Wheel rubber on Audi: which tires are better, popular brands, how to choose

The question of how to choose the right wheel rubber for Audi, arises before the owner when the seasons change, especially in winter and summer. Also, the search for wheel rubber becomes relevant when the tires are worn out. The choice of new tires depends on several important factors.

What to consider when choosing tires

First of all, wheel rubber is chosen according to seasonality. For summer driving use summer tires, for winter use winter tires. All-season rubber is suitable only for large transport: off-road vehicles and special equipment. If there is snow and ice on the road in winter, universal rubber will not do. For passenger cars, you should not save on rubber for each season.

Summer wheel rubber is lighter, with a shallow tread depth. It can not be used in winter, because due to stiffness at low temperatures it will cause difficulties in driving the vehicle.

Winter wheel rubber is softer and adjusted to low temperatures. It may be studded, and it is suitable for use if there is frequent ice in the region. According to traffic regulations, when studded tires are used, the appropriate sign should be on the rear window. 

Size

The marking of the product specifies:

• diameter;
• profile width;
• profile height to width ratio.

For most cars it is possible to use discs and tires of close diameter wheels. The greater the distance from the surface of the tire to the disc, the more comfortable and safer the movement.

Load and speed indices

Information on the maximum load on the wheel rubber in kilograms and the index of the highest permissible speed for it is given. It is better to choose according to the corresponding parameters from the technical documentation of the car.

Tread pattern

There are two main types: European and Scandinavian. Which tread pattern is important for winter tires. Scandinavian tires are most suitable for snowy and cold winters.

Manufacturer

Top 5 manufacturers of winter tires for premium cars:

1. Nokian, Hakkapeliitta R winter tires. Produced in Finland. Have shown the best handling on snowy and slippery roads.
2. Michelin and X-Ice Xi2 rubber. Spanish manufacturer of quality rubber for both summer and winter. Excellent performance in handling and steerability. Perfect braking distance on slippery surfaces.
3. Goodyear, Grip Ice + tires. Produced by Slovenia. It is a world-known brand, which produces a variety of tires.
4. Fluda with tires Kristall Montero 3. Also made in Slovenia. Excellent performance on dry and wet surfaces. Dense enough and durable wheel rubber, but not for cold winters.
5. Vredestein, SnowTrac 3 tires. Producer from Holland. Winter wheel rubber for mild conditions.

Of the summer rubber, it is worth highlighting:

• Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance. Good braking, wheel rubber saves fuel, the ride is soft and quiet. Not rigid enough sidewalls, damaged on potholes and bumps.
• Bridgestone Turanza T001. Wheel rubber of this company lasts long due to its high wear resistance. The treads soften the potholes, excellent braking. But they make noise and insufficiently adhere to the ground surface.
• Continental ContiPremiumContact 5. Tires of the premium segment at an affordable price. They please with good braking in all weather conditions. Very quiet. Due to the softness of the tread wear out fairly quickly.
• Kumho Ecsta HS51. Wheel rubber for quiet and comfortable ride. Treads provide good braking on dry and wet roads, but are not so responsive to turns. They do not have a very long service life.
• Pirelli Cinturato P1. These tires are soft on both highway and country roads. They provide good stability, but lead to increased fuel consumption.
• Toyo Proxes CF2. Inexpensive tires for summer. They are comfortable and silent, good wear resistance, but they are not suitable for unpaved roads.
• Nokian Hakka Green 2. Medium price segment treads. They cope well with wet asphalt, but the wear resistance is inferior to the previous models.