<center><img src="http://AeroSmith.smugmug.com/photos/125026093-L.jpg"></center><p>Guys,

I'm not happy with the Yoko Advans that came on my 2007 S8.

I can replace them with 265/35 R20 Pirelli PZeros.

I can replace them with 275/35 R20 Michelin Pilot A/Ss (four season). I could replace them with Continental or Pirelli summer tires in this size.

I love summer tires (live in Florida). I love Michelins (have them on my 997S). But alas, there are no summer Michelins that will fit.

What are you all running on your 20s and why?

What size tire are you all running on your 20s?

My S8 owner's manual states that 265/35 and 275/35 are both OK.

Many thanks.

The first set I tried was the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. They are excellent A/S tires and I would recommend them if that is what you need. The only gripe I have with these tires is they got noisy more quickly than I expected (of course that is meaningless since my driving style may be the prime reason for that symptom).

I decided to replace my Michelin A/S once they started getting noisy with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx summer tires. The added grip of summer performance tires is great and this is the 2nd season I am using the Dunlops.

Obviously the summer performance tires can not be used year round where I live so I also have a set of Blizzaks on 5 spoke 18" Audi wheels for the nasty weather.

Since you live in Florida, I would consider trying the PZeros in the 275/35-20 size since they have a greater section width.

Agreed with your comments. Nice feel. Similar to the Dunlop SP 9000's that came on my A6 4.2 in 2006--a plush summer tire with good grip and stopping power. Not a track tire.

I noticed looking at the 275/35 20 available tires that some of them really don't have the load rating the OEM tires Audi uses have (at least 100 and often 102). The Michelin A/S's are rated at 98. This is a plenty heavy enough car (especially in front) to be a concern.

i have never had so many flat tires as i did with those.
I run Toyo t1r's 245/35/19 on the s4 right now, and couldnt be happier. I am sure when the yokohomas on our s8 deplete themselves. we will replace with toyos as well.

Summers are the stock Pirelli P Zero's 265 size on the stock S rim
I ran the Pirellis for a short time only (2-3 months) before swapping out. They seemed good, excellent grip, comfortable, quiet.
I have had the Michelins on for over 4 months now. They are excellent. No traction problems in snow or heavy rain, plenty of grip and I would say a little less noise and a touch more compliant
I had Dunlop SP SportMaxx (275/35-20) on the A8. What a horrible experience. Possibly the tires were damaged by a suspension problem I now suspect I had with the 05 A8. Nonetheless. The tires became horribly noisy at 10k to the point that they had to be thrown with half the tread remaining. I could not recommend this tire although it was fabulous for the first 5k.

a $100k car but the P Zero is seriously expensive and I am not sure the cost to go from 265 to 275 can be worth it. Stick with 265.

But the 265/35/20 has no A/S in the market so far, this coming Winter I will have no choice to replace the Yoko with Michelin Pilor Sport A/S or Pirelli PZere Nero M&amp;S, both are 275/35/20. How about the fat 255/40/19 to fit the S8 rims? The S8 manual does mention 265 and 275 for the car.

Let's just say I get the XL rated Pirelli PZeros.....which size should I get? Owner's manual give me two options. 265/35 R20 or 275/35 R20?

You know the thing is we ran the Michelin Pilot A/Ss on a 2001 allroad here in Florida and they were awesome tires. I just don't need 4-season tires....most of the time.

Hmmmmm, do I dare?<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&amp;url=%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%3FtireMake%3D Dunlop%26amp%3BtireModel%3DSP%2BSport%2BMaxx%26amp %3BvehicleSearch%3Dfalse%26amp%3Bpartnum%3D735YR0S PMAXXXL%26amp%3BfromCompare1%3Dyes%26amp%3Bspeed_r ating

Geordie, I have the same Dunlop tires you did, now 2nd season and they have been flawless. Perhaps your issues with the tires were really related to some other problem.

Yes, he mentions a suspension issue possibly effecting his tires....but that they were good for the first 5,000 miles. At this rate I'd be happy to get 5,000 out of a set of tires since the Yokos are coming off at 2,000.

I just went ahead and ordered the Dunlops in 275/35 ZR20. They're on sale now at Tire Rack and their Tire Rack scores are relatively high. They have got to be more solid than these wobbly feeling Yoko Advans. And I guess I'm in the mood to try something new. If they suck then I guess it's on to the Pirellis.

the car - they went very noisy and the Dunlops were fine at first. I moved them to the 06 where they were fine until 10k and then I could not live with them.
At first I blamed the Dunlops but the possibility remains that the damage was done by the 05 A8 and wear on the 06 A8 just brought the problem out.
the other tires on the 06 and the tires on the S8 have not given me the same issues.
The Dunlops and Pirellis both developed a strange wear pattern where the leading edge of the tread block is proud of the trailing edge of the block in front of it so every time the tire rotates the leading edge slams into the pavement. The noise is horrendous. Changing tire rotation direction did not solve the problem.
If anyone can figure this out - best of luck!

I would be really interested to know how they are on 21's as the ride has to suffer at some point.
Oh, and for those who will inevitably say "rim damage", other than my own stupidity scuffing the 20's in a car wash or kerb, I have never damaged one of these rims on the road and I live in Chicago and drive 30k per year. I admit that I have blistered a sidewall on a pothole on I-90.
Net, I don't like the idea of the 255/40-19 on an S8, it's just not right for the car, at least not for a summer or A/S solution, OK for winter

you typically want to maximize the tread on the road. Sometimes a size down tire actually has a wider tread of all things. And, it varies by brand and tire. Only when you see the tires physcally to compare (virtually impossible if you aren't in the business) or if you drill down to a manufacturer's spec. sheet (only available some of the times for some brands and some tires and on some country web sites) can you be sure. By the way, I would urge TireRack to get with it more on this. Sometimes they have some #'s, sometimes not. Obviously they are there physically in their warehouses.

At 275 Audi is right at the narrow limit on the 9 1/2 20" rims, so in terms of how exactly the tire sits on the rim and interacts under side loads, it is a bit of black art.

I must say I like the idea of more rubber between the road and my wheels. I believe the 275/35s should be aprox. 3.5 mm higher than the stock 265/35s.

My only real worry is that wider (275) tires won't be quite as good in the rain.

The real problem here is that there is a much greater selection of tires in the 275/35 R20 size than there is in the 265/35 R20 size. That may be why Audi says it's OK to go with the 275s.

One does wonder why 275s didn't come with the car. The load ratings on the available 265/35 R20 tires are all below 100 with the original equipment Pirellis/Yokohamas coming in at 99. While many of the 275/35 R20 tires, including the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx, can be had with a 102 load rating. Maybe one of the reasons my stock Yoko Advans have felt so wishy washy without totally cranking up the PSI is that they just might not be up to the task of carrying such a heavy car. But then I'm just a ruminating idiot and not a tire engineer so who knows.