Spare Wheel Question

[golfgt140]

Morning All

Sorry for the boring thread but I need a question answered. :1zhelp:

I'm getting one of my front wheels refurbed (already!) next week, and was intending to put the spare 'get you home' wheel on for a couple of days of light driving.

The chap in the wheel refurb place said I should put the spare on the back axle, and use one of the 'proper' wheels on the front. He explained that the A4 would always think it was turning, and I could wreck my diff.

Could he be right? Surely Audi would have designed a spare that could be used safely on either axle?

Any advice gratefully received.

[GolferPete]

Although the manual has nothing specific about which axle to put it on in normal use, it does say to put it on the rear if using snow chains.

It makes sense to me to do as he says on a fwd drive generally, after all the torque/power will be transmitted through it.

The manual does suggest temporary use over short distances, does your 'light driving' fall into this definition?

[golfgt140]

Yea will be very short distances until I get the alloy back. Suppose it does make sense.

Just concerned about the possibility of damage, there will no doubt be times when the spare will be needed for the front, and it will not be practical to change wheels from the rear.

Thanks

[GolferPete]

Clearly in normal (non snow chain) conditions the emergency spare can be fitted in any position temporarily, otherwise Audi would have to say so.

I would suggest that if you fulfil the conditions stated of temp use over short distances then no damage will result and if any did, and you could show compliance with their owners manual then any damage should be paid for by Audi. Proving compliance might be difficult, however.

[Zafi]

Make a chalk mark on the very edge of the tyre.
Roll it until that mark touches the ground and mark the ground where it touches.
Roll the wheel in a straight line for 1 full revolution until the chalk mark on the tyre touches the ground again. Mark the ground again. Measure between the marks.

Do the same with the other wheel.

If both distances are the same, the diff will not be harmed.

But be aware that grip will be different so the car will not handle, brake or accelerate as well as it would with 4 equal tyres ;)