2010 Audi Q5 tire sizes & fitment
Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 2010 Audi Q5, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.
Approved fitments
| Tire size | Rim size | PCD (bolt pattern) | Offset | Load index | Speed rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 255/45R20 OEM | R20 | 5x112 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2010 Audi Q5 wheel bolt pattern & specs
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 5x112 |
|---|---|
| Wheel thread / lug size | M14x1.5 |
| Center bore | 66.5 mm |
| Source | bolt-pattern.com |
Best by use case
Four tires, four jobs
See the best tires for the Audi Q5, ranked by category →
Tire recalls & safety complaints for the Audi Q5 →
Compatible alternative sizes for 255/45R20
Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.
| Alternative size | %Δ OD | Category | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
255/50R19 |
0.01% | alternative | Safe |
255/40R21 |
-0.01% | plus 1 | Safe |
255/35R22 |
-0.03% | plus 2 | Safe |
255/55R18 |
0.03% | alternative | Safe |
225/40R22 |
0.18% | plus 2 | Safe |
For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 255/45R20 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.
Check a different size against this vehicle
Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 255/45R20 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.
Common upgrade paths
- Plus-1: 255/40R21; one rim size up, -0.01% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
- Plus-2: 255/35R22; two rim sizes up, -0.03% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.
Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.
How to choose tires for the 2010 audi Q5 3.2-quattro-s-line
The 2010 Audi Q5 3.2-Quattro-S-Line ships from the factory on 255/45R20 tires mounted on R20 wheels. Only one approved fitment is documented for this model year, so replacement options should match the original size exactly unless a plus-size upgrade is being considered. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.
Tire choice on the Audi Q5 comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.
For 2010 Audi Q5 3.2-Quattro-S-Line owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.
Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 2010 Audi Q5 3.2-Quattro-S-Line, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.
NHTSA-reported issues for 2010 audi Q5
Top issue category: Tires (General)
Most reported: Tires (General) (10) · Tread / Belt (4) · Sidewall (2) · Bead (2) · Spare Tire (2)
Reported across: 2011 – 2024 (8 years)
What owners described
Cracking or dry rot appears in 20% of these reports; about 2.2× as often as across all tire complaints. Percentages are shares of the 10 reports covering every model year of the Audi Q5 that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.
| Reported problem | This subject | All tire complaints | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cracking or dry rot | 20% | 9% | 2.2× |
| Loss of control, rollover or collision | 20% | 8% | 2.4× |
| Tread or belt separation | 10% | 13% | 0.7× |
| Blowout or sudden deflation | 10% | 20% | 0.5× |
| Sidewall failure | 10% | 15% | 0.7× |
| Pressure-monitoring (TPMS) fault | 10% | 2% | 4.2× |
In owners' own words
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Audi Q5. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.
A vehicle service center noticed that the rubber on the surface of the tire tread appeared to be failing /deteriorating on all four tires in a way that was not normal. Cracks at least.25 inches deep are forming and some small chunks are separating. Given that the same condition exists on all four tires, this appears to be a manufacturing defect. The dealership examined the tires and agreed that the condition was not normal but not currently part of the Continental tire recall. We highly recommend that this line of tires be included in the recall to protect the safety of drivers and passengers.
We got a screw in our tire while driving on the highway and received a low tire pressure indicator. We kept driving, not knowing it was a screw, until we could find a rest stop. Before we were able to reach a safe place to stop, the entire tread of the tire came off while we were driving, immediately disabling the car.
235/55 R 19-101H, manufacture defect in the tread, there are remnants components of the fabric belt that are imbedded in the tread of the tire. The tires only have 5,200 miles on them. This was brought to the attention of the Audi Service Department on Saturday 16 March 2024, where they inspected the tire and replaced it the same day.
235/55 R 19-101H, manufacture defect in the tread, there are remnants components of the fabric belt that are imbedded in the tread of the tire. The tires only have 5,200 miles on them. This was brought to the attention of the Audi Service Department on Saturday 16 March 2024, where they inspected the tire and replaced it the same day.
Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
What size tires fit a 2010 Audi Q5?
What is the bolt pattern of a 2010 Audi Q5?
Can I run a different tire size on my 2010 Audi Q5?
Where can I buy tires for my 2010 Audi Q5?
What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2010 Audi Q5?
Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2010 Audi Q5?
How often should I rotate the tires on my 2010 Audi Q5?
For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.
Sources for this page
- Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Audi Q5 is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
- NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2010 Audi Q5.
- ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
- Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.
Last verified 2026-09-02.