Would appreciate some input on tyres (need to buy some)

[Das Boot]

Hello , I'm a newbie Audi owner and need to change out the rear tyres on a 2019 A5 Cabriolet - I'm looking for some advice / guidance. 

The existing rears are : contisportcontact 265/30R20 (94Y) and are not in brilliant shape . The front wheels have a pair of new looking Toyo 265/30ZR20 (94Y) tyres on them . I'm planning on using the car for predominantly for summer use and it's an S Line Edition 40 model. 

I guess my  questions are :

1. Are the contisportcontact tyres worth the price (supposedly to protect the alloys from scuffing) ? 

2. What are peoples opinion and experience on the Toyo 265/30ZR20 tyres on an A5 ?

On previous cars I've avoided having mixed tyre types and have tended to gravitate towards Michelin, Goodyear , Pirelli  . I'm not too sure if I'm being over conservative here or what. So your thoughts are appreciated. 

Cheers

 

 

[Magnet]

Welcome Alan, and thanks for joining.

I fear this could become on a par with ‘what is the best brand of petrol to use’?

What I would start off by mentioning is - why on earth would you want 20 inch wheels - dictating extremely low profile tyres - on a cabriolet?  Those wheels, coupled with the S Line suspension is likely to result in a ride akin to that with solid tyres! Appreciating it may have come to you like that, but a need to renew tyres, might be the time to rethink the whole set up, and move to say 18 inch wheels with a much better ride giving profile. 
Tyres? I too have come from the school of using premium grade tyres and have always favoured Michelin, generally for their longevity - giving you more long term miles/£. The humble A3 has just been re-fitted with a new set of Michelin, but I find they now have a tread depth of c6.5 mm compared with the past norm of 8mm. Also, the tread grooves are wider, so all in all, less rubber for your extra £s! 
Continentals? Tried these in the past, and have not been impressed with their longevity. 
As a complete departure, I have just had a set of mid range Kumho tyres fitted to a large non Audi, after taking advice on the appropriate forum. These were available on a good offer at my local ATS, who I must say are now a super set of chaps, and their prices are far more competitive at last.

Just some food for thought. 
Kind regards,

Gareth.

[Das Boot]

Gareth,

Thanks for the welcome to club and your thoughts on wheel size. The 20" wheels are what where with the car. Also appreciate your thoughts on going to 18" and I will start looking for some fresh rims and tyres to do a changeout. Many thanks.

Alan

[Magnet]

Thanks for coming back on this Alan.

 My (jaundiced?) view on ‘fancy large wheels’ is that they may appeal to some onlookers who take any interest in looking at car wheels,  but such people can be rare to come across. They will also appeal to owners who want, or expect, others to fancy their large wheels, and if that is what turns anybody on, then that’s fine too.

The practical and downsides:- So that gearing etc. is not affected, the total diameter of wheel + tyre has to remain constant, so the larger the wheel dia. the lower the profile ( sidewall height) of the tyre has to be, and dictated profiles can be reduced to silly levels as with your current 30. 
The lower the tyre profile, the much harsher the ride quality the driver has to suffer, for the ‘benefit’ of being able to view the static car with the large fancy wheels - which can’t be seen by the driver when using the car! Does that significant disadvantage add up? I guess, yes, to some owners. 
Convertibles are for enjoying with the hood down, with a nice comfy ride, while you take your time to smell the flowers along the way. 
Just one person’s point of view, and very much open to debate. 
Kind regards,

Gareth.