By the Rims & Tires Team
Compiled & reviewed by our West Georgia tire & wheel research team · Updated 2026-08-01
Audi’s lineup runs from a 225/45R17 economy size on the entry A3 to a 295/35R23 on the RS Q8, and the right tire depends on which Audi you drive and which wheel package it left the factory with. Every US-market Audi runs quattro or an electric AWD system, so tire choice affects handling balance more than it would on a front-drive commuter. This guide covers sizing across the crossovers, sedans, performance S and RS cars, and EVs it replaces, plus Audi’s AO approval marking and what staggered fitment costs you.
How fitment changes across the Audi lineup
The compact end of the range (the A3, TT, and Q3) runs on modest sizes: 225/45R17 or 225/40R18 on the A3, 235/55R18 on the base Q3, as small as 205/55R16 on the earliest TT. These are square fitments, the same size on all four corners, so the full set rotates and tread life stretches further.
Move up to the mid-size sedans and SUVs, A5, A6, Q7, Q8, and sizes climb into the 245 to 285 range on 19- to 22-inch wheels, still mostly square. The A6 alone spans 245/45R19 on the base car to 255/35R21 on the S6, all rotatable.
Performance and RS models change the picture. The RS3 runs a staggered 265/30R19 front and 245/35R19 rear to match its front-biased torque delivery. The RS7 sits on a 275/35R21 that some packages stagger; check your door jamb before assuming either way. Staggered tires can't swap front to back, so budget for the fronts and rears wearing on separate schedules.
The heaviest SUVs, Q7, Q8, and the electric e-tron and Q8 e-tron, carry the highest load-index requirements in the lineup, sometimes on 285-series tires at 21 and 22 inches. On a vehicle pushing 5,000 to 6,000 pounds, load index isn't a spec to shrug off.
Audi's AO approval marking, and what it actually means
Audi's factory tire approval marking is AO, for Audi Original. It shows up on the sidewall of tires Audi's engineers tested specifically on Audi platforms, matched to that model's suspension tuning, weight, and handling targets. A handful of Audi Sport fitments carry a related RO1 marking instead. The Continental SportContact 6 on the SQ5, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 on the RS3, and several Pirelli, Michelin, and Continental options on the e-tron GT all show up in AO trim.
You don't have to buy AO-marked tires. Any tire matching your size, load index, and speed rating fits and functions. But AO tires are validated to your specific car's chassis — and on a performance Audi, that shows up in how the car actually behaves at the limit, not just on the spec sheet.
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Staggered vs. square: what changes for rotation
About half the Audi lineup runs a square setup: the A3, A5, A6, S4, TT, and the full Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 family all use the same tire size on all four corners. That means full front-to-rear rotation, the single easiest way to add life to a set of tires.
The other half is staggered, narrower up front and wider in back, on cars like the RS3, the Q4 e-tron, and the e-tron GT. Staggered tires can't rotate front to rear; you can only swap left to right on the same axle. Expect the rear pair to wear faster, especially on anything with real horsepower behind it, and plan to replace front and rear pairs on their own schedules rather than as one set of four.
Either way, every Audi in this lineup runs quattro or electric AWD. Match all four tires: same brand, same model, same size, even when you're only replacing two. A mismatched tread depth stresses the drivetrain more than it would on a front-drive car.
What's different for the electric Audis
Audi's EVs, the e-tron, Q4 e-tron, e-tron GT, and Q8 e-tron, add two things the gas lineup doesn't deal with as heavily: weight and rolling resistance. A Q8 e-tron can weigh close to 6,000 pounds with the battery pack, and every pound of rolling resistance you add at that weight costs real range.
Audi ships these on low-rolling-resistance tires from Continental, Michelin, and Pirelli, several with acoustic foam to quiet the cabin now that there's no engine noise to mask road roar. The e-tron GT goes further. It shares its platform with the Porsche Taycan, and the RS version's staggered 265/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear is the same extreme-width setup as the Taycan Turbo S, with tire prices to match.
Load rating still comes first. A worn or under-rated tire on a heavy EV is a bigger risk than the range hit from picking a slightly less efficient one. If you're weighing an efficiency tire against a grippier option, don't drop below the load index your door sticker calls for to get there.
What to check before you buy
Confirm three things before ordering: the size, front and rear if staggered; the load index, never lower than what's stamped on your door jamb; and whether your car qualifies for AO or RO1 fitment if staying factory-spec matters to you.
Wheel packages move a lot in this lineup. Two Q7s with the same trim badge can leave the factory on different tire sizes depending on the options box someone checked, and the same goes for the A6, Q8, and S4. Your door-jamb sticker is the actual source of truth for your car, not this guide, not a forum thread, and not the tire currently mounted. If it's been a few years since anyone checked it, go look before you order anything.
Audi models this guide replaces — OEM sizes by trim
| Model | Generation / years | Common OEM sizes | What it changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q7 | 4M, 2017–present | 255/55R19 (Premium), 285/45R20 (Premium Plus), 285/40R21 (Prestige/Vorsprung) | Heaviest common Audi SUV at up to ~5,000 lb; load rating matters more than wheel size |
| A8 | D5, 2018–present (D4, 2011–2017, similar range) | 255/45R19 (19"), 265/40R20 (20" Sport), 265/35R21 or 275/35R21 (21") | Flagship sedan with air suspension and quattro; A8 L TFSI e wants low rolling resistance |
| e-tron / e-tron Sportback | Pre-2023 (later rebadged Q8 e-tron) | 255/55R19 (19"), 255/50R20 (20"), 265/45R21 (21") | Full-size electric SUV; low rolling resistance protects range, high load index for weight |
| Q4 e-tron / Q4 Sportback e-tron | Current | Staggered 235/55R19 front / 255/50R19 rear (19"); larger 20–21" packages available | Compact MEB-platform EV, staggered from the base size up — no confirmed 18" option |
| Q3 | 2019–present | 235/55R18 (base 18"), 235/50R19 (Premium Plus/Prestige/S line), 255/40R20 (largest package) | Entry-level Audi crossover on the shared MQB platform |
| S5 (Coupe/Sportback) | Current | 245/40R18 (base 18"), 255/35R19 (19" common upgrade), 265/30R20 (20" package) | 3.0L turbo V6 performance coupe; ships on Pirelli P Zero in most markets |
| SQ5 | B9, 2018–2020; B9.5, 2021–2025 | 255/45R20 (20"), 255/40R21 (21", optional on both generations) | Square, non-staggered on both generations — rotates normally despite the performance tune |
| RS3 | 8Y, 2022–present | Staggered 265/30R19 front / 245/35R19 rear | RS Torque Splitter sends up to 100% of rear torque to one wheel; rears wear faster, especially in Drift mode |
| A3 / S3 | 8Y | A3: 225/45R17 or 225/40R18. S3: 225/40R18 standard or 235/35R19 (sport package) | Square setup on both; full rotation supported across the entry sedan/hatch and its performance sibling |
| A5 (Coupe/Sportback/Cabriolet) | Through 2024 | 245/40R18 | Square, non-staggered; spans the 201-hp 40 TFSI to the 261-hp 45 TFSI mild-hybrid |
| e-tron GT / RS e-tron GT | Current | Staggered 245/45R20 front / 285/40R20 rear (standard 20"); RS: staggered 265/35R21 front / 305/30R21 rear (21" performance) | Shares the Porsche Taycan platform; the RS rear size matches the Taycan Turbo S, with pricing to match |
| A6 / S6 | Current | A6: 245/45R19 (19" base) or 255/40R20 (20" optional). S6: 255/35R21 | All square, all four corners — full rotation across every trim including the S6 |
| Q8 / SQ8 / RS Q8 | Current | Q8 45: 275/50R20 or 285/45R21. Q8 55: 285/45R21 or 285/40R22. SQ8: 285/45R21 or 285/40R22. RS Q8: 295/40R22 or 295/35R23 | Square across every trim including RS Q8; the 295/35R23 has very limited aftermarket availability |
| TT / TTS | Mk1, 1998–2006; Mk2, 2006–2014; Mk3, 2014–2023 (discontinued) | Mk1: 205/55R16, 225/45R17, or 225/40R18. Mk2: 225/50R17 or 245/45R17, up to 255/35R19. Mk3: 245/40R18 (TT), 245/35R19 (TTS) | Square on every generation; discontinued after 2023 but still common on the road |
| S4 | B8/B8.5, 2009–2016; B9/B9.5, 2017–present | 245/40R18 standard on both generations; 255/35R19 on 19" packages including Black Optic | Square on every generation — one of the few performance sedans built for full 4-wheel rotation |
| RS7 | C8, 2020–present | 275/35R21 (standard 21"); 285/30R22 (optional 22") | 591-hp twin-turbo V8; confirm front/rear stagger on your door jamb, aftermarket options are limited at this size |
| Q8 e-tron | 2024–present (formerly e-tron) | 255/50R20 (Premium/Premium Plus 20"), 255/55R19 (Sportback option), 265/45R21 (Prestige/21" option) | Flagship electric SUV at 5,700–6,100 lb depending on battery; specifies AO or AO1 tire marking |
Frequently asked
What tire size does my Audi need?
It depends entirely on the model and the wheel package it came with. Audi's lineup runs from a 205/55R16 on an early TT to a 295/35R23 on the RS Q8, sometimes with more than one size selling under the same trim name. Check the sticker inside the driver's door jamb; it lists the exact size Audi built your car to run.
What does the AO marking mean on Audi tires?
AO stands for Audi Original. It marks tires Audi's engineers tested and validated on Audi platforms for that specific model's suspension and handling targets. A few Audi Sport models use a related RO1 marking instead. You're not required to buy AO tires. Any tire matching your size, load index, and speed rating works, but AO options are built around your car's actual tuning.
Do I need to replace all four tires on my quattro Audi at once?
Not always, but keep them close. Quattro and Audi's electric AWD systems both work best with matched tread depth on all four corners, so replace in pairs at minimum and go to four once the depths drift apart. On staggered performance models the fronts and rears are already different sizes, so they naturally get replaced on separate schedules. Just keep left and right matched on each axle.
Can I run all-season tires year-round on an S or RS Audi?
For most drivers here, yes: a max-performance all-season like the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 gives up some peak grip but handles Georgia's mild winters fine. If your S or RS Audi came on true summer tires, those go hard and lose grip once temperatures drop toward freezing, so plan on a second set for winter or accept limited use during cold snaps.
Why can't I rotate the tires on my staggered Audi?
Staggered means the front and rear tires are different widths: a narrower front for steering feel, a wider rear for grip and stability. A rear tire won't seat correctly on a front wheel and vice versa, so cross-rotation isn't possible. You can still swap tires left to right on the same axle, and the rear pair on most staggered Audis wears out first.
Where can I get tires installed for my Audi in West Georgia?
We'll match you with a local shop in the Carrollton and West Georgia area that stocks or can source your Audi's exact size, staggered or square, and knows what a quattro system needs from a matched set. Getting matched is free, and it beats guessing at a big-box store that's never mounted an AO-marked tire.
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Last updated 2026-08-01. General guidance only — confirm specifics with a local shop for your exact vehicle.