[nick3753]

I'm looking for some clarity on purchasing a winter tire for my wife's S6 which is a lease due back in 6 months. The budget is tight due to Covid so I'm looking for used tires (I don't want to buy wheels since the car goes back in 6 months). Stock tire size is 255/35 20. I've found tires locally at a great price but the size is 255/40 20. The car is stock. Will this work? Negative effects on Quattro, etc? Any input is appreciated.
Thanks,
Nick

[VisualEcho]

Absolutely.

When you think Winter, think soft, and skinny.

Better than the 255/40 would be a 245/40, but increasing the sidewall just a bit itself will give it slightly more give, and consequently more grip.

[Burrcold]

It will be perfectly fine!

[RM7]

IMO, everyone in the winter thinks they'll be driving through 2 feet of snow and it never happens. Better to buy winter tires and if they happen to be a little skinnier, fine, if they don't, no problem either. Often winter tires are much more limited in availability and sizes, so you kind of take what you want. Make a spread-sheet and figure out what the different sizes are that will fit on your car. One of the usual issues we run into is that OEM wheel sizes already have the max width tire mounted to them, but you can maintain your ride height by choosing the correct aspect ratio. Going .25" in either direction isn't going to make any noticeable difference, so there are usually at least a few sizes that'll work.

[nick3753]

Thanks to all for the replies.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by nick3753

I'm looking for some clarity on purchasing a winter tire for my wife's S6 which is a lease due back in 6 months. The budget is tight due to Covid so I'm looking for used tires (I don't want to buy wheels since the car goes back in 6 months). Stock tire size is 255/35 20. I've found tires locally at a great price but the size is 255/40 20. The car is stock. Will this work? Negative effects on Quattro, etc? Any input is appreciated.
Thanks,
Nick

The only possible negative side-effect might be clearance in the front at full lock, since you're putting on a wheel/tire with a bit larger diameter. If you go Tire Rack you should be able to determine the actual difference, although that'll be for a new 255/40 tire, not a partially worn one like you'll be putting on.

And it'll make your speedometer and odometer understate speed and distance very slightly.

It's worthwhile to look at the date stamp on them. If they're old, and sat in someone's garage for 5 years, they may be getting a bit hard and won't have optimal grip - perhaps no better than the tires that you're currently running. I just chucked a set of Hakkapeliittas that had about 50% tread left but were almost 8 years old (which is why I got a killer deal on them 3 years ago). They were starting to get a little scary on cold, wet roads. And noisy.

Shouldn't affect Quattro at all, as long as they're all the same diameter.

Overall I'd expect no problems at all. I'd say your biggest gamble or concern would be the fact that they're used and you don't know how well they were maintained - that is, if they were kept properly inflated. Probably not a concern as long as there aren't any obvious sidewall bulges or signs of belt separation.