Handling with 19" wheels

[dmcconachie]

Hi, recently bought an ex-demo 2010 Avant (which has the 19" alloys from the S6) to replace my aging A3.
Not sure if it's normal with the larger wheels or a problem with the alignment but I often feel a small pull to the left or right through the steering wheel. If it's normal I can get used to it but obviously don't want unnecessary tyre wear if the alignment is actually out!

Going to get it checked anyway but wondered if others had experienced this at all?

[neilos100]

Its called 'tram-lining' and tends to affect cars with wide wheels. Its where the wheels follow the contours of the road and is normal. I get it sometimes with mine and I have the 18's fitted. Worst is when you get into the shallow ruts in the tarmac caused by buses in towns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramlining
Neil

[dmcconachie]

Thanks Neil, I wondered if it was something like that. Obviously common enough to have its own name and wiki page! There are certainly enough ruts etc on Edinburgh's roads to make it quite obvious! Do you think it's worth getting alignment checked anyway given that Audi will do it for no charge?

[dmcconachie]

Do you think it's worth getting alignment checked anyway given that Audi will do it for no charge?
I see the end of the wiki suggests exactly that! :-)

[neilos100]

Oh definitely if they'll do it for nothing......always worth a go but I'd be surprised if it gets rid of it.....just one of those things with fat tyres.....some people reckon a change of tyre brand can help too. Is it ok out of town on a decent road surface?

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[dmcconachie]

I'll let you know when I find a decent road up here! ;-)
Yeah, probably a little better, to be honest I'm already getting used to it. Probably part and parcel of moving from the A3 to the A6 tank.

[neilos100]

I've only had mine since beginning of June but love everything about it. Came from a Citroen c4 Grand Picasso. Difference in build quality is amazing and the 'Pic' wasn't bad! Was petrol though... :-( best I ever got even on a run was 34! With the A6 sofar its 54mpg.....brilliant for a car of that size and weight....
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[Guest 2]

£100 for a 4 wheel laser alignment from Audi.

I notice tramlining all the time on bad roads, my a3 even has 225 wide tyres so I notice it a bit on that car too.

[dmcconachie]

My A3 had 225s too but I didn't really notice it with that. Only done 600 miles in the A6 so far, MPG averaging at about 42 so far with one journey topping out about 49. A3 couldn't get close to that!

[Guest 2]

I do for some reason although it needs a new tyre soon so that's maybe why.

What engine did you have in your a3 and your engine in the a6?

I have a 1.9TDIe in the a3 and I get high 60's mpg everytime as im 100% motorway in it.

The most I've got out of my a6 is 44.1mpg and never seen it go over that magical figure.

[dmcconachie]

A3 was a 2.0T, A6 is 2.0TDi. I'm probably about 75% city driving though the A6 has probably done the reverse of that (only got it days before Christmas so all it's really done is the yearly parents/in-laws trip)