Yokohama AVS Db (Decibel) 225/50ZR16 tires fitted to MAK Italian 7-spoke Sonic wheels. 

I have not enjoyed driving my '98 A4 Avant Tip-Q this past year. The Pirelli P7000 SS (225/45ZR17s) tires stretched onto nice German 17 x 8.5-in.alloy rims were so noisy that they interfered with normal conversation and enjoyment of the Audi-Bose music system -- especially at various harmonic road speeds (24, 44, 64 MPH+). I constantly apologized for tire noise to passengers and said it was not indicative of the caliber of this car. 

California Department of Roads/ transportation (CALTRANS) afforded me an opportunity to fit new wheels and tires by trashing 3 of 4 wheels and tires driving across one of their missing-asphalt booby traps. 

I selected 16 x 7.5-in. MAK Sonic wheels. A cleanly-sculpted, Italian 7-spoke design fitted with Yokohama's new AVS DB-Decibel tires. This tire is touted by Yokohama as being a "quieter" performance tire. 

The DBs were fitted to a friend's Dakota show truck driven cross country last November from Oklahoma to the Las Vegas automotive SEMA show. My friend gave high marks for (low) noise, comfort, handling and ability to traverse snow encountered snow in northern Arizona. In fact he was passing other vehicles in the snow. I selected the 225/50ZR16 size for maximum footprint and compromise between the stock 55 (aspect ratio) and the (somewhat vulnerable) 45 profile that didn't offer much "bump" protection. The wear rating I believe is 320. These tires feature a stable, continuous center tread block with angled drainage patterns that run to each of two deep, wide circumferential drainage channels. The outer tread block design is specially-angled with two alternating sizes of drainage channel/ sipes that also reduce noise. 

I presently have just over two-thousand miles on these tires. Aaaah! The sweet sound of silence. I actually heard the "Thwacking" of a strip of masking tape accidentally stuck to the left front tire hitting the fender well. The Audi-Bose sound system has never sounded better. The DBs tracked well in heavy rain and seem tenacious during a wet cloverleaf on-ramp merge with a new BMW 3-series shrinking in my rear-view mirror. I am anticipating more smiles-per-mile with these Yoko's. The DBs are not offered in popular, 225/45R17s. 335/45R17s ARE offered. However, I felt they wouldn't clear the rear suspension arm on my A4. Contact me if you want the mathematic formula for comparing final outside tire diameters with the various sized tires.

  By: Bargamon     Email: N/A    (May-03)

Make & model of car the product was used on: 2001 E-430

Size: 235-45-17

Yokos were great tire for first 12k miles.  All new tires are always great, and these were of course better then the Goodyear f1's replaced.  Great looking and handled as if car rode on rails.  Then about 12k they got noisy. It got real bad at by 17k they were shot. I don't drive overly aggressive, but I am tired spending big bucks on rubber every 17k. Car has 35k on it and we are on our 3rd set. I ordered a set of potenza Re 950's with an H rating, warranty, and 400 compound rating. They'll be great, but I sold the car to get the Allroad. 

Ultra high performance tires are going to wear out but give the performance. The E was not modified in any way. I would have given up some performance for a quieter tire.