Tyre wear: 20,000 miles on rears?

[SebRogers]

Hi all,

While I was washing another week's worth of winter grime off my Avant this morning, I noticed the rear tyres are looking a little lean in the tread department. I reckon I'll struggle to reach the next service on them (due in a little under 5000 miles)... which surprises me, because they've only got 20,000 miles on them. And this is a fwd car - not a quattro.

I never bothered keeping records, but I'm sure I used to get at least 30,000 miles out of the rears on my old Octavia, and probably more. My driving hasn't changed... so what gives?

Is the A4 prone to tyre wear? Is there something about the rear suspension geometry that puts more stress on the tyres? Or did the Kumhos I had fitted just have a softer than average compound?

Anyone care to share their (front or rear) tyre wear experiences?

[danclyon]

Hi all,

While I was washing another week's worth of winter grime off my Avant this morning, I noticed the rear tyres are looking a little lean in the tread department. I reckon I'll struggle to reach the next service on them (due in a little under 5000 miles)... which surprises me, because they've only got 20,000 miles on them. And this is a fwd car - not a quattro.

I never bothered keeping records, but I'm sure I used to get at least 30,000 miles out of the rears on my old Octavia, and probably more. My driving hasn't changed... so what gives?

Is the A4 prone to tyre wear? Is there something about the rear suspension geometry that puts more stress on the tyres? Or did the Kumhos I had fitted just have a softer than average compound?

Anyone care to share their (front or rear) tyre wear experiences?

I got through rears in 25k and was well hacked off. They were out of camber and toe though, and a 4wd alignment has sorted out not only the noise, but after 5k there's barely readable wear on the tyres....
Suggest £80 ish well spent on a decent alignment....

Cheers,
Dan.

[paul b]

Probably best you check the alignment, but I get 30k+ out of the rears on my C5 A6 which isn't much different to your A4 B6 in all honesty.

It's got Michelin Pilot Primacys on the back, I wouldn't touch Kumhos with a bargepole. I've just swapped the fronts to Dunlop Sportmaxx which I recommend.

[SebRogers]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll get the car booked in for an alignment check and take it from there...

[SebRogers]

Just a quick follow-up...

Had all four wheels checked and adjusted for alignment (curiously the fronts were further out than the rears) and a new pair of Toyos put on the rear. Very glad I had it done - with the wet weather we've been having lately it hasn't taken much right foot to get the ESP working overtime