Same Tyre Wear Per Axle

[motionpotion]

Hi.

Looking for some help on tyres. This morning I got a puncture that split the right hand side drivers tyre on the front. The tyre could not be repaired.
So I now have a new tyre on one side at the front and a tyre on the left side front with about 5 milimetres of thread left on the tyre.

Should I have the same amount of wear on both tyres at the front? I'm thinking this might be the case because of 4-wheel drive and because it might cause the drives to wear out if there's odd thread depth on each tyre on the axle.

If so I will need to buy 2 new tyres because of one puncture.

Is this the case?

[daveplyjeep]

Hi.
Defiantly fit a new tyre to both sides if its a Quattro. both tyres should be very close to the same size.

As a rule I always fit 2 new tyres across an axle. On the drive axle this reduces differential usage and in some cases "winding up" which reduces component wear. Keep the odd tyre for later on.
Dave

[Phutters]

If so I will need to buy 2 new tyres because of one puncture.

Is this the case?I would have said not, unless you've got money to burn.

A brand new tyre is unlikely to have more than about 8mm of tread, so at 5mm the undamaged tyre is only about half-worn at worst, and the difference in rolling circumferences is pretty tiddly.

I'd have thought that fitted in quite comfortably with the advice in the manual, which states:

"The use of tyres with varying degrees of wear will, however, not affect the four-wheel drive transmission."

That's from a 2004 allroad instruction book, for what it's worth, but if you Google the quote it appears in all kinds of quattro manuals.

[Guest 2]

I remember this post -


The difference in tread depth must not be more than 3mm between all the tyre. If you had two tyres at 7mm the other two must not be less than 5mm.

Its to do with the circumference of the tyre and rate of spin i think apparently it can cause damage to the.transfer box because one wheel would be spinning faster than the other, the 3mm is the tolerance which can be accommodated before damage begins to occur.

Winter Tyres - all year round or not? - Page 3 (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?134721-Winter-Tyres-all-year-round-or-not/page3)

[Phutters]

Doesn't tally with what the instructions say, though.

You've got a quattro - what does it say in your manual?

[Guest 2]

Hold on - I'll go check although the manuals are the same whether 2wd or quattro.

Edit - re wear, completely nothing on page 300-303.

Edit #2 - From a recent wheel alignment - must be within 2mm on each axle

http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz90/57_audi/A6/82KService1_zpsf88dda47.jpg

[daveplyjeep]

When i checked with Audi Canterbury when i got car, i was told that different tread front to back was ok but not on same axle. That makes more sense.
Hope this fuels the thread.
Dave

Sent from my RM-825_eu_euro1_217 using Tapatalk

[Guest 2]

When i checked with Audi Canterbury when i got car, i was told that different tread front to back was ok but not on same axle. That makes more sense.
Hope this fuels the thread.
Dave

Sent from my RM-825_eu_euro1_217 using Tapatalk

Me too, albeit by Teesside. Different tread designs were allowed front to back and not on the same axle but in the ideal world all tread should be the same which I currently try to stick to. Currently have Uniroyal Rainsports on the front and Michelin PS2 on the rear. Will be ditching the Rain Sport's when I replace the rears for a new set of 4.

[Phutters]

Edit #2 - From a recent wheel alignment - must be within 2mm on each axle

That's completely at odds with what it says in my quattro manual.

It isn't for me to say this since I've no experience of the dealer in question, but I'll say it anyway.

If I was given that advice - and in the complete absence of any corroborating evidence in the owner's manual - I think I might just think I was being taken roughly from behind and panicked into buying tyres I didn't need.

A 2mm difference in tread depth between tyres on the same axle is next to bugger all, and would equate to a minuscule difference in the comparative rotational speeds of the two driveshafts.

And that's when travelling in a straight line.

Every time you go round a corner, no matter how slight, there is a difference in the rotational speeds of the driveshafts.

That's what a differential is designed to accommodate.

I might think twice about buying two new tyres rather than just replacing a single damaged one if the undamaged one was at 2 or 3mm, but not because of the difference in tread depth and its possible effects on the driveline. I'd do it because the older one was getting near the end of its life and was providing markedly less grip than the new one.

The differentials on these cars are made of metal, not papier maché.

It's only my opinion, though.

[Guest 2]

I agree, I don't really take heed to the mm thing, just keeping the same brand on the same axle and ideally same on all 4s is just what I would set out to do.

If a tyre needs replaced it needs replaced, its not the first time I've stuck a brand new tyre on the car and the one on the other side being 70% worn. Same brand and type though.

[Phutters]

I agree, I don't really take heed to the mm thing, just keeping the same brand on the same axle and ideally same on all 4s is just what I would set out to do.

If a tyre needs replaced it needs replaced, its not the first time I've stuck a brand new tyre on the car and the one on the other side being 70% worn. Same brand and type though.We're all agreed then.

If I was Gupsterg I'd do a group hug smiley at this point, but I wouldn't know where to find one.

Will a kiss - sloppy but with no tongues - do instead?

[Guest 2]

:grouphug:

However I can only praise my Michelins, 37k on them and the back 2 are only needing replaced now. Front 2 needed changed at 32k due to bad alignment on the car.

[gupsterg]

The differentials on these cars are made of metal, not papier maché.

It's only my opinion, though.

x2 Sir Phutters http://cdn.as-static.com/vb/images/smilies/salute.gif and for anyone else there is some technological info in this post of the thread Chris linked Link:- Winter Tyres - all year round or not? - Page 4 (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?134721-Winter-Tyres-all-year-round-or-not&p=732362#post732362)


We're all agreed then.

If I was Gupsterg I'd do a group hug smiley at this point, but I wouldn't know where to find one.

Will a kiss - sloppy but with no tongues - do instead?

Especially for you Sir Phutters http://yoursmiles.org/bsmile/love/b0304.gif...

[motionpotion]

The guy where I got it replaced said pretty much the same if I'm understanding the information in this thread correctly. He said that I wouldn't need a new tyre on the other undamaged tyre - and that I would only need two new tyres if the tyre on the left was almost threadbare i.e. worn out.

[invisiblekid75]

As far as I've read, it's certainly same tyre make on each axel. Unless there was a big tread difference, then unless you go the money to replace both replacing the damaged one will do. Yes in theory you make make all kinds of arguments, but don't forget this is a road going big car with big robust mechanics. we're not talking F1 standards here.

The only people I've heard bleating on about having to change all tyres at once is a couple of places inc. Costco. Thanks, but I'll won't be taking your word on the matter if you don't mind. I remember asking for a quote and literally the first thing the bloke said was "your going to need all four replacing you know as you'll knacker your car". Pft.

[UVB]

Do you have the same type on your spare? Might be worth checking as you might make a better pair from that.

[Guest 2]

As my car was built in December 2007, it came with winter tyres as I think its a legal requirement in mainland Europe.

The winter tyre is still on the spare and is un-used. Even has the original colour lines on the tread its that new.

[motionpotion]

My spare is one of those space-saver types that you have to inflate onto it's alloy with the supplied pump. I've never used it as it looks like a PITA to set up.
I presume it can only be used to get you off the side of the road to get your puncture mended.

[UVB]

Yes, I think they are speed limited to 50mph or similar; intended for short term use only. Shame, as if you had a new tyre on a full size alloy that could have made a perfect pair.