patg1964

Hi Everyone

I am new to the forum; looking to purchase a new 6 speed manual A5 Premium Plus (coming from a BMW 3 series). I love the looks / interior of the car as well as it drives. It comes with the standard 18" wheels.

The one thing I am worried about are the tires. I live in the Northeast (my BMW was RWD, never again) where potholes are multiplying worse than rabbits. Back in 2000 I had a BMW with low profile tires; I went through 2 tires a year minimum. I don't remember the size of those tires and I think that tires have gotten better since than.

So for the folks living in pothole country, do you guys have lots of problems with the tires? Did you get the tire / wheel insurance? Has anyone downgraded permanently to 17" wheels, not just for the winter? I like the looks of the 18" wheels but am not looking forward to replacing lots of tires. I am also not planning on going through the hassle of putting winter tires on the care. I feel I would be fine with AWD and All-Season tires for the amount of snow we get in Connecticut.

BTW, my BMW had 225/45-R17 tires, so the ration wasn't that different than the 18" wheels on the Audi. They were run-flats (which I REALLY hated) but I never had a problem with those tires. Other than getting nail punctures and having to purchase new tires, but no blow-outs.

Thanks!

DaveandKarla

well my gf drives the new A5 Cabrio and believe me, she hasn't ever tried to avoid a pothole.. and i haven't had a problem yet.. (knock on wood). I would say if you are driving it and you have the sense to watch out for potholes, I don't think it would be a problem..

lemonpeal

I had a '11 A5 cab for three years with 18" wheels and A/S tires in NYC metro area. Never had to replace a tire or wheel. And I hit some nasty potholes.

MiS4terTed

Run flats have a reinforced wall that avoids collapsing when the air escapes and they are also made from a harder rubber compound. This makes the tire much less forgiving to potholes, bumps, err...everything. I've been in BMW's for 3 straight cars now and run flats absolutely suck in snow. I would think the 17" all seasons on the A5 are ok. Even though the 18's are sexy and they are not run flats they are lower profile and will be more prone to damage from potholes IMHO.

Jamblastx

I am in Long Island and I totally understand what you are talking about as I went through a full set of tires a while back with a 2006 GTI with the optional 18 inch low profile wheel/tires. In 2010 I traded it in for an A5 with the all seasons and never had an issue. Last year I traded it that in for an S5 and bought all seasons to replace the standard summer only tires and even with that, a pretty nasty pothole got me earlier this year.

As a side note, I really wish that manufacturers would stop this trend of summer only tires on many cars. At the very least offer us the 'option' of getting all seasons. I still have my unused summer only tires for my S5 sitting in my basement. End rant