Top 10 Best Tires for Audi A4: Recommended & Reviews

Sports sedans might not be as popular as they were 10 years ago, but they are still the first choice for people that love cars. One of the most popular sporty sedans on the market is the Audi A4, known for its Quattro all-wheel-drive, outstanding interior quality, luxurious driving comfort, and excellent drivability. Then Audi A4 Quattro is an excellent car, no question about it, but to get the most out of it, you’ll still need a good set of Audi tires. The best tires for Audi A4 should be able to give the driver a responsive driving experience, high levels of comfort, and long-lasting performance.Sadly, there is no tire in this world that can give you outstanding performance in every area. There will be compromises everywhere. That’s why it is important to know what type of Audi tires are the best choice for your usage scenario. More precisely, you should choose Audi A4 tires according to your driving style, and according to the type of car. The Audi A4, for example, is offered in many different models, some faster, some slower. As expected, you can’t put the same tires on every A4 version, especially if you want a reliable and safe driving experience.To help you choose the best tires for Audi A4, we’ve created a list of the 10 best models. The list Audi A4 tires recommended will be divided into different categories so everyone can choose the optimal solution for their needs. For those that don’t know about how and why tires are categorized, after the list, we will explain everything there is to know about tires for Audi A4 in a detailed buying guide.

Update: Continental PureContact tires have been replaced with Continental PureContact LS

Top 10 List of The Best Tires for Audi A4 Recommended

Best Grand-Touring Tires for Audi A4

1. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack

The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is the newest Audi A4 tires recommended in the grand-touring category and one that immediately caught our attention. We think that this Audi tires is the best choice for drivers of the basic version of the Audi A4. There are two reasons for that. The first one is that the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is the most durable grand-touring tire on the market right now. Bridgestone offers an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty on this tire, a number that is unbeatable by any other competitor.

The second one is comfort. Thanks to the ComfortCruise Technology Package, this tire simply glides over smaller and bigger road imperfections with ease, improving on the already excellent ride quality of the German premium sedan. On top of that, the specifically-designed tread pattern reduces road noise and makes this Audi A4 tires almost inaudible at highway speeds.

Despite the focus on comfort, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack still offers excellent driving performance. Traction and grip are excellent in dry and wet conditions, and braking is very strong regardless of the weather. The Turanza also provides the driver with excellent high-speed stability and even works in light snow.

The only downside of the Turanza is the higher price, but that’s expected for a product that is so good in every measurable category.

2. Michelin Premier A/S

While the Turanza QuietTrack is certainly an excellent choice for drivers of the base Audi A4, the Michelin Premier A/S is a better option for those that own a more powerful version of the car. This tire offers by far the best handling in the grand-touring category. Responsiveness is top-notch, almost on the level of high-performance tires, and there is a lot of grip and traction.

The Premier A/S is one of the best tires in heavy rain, thanks to the Expanding Rain Grooves. Snow and ice traction are also excellent for an all-season tire. As with most Michelin tires, the Premier offers plush ride quality and noise-free drive on the highway, almost on the level of the QuietTrack.

That said, this Audi tires has two significant disadvantages – it is expensive and only comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty.

3. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring

The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring is a grand-touring tire that offers performance almost on the level of the premium competitors, albeit at a lower price point. Despite the budget pricing, this Audi tires offers a very responsive drive, thanks to the Stabiledge Performance technology that interlocks the tread elements. Grip and traction are also very good, while braking is top-notch. The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring also works very well in rainy conditions and has excellent resistance to hydroplaning. Snow traction is not as good, though.

Comfort is very good – the Audi A4 tires offers smooth ride quality and doesn’t produce a lot of noise on the highway. It also comes with 50,000 miles treadwear warranty for W-rated models (168 mph) and 70,000 miles for V-rated (149 mph) and H-rated (130 mph) models, which is good for the price, but not exceptional.

4. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus

Like most Pirelli tires, the Cinturato P7 All Season Plus offers an elevated driving experience that suits the Audi A4. Apart from the Premier A/S, this is the most responsive grand-touring tire on the market, something that will appeal to enthusiast drivers. Grip and traction are also outstanding, while braking is top-notch. The Cinturato P7 works very well on damp and wet pavement and has excellent resistance to hydroplaning. Light-snow traction isn’t its forte, though.

On the positive side, the Pirelli is also supremely quiet and comfortable, more so than we expected for a tire that is good in the corners. The 70,000-mile treadwear warranty only adds to the list of qualities of the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus.

5. General AltiMAX RT43

The General AltiMAX RT43 is already a very popular tire in the US thanks to its excellent price to performance ratio. Despite the lower price, this model comes with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty for T-Rated models and 65,000-miles for H and V-rated models, numbers that are closely matched to those of the premium tires.

On the road, the General AltiMAX RT43 doesn’t offer the handling precision of the best premium tires, but it is completely fine for drivers that just want a dependable tire. Grip and traction are good, while braking distances are short. This Audi A4 tires is also known for its excellent wet traction and braking. Oh, and it is also supremely quiet and comfortable.

6. Continental PureContact with EcoPlus Technology

The Continental PureContact is an excellent grand-touring tire for people that want to save on fuel. EcoPlus Technology is the best in the business when it comes to reducing the fuel consumption of your Audi A4. We are also fans of the plush ride quality and quiet rolling this tire offers, which is on par with the best in the category.

The PureContact is exceptional on the road as well. This Audi tires provides the driver with ample traction, grip, and braking, both on dry and wet pavement. Heavy rain traction is the best in the category – the PureContact resists hydroplaning like a champ. Snow traction isn’t the best, but still respectable.

The Continental PureContact comes with an excellent 70,000-mile treadwear warranty and Tuned Performance Indicators that show the driver when the tire isn’t good for snow or wet driving anymore.

Update: Continental PureContact tires have been replaced with Continental PureContact LS

7. Continental PureContact LS

Audi A4 owners that live in areas where it rains frequently might want to check the PureContact LS. Continental’s newest addition in their grand-touring lineup has a tread pattern with sweeping grooves combined with deep, circumferential channels for outstanding hydroplaning resistance.

On top of that, the +Silane additives help tremendously for driving over damp surfaces. Overall, the PureContact LS is the best wet tire in its category right now. Like most Continental tires, the LS doesn’t disappoint on dry surfaces – the handling is precise and tidy. Furthermore, snow traction is actually very good for an all-season tire.

Highway stability is another area where the PureContact LS excels, which might be important to A4 owners. Another area of interest is comfort, and again, the Continental tire performs very well there. The ComfortRide Technology makes this tire very plush over uneven surfaces and quiet at very high speeds.

Finally, the PureContact LS comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty. That is a great result, but still lower than the best, like the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack, for example.

---

Best High-Performance Tires for Audi A4

8. Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS

The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS is one of the few all-season ultra-high-performance tires that truly works in all conditions. On dry pavement, it provides the driver with outstanding responsiveness and steering feel, exceptionally high levels of grip and traction, and strong braking. Hydroplaning resistance is top-notch, especially for the category, and there is even traction in light snow.

The Potenza comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, the best in this category. This Audi tires is also very quiet at higher speeds, but we wish the ride quality could be a bit better.

9. Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus

The Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus might be even better than the Potenza RE980AS in dry conditions. Responsiveness is absolutely amazing here, and there is a lot of grip and traction. That said, wet performance is slightly worse when compared to the Bridgestone, especially in heavy rain. 

On the positive side, the P Zero is very quiet and comfortable for an ultra-high-performance tire, which is not usually the case in this category. It also comes with an outstanding 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, again amazing given the ultra-high-performance moniker.

10. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

If you want absolutely the best handling experience and you live in areas with warm weather, then the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is the best choice right now. This summer ultra-high-performance tire offers handling that’s a step above all-season tires, but also any other tire in this category. It is supremely responsive and offers incomparable levels of grip, traction, and braking.

With a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, your A4 or S4 will become a road carving machine. The Pilot Sport 4S is amazing in wet conditions, as well. As expected, it doesn’t work in very cold weather – this is a summer tire after all. The excellent 30,000-mile treadwear warranty (for a summer tire) rounds up what is a truly amazing enthusiast-grade tire.

---

Best Winter Tires for Audi A4

11. Michelin X-Ice Xi3

The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 offers dependable performance in wintry conditions, even on more powerful A4 models. Traction and grip in wintry conditions are top-notch, while braking is among the best in the category. This Audi tires is also known for its outstanding snow and ice traction, where it beats almost every competitor easily. On top of that, Michelin offers 40,000-mile treadwear warranty, unheard of a winter tire.

Best Tires for Audi A4: Buying Guide

1. Grand-Touring Tires are the Best Choice for the Lower-End Audi A4’s

Lower-end Audi A4 models do offer an engaging and sporty driving experience when compared to other mid-size sedans, but they aren’t sports cars by any stretch of the imagination. That’s why the best choice of tires for A4 models with entry-level engines are grand-touring tires. Grand-touring tires are also a great choice for owners of Audi A4 Quattro models with the same engines.

These Audi A4 tires are a slightly more performance-oriented version of standard touring tires that you would install on a Corolla or Civic. People love them because they offer a balanced driving experience. In other words, they are good in every area and don’t have significant disadvantages.

On the road, the best grand-touring tires will provide the driver with responsive handling, high levels of grip and traction, as well as very good braking. High-speed stability is also excellent here. Grand-touring tires work very well in rainy conditions, especially in heavy rain, thanks to their outstanding hydroplaning resistance. All-season grand-touring tires are also becoming increasingly good for light-snow driving.

Grand-touring tires are also very comfortable. Sure, the Audi A4 has excellent sound insulation, but installing grand-touring tires will make it even quieter at higher speeds. Grand-touring tires also offer smooth ride quality, especially when it comes to absorbing larger bumps on the road. These qualities make grand-touring tires the best choice for A4 owners that cover a lot of miles annually.

With all that said, grand-touring tires aren’t the best choice for very fast driving. Enthusiast drivers will notice a lack of responsiveness on a twisty road, lower traction levels, and, ultimately, less grip. Also, more powerful versions of the Audi A4, like, for example, the S4, might overwhelm these tires easily during hard acceleration.

2. High-Performance Tires are the Best Choice for Enthusiast Drivers

If you own a more powerful version of the Audi A4 or just want a more focused driving experience, then you’ll need high-performance tires. As their name suggests, the focus with these Audi tires is on performance rather than comfort. With a set of high-performance tires on the Audi A4, the car will immediately feel more responsive in the corners. In other words, the whole driving experience will be better.

High-performance tires also provide the driver with much better traction, which is important on powerful turbocharged versions of the A4 that have a lot of torque. The side-to-side grip on these Audi tires is also much better, which means that you can carry higher speeds in any corner without worrying about slippage. Finally, high-performance tires provide much shorter braking distances and better high-speed stability. High-performance tires also provide excellent performance on damp pavement, but usually have worse hydroplaning resistance than grand-touring tires, which makes them a worse option in heavy rain.

That said, while high-performance tires are an enticing proposition for enthusiast drivers, they have some glaring disadvantages that make them less desirable for the average Audi A4 driver. The main disadvantage of these tires is the price, which is higher than the grand-touring tires. Then, high-performance tires also have shorter treadwear warranties and don’t last nearly as long as grand-touring tires. Lastly, high-performance tires have worse ride quality, especially at lower speeds, and produce more noise on the highway.

While we’re at it, let’s mention ultra-high-performance tires. These models are an even more aggressive version of high-performance tires and provide an even better driving experience. We strongly recommend going for ultra-high-performance tires if you own an Audi S4. You won’t lose much on comfort and durability, yet you will gain in ultimate responsiveness, traction, and grip. Ultra-high-performance tires are also much better options for track days. Max-performance tires are an even more aggressive version than ultra-high-performance tires that are outstanding for use on track, but also less usable for everyday driving due to lack of wet grip and traction.

3. What About the Weather?

That is a very important question as well. The weather plays a big role when it comes to tires – much bigger than any other classification, in fact. The reason is very straightforward – the rubber compound in every tire is designed to operate in a strict temperature window.

For example, if the tread compound is designed to operate in warm weather, when the temperature falls below zero, the rubber becomes too hard and brittle. The result is a lack of traction, grip, and braking performance, especially in rainy conditions. Tires with warm tread compounds can also get damaged if driven in freezing weather. On the other end of the spectrum, a tread compound that is designed for very cold weather will become too soft in warm conditions. The result is an unresponsive tire that doesn’t want to turn into a corner. The warm weather can accelerate tread wear on these tires, as well.

With all that said, all-season tires are the most popular type of tires today. They are designed to operate in a larger temperature window, which means that they can work in warm and cold conditions. Thanks to that, they are the safest choice for drivers, especially those that live in areas with mild weather. However, as much as they are hassle-free, all-season tires aren’t the best option for every weather. They operate fine in warm conditions, but most of them don’t offer reliable winter traction, especially on heavy snow or ice. We like to call all-season tires “three-seasons” tires because they work excellently in the spring, summer, and fall. Today, almost every tire type is offered with an all-season tread compound, including grand-touring, high-performance, and ultra-high-performance tires.

All-weather tires are a variation of all-season tires with better winter traction. These tires have a tread compound that’s more geared towards winter driving, but one that can still offer reliable summer traction. In the winter, these tires work better on dry, wet, snowy, and icy surfaces, which makes them a much better choice for drivers in the North and Canada. That said, while they are completely safe in the summer, all-weather tires don’t offer the responsiveness of all-season tires. All-weather tires aren’t readily available in most markets, and you won’t find performance tires with all-weather tread compound.

Even though all-weather tires are a fine option for places with colder winters, they aren’t nearly as good as proper winter tires. These tires are only designed to work in very cold conditions. Thanks to that, they will give you the safest driving experience in the winter, especially in heavy rain, heavy snow, and ice. If you live in areas with harsh wintry conditions, the chances are that you need winter tires.

Summer tires, on the other hand, provide the best performance in very warm conditions. Compared to any type of tire, summer tires will give you by far the most responsive drive in warm weather, the best traction, grip, and braking. That’s why serious enthusiast drivers choose summer compounds for their sports cars. Today, you can mostly find summer compound in high-performance, ultra-high-performance, and max-performance tires, but some grand-touring models are also available.

To round the weather section, we strongly recommend choosing a set of tires according to the weather in your area. For example, if you live in Florida, summer tires will be an excellent option throughout the year. On the other hand, if you live in Canada, you might want to check all-weather and winter tires. Those in-between will be well-served by all-season tires.

Final Words

As you can see from the list of the 10 best tires for Audi A4, we mostly included premium tires. The first reason is that the Audi A4 is a premium vehicle by itself. The second and more important one is that very cheap tires from unknown sources don’t offer a safe and reliable driving experience. Some cheap tires that we’ve tried in the past are outright dangerous in rainy conditions, even at legal speeds. They also have a much shorter treadlife and might be more expensive in the long run. For a completely safe driving experience throughout the year, we always recommend going for Audi tires from reputable manufacturers that you fully know and trust.