markcincinnati

Due, in part, to the suggestions here, I have kept my A6 HP A/S 245 x 40 x 18" Continental tires at F=38 pounds and R=35 pounds.

Treadwear has been very good and the performance has been barely adequate, but the tires never made me feel they were unsafe.

Yet, I noticed a vibration -- so, what the heck, I'll have them rotated and balanced.

$44.

The service tech told me he thought I have up to 10,000 miles of tread life left, but I think I'll just replace them at 25,000 miles with the Pirelli PZero Nero M+S UHP A/S shoes.

Anyway, I got the "load force" or "road force" numbers on the tires.

Here is what they told me.

You must have a number below 30. Numbers above 25 are not good, numbers 20 and below are best.

All my tires are about 24.

I said, "wahttttt?"

They told me it was possible that these low profile H rated tires were never 20 or below even on day one, because the sidewalls at a 40 series profile were never strong enough in this configuation.

What does it mean I said "load or road" force?

Handling, not safety, is not as good when the numbers are higher.

My tires at 24 are "OK" despite good tread wear and only one need to balance them in 13 months.

They thought the PZeros would be much better suited to the 18" wheels in the size Audi chose to put on the wheels.

Why can't we simply specify UHP A/S tires from Pirelli when we order the damn car? Their ERP and MFG systems certainly have a bill of materials that would support this, no?

The addition of .75 oz of weight has clearly helped the ride of the car -- but these tires from a performance standpoint remain barely adequate and then only if inflated as noted above.

Anyone here using the Pzero Nero M+S in this size?

Care to comment?

Thanks.

carnut30

My puny little P Zero Nero M+S (245/45-17) corner very well, appear to have used 2/32 inch tread at 10,000 miles (rotating 5), and have real traction on ice. Ride bothered me at 33 front, 30 rear, the Audi recs. Changed to 32 front, 27 rear. Ride surprisingly better, and still corners like my SVX with same type tires.