re: Snow Tire Availability in OE Size

[NYAUDIS4]

Working on closing in on a new vehicle, and so trying to locate some snow tires for here in the northeast in OE size - 275/30 R20 - and striking out everywhere. Right now, all I'm seeing is the Pirelli Sottozeros @$435/ea. I realize the OEs are a niche size, but I've never experienced an almost complete lack of stock anywhere.

Anyone have any suggestions on where to look - other than the obvious Tirerack, Discount Tires Direct ,Mavis, etc.? Called every local shop as well.

I've also emailed some manufacturers to see if they can locate/ship a set to a local dealer.

I'm starting to think I may need to garage the car till April and start looking again in the summer. Otherwise, it's buy a set of all seasons to get me through April - which seems like a waste, or spend nearly $2k on the Pirellis.

Help!

[VVG]

Working on closing in on a new vehicle, and so trying to locate some snow tires for here in the northeast in OE size - 275/30 R20 - and striking out everywhere. Right now, all I'm seeing is the Pirelli Sottozeros @$435/ea. I realize the OEs are a niche size, but I've never experienced an almost complete lack of stock anywhere.

Anyone have any suggestions on where to look - other than the obvious Tirerack, Discount Tires Direct ,Mavis, etc.? Called every local shop as well.

I've also emailed some manufacturers to see if they can locate/ship a set to a local dealer.

I'm starting to think I may need to garage the car till April and start looking again in the summer. Otherwise, it's buy a set of all seasons to get me through April - which seems like a waste, or spend nearly $2k on the Pirellis.

Help!

As soon as I took delivery of my car in September, I ordered winter tires. Vredstein Wintertrac Pro in 275/30/20 from the Tirerack. At the time, they were the only option. There aren't too many options in this size. In retrospect, I actually think a better size is 255/35/20, and these will fit very nicely on the OE 9" wide wheels. Nothing wrong with the Pirellis however. If you are dead set on getting OE size, I would scoop them up before they are gone as well. Winter or summer, good tires for this car are going to be in the $400s. I think prices in this caliber tire are up about $100 per tire overall.

[Helios_RS5]

I bought a set of 19in wheels from Neuspeed for $1600, TPMS for $130, and Bridgestone Blizzaks for $530 (they were on clearance, very cheap at $130/each but it was the last set). $200 more to mount/balance/install, I couldn't be happier. Thing is a tank in the snow now. I think getting a separate setup for $2500 was better than spending $2k just for tires and then having to swap them back and fourth. Plus they're 19s and more comfortable than the 20s.

[JohnEnglish]

The official RS5 snow tire size is 235/40R19.

[Kyokio]

found all seasons on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30439332657...Bk9SR_LkpPqwYQ

[NYAUDIS4]

Thanks, all...I'm used to the Audi pay to play premium; I guess I just need to adjust that from the S to RS level. I have located a set.

Now to find a set of 5 arm peaks for the summers...

[VVG]

The official RS5 snow tire size is 235/40R19.

The problem with this, however, is that while it may perform better in really deep snow, most of the time, even in winter, you are not actually driving in really deep snow. The real benefit of the winter tires is for cold temps, and slick road surfaces. Even in winter, in most places, 90% of the time, the road is basically cleared enough and using OE sized winter tires will give you much more overall grip. Going from a 275 down to 235 width is pretty significant. You could also get winter tire in 265/35/19, which is the OE 19" standard tire size.

I have almost always put winter tires in OE size on my OE wheels, and then bought lighter/better aftermarket wheels for my summer tires. For the 10% of time that I am in really harsh winter conditions up here in NH, I haven't had any problems whatsoever with OE sized winter tires and Quattro.

[JohnEnglish]

I got the official Audi winter wheel and tire package included with the price of my RS5 so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Besides, I’m not looking to break any lap times and I figure if the manufacture specced those tires, they knew what they were doing.

[Burrcold]

I went with the OE 19" size winter tires and wheels as well (265/35/19). Combined with Alpin PA4 tires, there's very little performance compromise in the dry which is exactly what I wanted. I need every ounce of the stock performance throughout the entire year, not just 7-8 months. Otherwise, I might as well get a separate winter car.

[VVG]

The official RS5 snow tire size is 235/40R19.

I don't believe that this is for the current generation RS5. Maybe for the previous model which had far less torque. I think the B9 winter tire package from Audi is 265/35/19.

[JohnEnglish]

I don't believe that this is for the current generation RS5. Maybe for the previous model which had far less torque. I think the B9 winter tire package from Audi is 265/35/19.

No, that’s the official Audi winter tire for the B9 RS5.DF75FB33-B88A-4E36-8E98-2FA0E91CBF43.jpg

Attachment 285586

[VVG]

No, that’s the official Audi winter tire for the B9 RS5.DF75FB33-B88A-4E36-8E98-2FA0E91CBF43.jpg

Attachment 285586

So does this mean the A5, S5, and RS5 all have the same winter wheel/tire package? Doesn't make much sense. I think this listing must be an error. I just visited the Audiusa website and looked for wheel and tire packages under Audi Genuine Parts. I ultimately navigated to the Audi Tire Center, after speccing "winter wheel and tires" and entering the info for my RS5. It asks you for your preferred dealer, then lists the options. The winter tire choices for the RS5 are in 265/35/19 and 275/30/20 if you spec the 20" option. The 20" tire options are from Continental and Pirelli.

[JohnEnglish]

So does this mean the A5, S5, and RS5 all have the same winter wheel/tire package? Doesn't make much sense. I think this listing must be an error. I just visited the Audiusa website and looked for wheel and tire packages under Audi Genuine Parts. I ultimately navigated to the Audi Tire Center, after speccing "winter wheel and tires" and entering the info for my RS5. It asks you for your preferred dealer, then lists the options. The winter tire choices for the RS5 are in 265/35/19 and 275/30/20 if you spec the 20" option. The 20" tire options are from Continental and Pirelli.

If you want winter tires for 20” wheels, yes those are the ones you would be get. However, Audi officially recommends that wheel and tire combo. If you ask Audi for a winter and tire package for the RS5 that’s what they give you.

Here is the package on the official Audi Canada parts site.

https://www.audiaccessories.ca/p/Aud...073249LD8.htmlEB3515E6-F9FD-4CD1-97E7-07DB60770CDE.jpg

[Smac770]

There's no need to stick the optional offerings Audi presents. I'm sure Audi has additional agendas when parsing what to offer that are not necessarily inline with an owner's. Particularly tire brand and model selection. Can't go wrong with their wheels, though.

From a pure Audi parts catalog perspective, the A5/S5 have the following winter wheels and winter tires in group 6 (wheels/brakes):
8W0 601 025 AE, 17x7.5 et29
8W0 601 025 EE, 18x8.0 et31
8W0 601 025 AM, 19x8.5 et32
8W0 601 025 DG, 19x8.5 et32

225/50r17 98H XL Continental or 98T XL Nokian
245/40r18 97V XL Pirelli Winter SottoZero 3 or 97V XL Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
255/35r19 96V XL Continental WinterContact TS830P

There are also two additional wheels referenced in the winter wheel+tire packages in group 0 (accessories):
8W0 071 499 A, 19x8.5 et32
8W0 071 499 B, 19x8.5 et32
Notice the part numbers are 8W0 071 499, thus you know they are accessory wheels rather than stock wheels, which are 8W0 601 025. Curiously, the winter packages use the 17" and 18" 601 wheels, but the not the 19" 601 wheels, using instead these 071 19" wheels.

That said, the only winter wheel+tire accessory for NAR (US/Canada) per the catalog is 8W0 083 648 A left / 8W0 083 548 A right (I presume the Pirelli tires are directional, but that seems odd as the tire section lists only a single part number for the Pirelli tires), which consists of the 8W0 601 025 EE wheel and the Pirelli tires. AoA has them as https://parts.audiusa.com/p/Audi_202...N071083_A.html (I have to assume that's a generic photo since that's not what the EE wheel looks like)

But AoA also has two other winter wheel+tire packages listed also, in the 19" with Continentals:
https://parts.audiusa.com/p/Audi_202...N071084_A.html
https://parts.audiusa.com/p/Audi_202...N071085_A.html
I assume one uses the AM wheel and the other uses the DG wheel. Or maybe these are the 071 packages, which the catalog specifically marks "not for NAR".


If we shift from the A5/S5 catalog to the RS5 catalog, we see the following in group 6:
8W0 601 025 CP, 19x8.0 et26
8W0 601 025 CL, 20x9.0 et26
8W0 601 025 DR, 20x9.0 et22
8W0 601 025 FT, 20x9.0 et22

235/40r19 96V XL Pirelli Winter 240 SottoZero II AO
275/30r20 97W XL Pirelli Winter 240 SottoZero II RO1 or 97W XL Continental WinterContact TS850P

In the winter wheel+tire accessories, we see the 235/40r19 on the CP wheel in two forms: 8W0 073 249, and then 8W0 073 249 A ("only for NAR"), which appears to have the direct TPMS sensors installed.
As with the A5/S5 packages, the rest are in one way or another marked "not for USA". And we see that when we look at the AoA site. For the RS5, the only presented winter wheel+tire package is the 235 19":
https://parts.audiusa.com/p/Audi_201...N071126_A.html


That said, just because that's all Audi is peddling, I wouldn't hesitate to get a more suitable tire size. The wheel is fine. But why would I put 245s on an A5 but only 235s on an RS5. I'd love for Audi to explain that, but I doubt even they know, unless it was a "business decision", which I could care less about. Are Pirelli winter tires any good anyway?

[VVG]

If you want winter tires for 20” wheels, yes those are the ones you would be get. However, Audi officially recommends that wheel and tire combo. If you ask Audi for a winter and tire package for the RS5 that’s what they give you.

Here is the package on the official Audi Canada parts site.

https://www.audiaccessories.ca/p/Aud...073249LD8.htmlEB3515E6-F9FD-4CD1-97E7-07DB60770CDE.jpg

But what I am saying is that even for 19", on the US Audi website, it lists 265/35/19 as the proper tire option. And as was pointed out by Smac770, above, why would they spec a 245 tire for an A5 and a 235 tire for an RS5? Something is obviously off. The two tire choices I see listed for the RS5 are the Pirelli Winter 270 Sottozero 2 and the Continental WinterContact TS830P. Both in 265/35/19. And, in fact, if I try to choose the 235/40/19 option for a 2022 RS5, I get a "does not fit" statement.

Anyway, I think we've beaten this to death. If someone wants to put 235s on 8" wide wheels on their RS5, that is their choice. Not a good one, in my opinion.

[JohnEnglish]

On Pirelli's website, they list 235/40R19 as one of the winter tire sizes for the 2022 RS5.



But yeah, I agree, people can put whatever tire they want on their car. My point was that 235/40R19 is what Audi lists as the winter tire for the RS5 which was confirmed above. It's also what all the dealers around me offer as a wheel and tire package if you ask for one. They'll be happy to sell you another if you want but the 235/40R19 package is the first one they offer you if you ask.

[Dan99]

Working on closing in on a new vehicle, and so trying to locate some snow tires for here in the northeast in OE size - 275/30 R20 - and striking out everywhere. Right now, all I'm seeing is the Pirelli Sottozeros @$435/ea. I realize the OEs are a niche size, but I've never experienced an almost complete lack of stock anywhere.

Anyone have any suggestions on where to look - other than the obvious Tirerack, Discount Tires Direct ,Mavis, etc.? Called every local shop as well.

I've also emailed some manufacturers to see if they can locate/ship a set to a local dealer.

I'm starting to think I may need to garage the car till April and start looking again in the summer. Otherwise, it's buy a set of all seasons to get me through April - which seems like a waste, or spend nearly $2k on the Pirellis.

Help!

I can't really help you on stock. It's the end of the winter tire buying season so retailers will probably not restock winter tires until Summer/Fall.

Regarding the OE size, I have Michelin PA4 275/30 R20 tires on my 2019 RS5 SB and could not be happier.

Previously, I purchased the Audi winter tire/wheel package for my B8 and B8.5 S4s. The summer tires on those cars were 19" and the Audi winter tires were 18" and more narrow. The cars never drove the same for the 6 months that the undersized tires were installed and I could not wait to get the summer tires and wheels reinstalled each Spring. This time I decided to use the same size summer and winter tires and wheels. While the winter tires have less traction on cold dry pavement than summer tires have on hot pavement, they are more than adequate. I even had them on the track last Spring while the temperatures were still too low for summer tires, and they did great. I also drove from Detroit to Chicago a couple years ago in a blizzard and I was probably the most stable vehicle on the road at the time. I'm now in my 5th winter on these winter tires and I have had no problems with traction, and prefer driving my RS5 in the snow over my wife's Jeep Grand Cherokee.

I suggest you wait until the retailers restock winter tires. A new set of winter tires will last you years, and staying with the OEM size for the winter gives you the best driving experience. You should have a second set of wheels, though. These tires can be damaged during the remove/install process. Just make sure you do not get cast wheels as they get damaged just by thinking of a pothole. You should get flow-formed wheels or, even better, get forged. I just purchased a second set of forged wheels when I got the car and negotiated a low cost. So far, I have only bent one wheel in 50K miles and it was a summer tire/wheel, and it was easily repaired for little cost.

[Burrcold]

I can't really help you on stock. It's the end of the winter tire buying season so retailers will probably not restock winter tires until Summer/Fall.

Regarding the OE size, I have Michelin PA4 275/30 R20 tires on my 2019 RS5 SB and could not be happier.

Previously, I purchased the Audi winter tire/wheel package for my B8 and B8.5 S4s. The summer tires on those cars were 19" and the Audi winter tires were 18" and more narrow. The cars never drove the same for the 6 months that the undersized tires were installed and I could not wait to get the summer tires and wheels reinstalled each Spring. This time I decided to use the same size summer and winter tires and wheels. While the winter tires have less traction on cold dry pavement than summer tires have on hot pavement, they are more than adequate. I even had them on the track last Spring while the temperatures were still too low for summer tires, and they did great. I also drove from Detroit to Chicago a couple years ago in a blizzard and I was probably the most stable vehicle on the road at the time. I'm now in my 5th winter on these winter tires and I have had no problems with traction, and prefer driving my RS5 in the snow over my wife's Jeep Grand Cherokee.

I suggest you wait until the retailers restock winter tires. A new set of winter tires will last you years, and staying with the OEM size for the winter gives you the best driving experience. You should have a second set of wheels, though. These tires can be damaged during the remove/install process. Just make sure you do not get cast wheels as they get damaged just by thinking of a pothole. You should get flow-formed wheels or, even better, get forged. I just purchased a second set of forged wheels when I got the car and negotiated a low cost. So far, I have only bent one wheel in 50K miles and it was a summer tire/wheel, and it was easily repaired for little cost.

Do you swap the tires every winter? Or do you have a different summer wheel?

[Dan99]

Do you swap the tires every winter? Or do you have a different summer wheel?

I swap every April And November


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[Burrcold]

I swap every April And November


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How are the rims holding up after that many winters? I wanted to do the same with my OEMs but decided to just go with OE size 19's. Figured the road salt and ice would be hell on a set of black wheels with a low profile tire (I run the PA4s as well...awesome tire with virtually no "winter tire" trade off).

[VVG]

I have run stock sized winter tires on the stock wheels on my B5 S4, B7 RS4, C7 S6 and now my B9 RS5. Never had any issue even in very heavy snow conditions. And since I live in the Northeast and have my winter wheels/tires on for 5+ months, I didn't want crappy looking "beater" wheels, or narrow tires. I have always had a second set of aftermarket wheels with high performance summer tires that I swap out myself.

[Dan99]

How are the rims holding up after that many winters? I wanted to do the same with my OEMs but decided to just go with OE size 19's. Figured the road salt and ice would be hell on a set of black wheels with a low profile tire (I run the PA4s as well...awesome tire with virtually no "winter tire" trade off).

Rims are great. My car came with the milled wheels and I bought a set of flag wheels. Both look fine to me and they clean up well, but they have a few nicks and scratches after 50K miles.

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[Burrcold]

Rims are great. My car came with the milled wheels and I bought a set of flag wheels. Both look fine to me and they clean up well, but they have a few nicks and scratches after 50K miles.

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Thanks Dan!