QballDS

Hi there,

So, unfortunately a few weeks ago, I blew a tire on my 3 month old A5 SB. My tires are 19in stock ContiSport Contact 5P - 255/35/R19. When I went to the dealership with the car, they thankfully said I didn't have to replace all 4 tires, given that I had very low mileage and barely used any tread. I was washing my car last night, and noticed the tire they put on is the same ContiSport Contact 5P, but it's a 255/35/ZR 19. As far as I can tell, they have the same speed rating (96Y) - both tires are marked with 96Y, but the one that shows the "Z" has that written in brackets and the other ones don't. No other differences on the tire itself.

I have no idea what, if anything this means for the tires? Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Audphile

From Tire Rack:
When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

QballDS

So it means nothing? Just manufactured at a different time, likely in a different factory?

plat27265

Your car should be fine. Audi service centers do not install parts that are not tied to your car's VIN#. Any parts they order must correspond to your car's VIN# and they follow what the system tells them to do. For further assurance, look for the 'AO' mark on the tire sidewall. 'AO' means it is the Audi factory spec tire. But, even if it does not bear the 'AO' mark, it is still OK as long as the size, speed/load rating, brand/model, and tread depth are the same.

Glisse

As the other guys have said, ZR (it is not just Z) means >240kph/>~149mph. The Y after the load rating of 96 (710kg/~1,565lbs) specifies a maximum speed of 300kph. I have seen Continental use both symbols on the SC 5P, including OEM spec tyres for Audi (AO) and Mercedes (MO), that are coming from the same European plant. No idea why they do that, perhaps for some export markets where the W and Y ratings are not known?

Your tyre will have production location info on the sidewall. It also will have the date of production, which is worth checking on a 5P as that has been in production for several years. New old stock is not a good thing for tyres, the compound hardens with age. Agree with Plat, you'll be fine with a dealer supplied tyre.