLE SPORT A/S 255 /35 R19 96W XL BSW --192/ea.

Anyone experienced with the more budget friendly ones above? Or stick with Continental? From what I'm seeing, they have several different types: Extreme Contact (WSO6) Control Contact, Sport Contact, and Extreme Contact Sport (likely others as well). Again, I didn't like the wear on the Extreme Contact Sport.

[4RCFED]

I had a good experience with the Yoko Advan, ended up replacing them with Bridgestone RE980S which I like even more.