Audi Tire Service

Audi S4, S5, RS4, RS5, and some Q7 S line configurations use staggered tire sizes — narrower tires on the front axle and wider tires on the rear. The RS5 B9, for example, runs 255-width tires on the front and 275-width on the rear. These staggered fitments are designed to work with the quattro torque distribution and Drive Select handling balance tuning.

Conventional tire rotation is not possible with staggered fitments because the front and rear tire widths are not interchangeable. The only rotation available is a side-to-side swap on the same axle, which requires demounting and remounting the tire on the opposite wheel. Owners told by a tire shop that staggered tires cannot be rotated at all are getting incorrect information — they can be rotated, just not in the traditional front-to-rear pattern.

Audi approves specific tire models for each vehicle configuration, noted on the tire sidewall as "AO" (Audi Original) or "RO1" for RS-specific fitments. Audi-approved tires have been developed in conjunction with the vehicle's suspension tuning. For PNW drivers, all-season tires in the correct size and AO specification give the best combination of dry handling and wet-weather confidence through Washington's extended rain season. For Highway 2 or Stevens Pass winter driving, a dedicated winter tire set on steel wheels is the most effective safety upgrade available.

We can advise on appropriate tire selections for your Audi and use case. We do not maintain a large in-store tire inventory but can order Audi-specification tires through our parts network with typical lead times of one to two business days.

New tires installed without a concurrent four-wheel alignment on an Audi quattro are at risk of uneven wear from the first mile if the suspension geometry is out of specification. Quattro models are sensitive to rear toe alignment in particular — rear toe off by 0.2 degrees produces measurable feathering on new rear tires within 5,000 miles. We recommend a four-wheel alignment with every new tire installation and after any suspension repair involving control arms or tie rod ends. For related Audi chassis services, see our Audi suspension repair page for control arm and alignment concerns, our Audi brake repair page for brake service that often accompanies tire replacement, and our Audi scheduled maintenance page for complete tire rotation and inspection intervals.

Yes, but tires without the AO or RO1 Audi approval were not developed with the RS suspension tuning in mind. Handling balance and ABS intervention thresholds can be affected. We can advise on high-quality non-OEM equivalents if budget is a factor.

Tread depth below 3/32 inches warrants replacement — 2/32 is the legal minimum but wet stopping distance increases significantly in that range. Feathering or inside-edge wear indicates alignment issues that should be corrected before new tires go on.

All-season tires in the OEM-specified size and AO approval rating give the best daily-use performance in our climate. For dedicated winter use or mountain driving, a winter tire set on steel wheels is the most effective safety upgrade. We can help select and program TPMS sensors for a second winter set.

We can source tires for your Audi and handle the full service including mounting, balancing, TPMS coding, and alignment. We do not maintain a large in-store tire inventory but can order Audi-specification tires through our parts network with typical lead times of one to two business days.