When we got our 96 A4q 2.8 I spoke with the salesperson (very impressed with his knowledge) who tested the U.S. cars and had driven the car on Conti's and Goodyears. He said that virtually all the U.S. Audi folk he was with at the testing panned the Conti's. Thats why they came with the Goodyear RSA's (at least in the first year).