Best tires for Audi A6
As much as driving your Audi A6 on the highway is enjoyable, poor quality tires are a guaranteed killjoy, and that is not what anyone wants. There are always horror stories of exploding tire sidewalls after clocking a few thousand miles or so.
Of course, no one likes to keep adjusting the tires now and then, and frequent replacements will quickly shrink your purse.
The ideal tires for Audi A6 should, at a minimum, have a good grip, good handling, and good feedback. They should be suited for the road and the weather you are riding in for the best results.
Best tires for Audi A6 Reviews
Best All-Season Tire for Audi A6: BFGoodrich Advantage Control
Just as the name suggests, Advantage Control gives the driver a confident control through different seasons. It is comfortable on light snow. The tire has an extended tread life that saves you bucks you would typically spend on replacements. To enhance tread durability and ensure more consistent wear, the footprint is computer-optimized.
The tires have a non-directional design to ensure it lasts a long time. BFGoodrich uses a stabilizing structure they refer to as g-Wedge on the sidewalls to maintain tire integrity in various riding environments such as the cornering loads.
The responsive steering feedback and effective handling are all thanks to the next-generation sidewall stabilizers. There are numerous curved sipes to wick water away using the technology they refer to as Aqua-Flume technology. This innovative feature reduces road noise and enhances braking ability on wet roads.
On the other hand, wet traction from the active sipe technology and silica-infused technology work together to enhance the grip on wet surfaces. The Aqua-Flume™ Technology gets rid of water from underneath the contact surface when riding.
Moreover, the advanced, silica-rich tread has a delicately engineered pattern to reduce noise and enhance riding comfort. The perfect blend of silica and rubber dramatically improves the adhesion of the tire for the wet weather, and the improved controllability enhances the overall riding pleasure. The tires have a decent steering response in corners, and the braking is well-behaved. That means you can shove your foot on the brake pedal and not worry about aimless skidding in the light rain.
And even though the rolling resistance is not so bad, there is still room for improvement.
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Best All-Weather Tire: Firestone WeatherGrip
Firestone WeatherGrip is the kind of tire you can use all year long, but they are perfect in places where winters are not too harsh. They typically feature heavy tread depth and sipes for performance in wet and snowy weather. You will notice the tires have a rounded footprint, which, together with the open shoulder slots and full-depth grooves, remove hydroplaning by piercing standing water.
Many sites refer to Firestone WeatherGrip as all-season tires, but their design is all-weather. Regardless, this shows the tires are pretty versatile, and that's a good thing for motorists.
Unlike the all-season tires you may come across, these Firestone tires are 3 Peak Mountain Certified (3PMSF) for effective snow traction. They provide additional traction for snowy conditions, and have a sustainable grip in light and moderate rain. But more importantly, the tires live up to their reputation on light and medium snow.
The tires have a high-density zig-zag pattern for better snow handling and durability. Obviously, they are not perfect for the violent snow, but they will get you through the tough chilly days. Their internal construction features two steel belts-reinforced single-ply polyester casting. As a result, the braking and acceleration performance is quite good.
For additional stability and cornering performance, the tires have shoulder ribs and shoulder blocks and wear evenly to extend the life and minimize costs. However, WeatherGrip wears faster than a typical all-season tire in hot and dry areas.
The tires have a comfortable and light ride quality if you can ignore the road noise after attaining certain speeds. The noise may be from the multi-pattern design that enhances the tires' versatility.
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Best All-Terrain Tire: Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail
If you are looking for a rugged capability for the off trails, Falken Wildpeak AT Trail has it. The tires boast a perfect blend of dependable, all-weather performance and rugged off-road traction that your Audi A6 crossover needs. But in more ways than one, the tires carry the design of standard all-season units but on steroids. They are the best representation of Japanese engineering excellence.
The tire design seeks to maintain versatility and efficiency and comes with a tread life warranty of 65,000 miles, which is definitely among the best.
The A/T TRAIL sidewall construction is 2-ply polyester to protect the sidewall from the rough associated with off-road terrains. Such durable construction comes in handy with shrinking budgets and rising fuel prices. WildPeak All-Terrain is just one of the few in the industry attempting to reinvent A/Ts with aggressive, more prominent, and deeper tread patterns for efficiency. This not only improves its overall appearance but off-road performance as well.
Of course, it is not the most aggressive-looking tire, but it makes up for it with performance. The only minor noticeable issue is the mud performance which is a little unimpressive.
The tires have a higher center of gravity and CUV unibody construction for outstanding handling in different road environments. Using a silica-enriched tread material ensures a more extended on-road performance and durability.
The crossover tire has snow capabilities and comes with 3PMSF branding to indicate winter excellence. Additional 3D Canyon sipe technology improves traction in all weather conditions, especially in the snow.Pros
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Best Summer Tire: Pirelli Cinturato P7 Run Flat
Certainly, these run-flats are not your regular pneumatic tires. They are designed for high performance on the road during summer and in the rain. These have deep grooves to channel the water out of the footprint when you drive into puddles of water. An optimized sipping detail ensures there are several road-biting edges no matter the weather condition.
In addition, the unique high silica compound promotes flexibility even in chilly conditions. The tread compound used has low rolling resistance for the perfect grip in dry and wet surfaces. And together with the polymers, the compound promotes better gas mileage and even wear on tires.
Besides, the design of the tires prolongs tread life and usability. The tires have a reinforced internal structure to prevent deformation, improve uniformity and enhance speed durability. They perform well in warmer and colder temperatures. More importantly, you don't have to keep changing them. The entire construction is resistant to hydroplaning, and this improves driving security.
The tire can provide up to 50 miles after getting a puncture, and you don’t have to stop in areas you aren't comfortable with. This gives you peace of mind. And unlike most of its peers, the tires are low noise and smooth on the road for a pleasurable drive.
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Run Flat boasts eco-compatibility through materials that minimize the environment's impact and reduce carbon emissions. The tire is also designed to be fuel-efficient, thanks to the unique green performance technology.
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Best Winter Tire: Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 RFT
Blizzak LM-25 is designed for excellent performance on snow and ice. Among its features is high-density 3D sipes and pattern, which, together with UNI-T technology, ensure excellent performance in dry and wet conditions.
The winter run flat tires continue providing top performance and controllability even after losing air pressure in the cold weather.
The run flat tire capability makes it possible to drive up to 50 miles after damage or a puncture that causes the tire to lose air. This allows you to drive to a safer location where you can change or fix the tire. You don't need the space in your vehicle for a change tire with run flat tires.
But apart from the excellent winter traction, Blizzak LM-25 has more robust construction for longer tread life and controllability. A durable compound blend and detailed directional tread pattern enhance the tires' performance on a winter road. The unique compound blend keeps the rubber flexible even in chilly conditions.
Tires must have excellent controllability and maneuverability if you are after driving security. The Uni-T Technology combines various techniques and methods to enhance controllability, improving the steering response and accuracy.
LM-25 has optimal groove placement for safety. This feature prevents hydroplaning road hazards, where water and slush on the road surface reduce the contact with the tires. Hydroplaning causes the vehicle to skid and loses control.
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Best tires for Audi A6 Buying Guide
Occasionally, automakers work with tire producers for mutual benefits. The tires created from this relationship are optimized for performance. But in the majority of the cases, the association is meant to promote the brand and leverage on the economies of large scale by getting the tires on wholesale prices. Most people replace the tires with similar ones to the OEM supplier.
AO Tyres
You probably have come across the initials AO on the sidewall of the tires, and they often mean "for Audi Only." OA is usually a stronger statement than "Audi recommended tires" and influences new car owners. New users often assume the endorsed tires are good enough to win the endorsement of the automaker, but that is all you can do. Assume.
You see, various large tire manufacturers have worked with Audi, and many more of them deserve the endorsement. This fact should not limit your choice of tires in any way.
All-Season Tires
Most of the tires you purchase your vehicle in are all-season and designed to provide acceptable all-year performance. The tires have some capability in snow, come with improved wet weather grip, quiet running, and have respectable handling.
Indeed, most car owners leave these tires on during the winter months based on their decent grip on snow and ice. But their performance in snow is somewhat marginal, and they cannot match the designated winter tires.
All-season tires are either high-performance or grand touring. The high-performance all-season tires are for more aggressive driving and sportier vehicles. Their grip on the road is more confident, but this is usually at the expense of winter traction.
On the other hand, grand touring all-season tires have better handling for an enjoyable ride. However, these tires have a low profile appearance.
Winter Tires
Winter tires are designed for maximum grip on snow and ice surfaces. The traction they provide in winter conditions is better than any other type of tire. But why should you have a set of winter tires?
Purchasing winter tires, especially in the Northern states, provide a significant snow and ice traction improvement for a confident and safer ride during winter. They are your best bet in snowy and icy conditions.
But once the weather conditions change from cold to warm, snow tires cannot handle it as well as the all-season tires and will tend to wear quickly and experience reduced handling.
Summer Tires
If you are after dry and wet weather traction, then summer tires fit the description. They perform well in moderate and warm weather, and they have a characteristic sharp steering response. The tires' cornering traction is also much better than the other types. But there is a caveat.
You can only get optimal performance from summer tires when the temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezing temps will make the tires feel inconsistent, and it is not a surprise to slide and crash. Summer tires have various varieties that may include ultra-high performance, max performance, and extreme performance.
Run-Flat Tires
Run-flat tires are capable of riding for short distances with damage or puncture at low speeds. You can change the run flats with other conventional types of tires but remember to carry a spare. This allows you to reach home or other convenient places to change the tire.
Size of the Tire
Most vehicle owners change the tires with similar and equivalent size tires, which is usually a great idea. Your Audi A6 was designed to work best in the tires they come in, and it makes sense to replace them with similar tires.
But apart from the tire size, speed is an essential factor to consider. This is the speed the tire can travel before it encounters issues. Check the sidewall for this info before going to the store to purchase a new set.
Tread-wear Info
Most people will overlook the tread-wear info, but checking it out when replacing the tires is vital. This rating will tell how long the tire is going to last. The higher the number, the better.
However, the measures used to determine tread-wear are not always accurate, and there is a significant amount of variability. Check the tread life warranty as well for clues as to the durability of the tires.
Replacing or Upgrading the Tires
Replacing the tires with something equivalent is usually the easiest and most convenient route. Use this method if you are unsure of the tires your vehicle needs to upgrade to.
On the other hand, you can upgrade the tires for better performance, but that is not usually as simple. You can pick higher performance varieties with the same size or broader all-season units. But this process is not usually easy. Typically, the tires should fit without rubbing against the body parts as it is a safety hazard.
If you are unsure of the tires to upgrade to, don't shoot in the dark. Ask a tire expert. Keep in mind that the outside diameter should remain constant, or the gearing or other functionality will be affected.