Ari Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 My Audi 1.8T Sport Cabrio wore out it's front tyres in 9,000 miles. I complained and they did an alignment check and suspension check and said all ok. So I put another set on front (same as before to match back, Continentals) and 9,000 miles later, gone. So thinking maybe they were a really poor tyre (or very soft) I switched all to Pirelli P Zero's as have had them on previous cars and know they last ok. Another 8,500 miles and they're right on the limit. So, with the car just two years old and 26,500 miles on the clock I'm about to put the fourth set on the front! It is not an excessively powerful car, and nor do I drive it hard. Indeed, being conscious of the heavy tyre wear I've been particularly gentle. I even had nitrogen put in the tyres this time as it provides more constantly correct pressure (less affected by heat changes) and had the alignment checked independently (confirmed fine) So at a bit of a loss really. What do you think, and how are you getting on with yours? Be helpful if people could comment, and at the bottom of their post put the make, model, age, mileage, and tyre wear records if you could? Like this. Audi A4 1.8T Sport Cabriolet - Jan 2004 - 26,500 - 3 sets of front tyres (last set completely worn). Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanduara37 Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 A4 3.0 quattro sport tiptronic ,19" rims, put four new tyres on & had to replace front tyres after only 5000 miles, wheel alignment (ok) tyre pressure checked weekly(ok). absolutley (but love the car) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenjaminTDI Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 13400 miles. Michelin PS2s - the rears still look like new and there must be a good 3-5k left in the fronts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 I have never got more than 12k miles out of any Audi I have owned. I have gone back to using Avon ZZ3's as these used to last about 50% longer than any others I have tried. Just sold my avant with the tyres only 2k miles old so I won't know how they fair I am afraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 21.9K. rear tyres still okay; fronts [esp front offside] is bald and so will both be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Must admit, I got many more miles in my Bora, than I am doing in the A4, and it's the same engine, although the Bora was programmed to deliver the power in a more aggressive manner. Audi A4 Saloon, 1.9 TDI (130), 15 months old (oct 2004), ~18,500 miles, 1 front set replaced. Original rears. Tyres: Pirelli Rossos Fronts: ~ 12,500 miles Rears : ~ 18,500 miles Driving Style: Like I stole it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Nick, are the tyres wearing evenly across the width of the tread? The only FWD B6 I have owned was a 2.5TDi (163ps) and that did about 12000 miles on the fronts. 9000miles does sound on the low side, but I am at a loss to explain why. Continentals tend to be at the harder wearing end of the spectrum. The SportContact2's on my S4 lasted 18000miles on the front. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Tyres: ~ Dunlop Sports Fronts: ~ 16,000 miles/2 years Rears: ~ 24,700 miles (2 years 10 months) and still going strong Driving Style: ~ Like a big tart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted January 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Nick, are the tyres wearing evenly across the width of the tread? [/ QUOTE ] A good question, and yes they are. So I don't think it is incorrect tyre pressures (they'e set at recommended pressure). Seems so far that 12,000 - 18,000 is the norm, with a couple either side of that. Keep 'em coming chaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Interesting. I didn't have the cab for long. They said the tyres were new when I bought it. I ran it a the right recommdended (high) tyre pressures and the fronts were close to wearing when it departed my company. I actually measured the tread as having 5mm left! I had done about 8k miles in it! Ari - have you checked the chart on the fuel flap/inside the drivers door and made sure you have the right pressure for 17" wheels (or whatever you have). I'm sure you have, but just in case! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmmlmmam Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 The Conti's where just about shot allround on my 1.8T when I sold it at 16k miles. The Dunlops on the 3.0 were still good when I sold it at 23k miles. The S4's (Conti's) are getting marginal at 13k now. So your wear rate does seem very high. I guess the roads down your way may be a factor. IIRC lots of hilly country lanes. Also I think turbo engines are often harsh on tyres. The 3L definately seemed easier on it's tyres - triggering the traction control much less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 I got 35000 miles from my Dunlop SP's, and the current Kumho's have done 12000 and have hardly worn at all! 9000 miles from tyres is shockingly poor IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted January 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 I do think that the type of driving I do and location make a big difference. Lots of short trips, stop start, steep hills and sharp corners. But 8,000 miles... Been to Audi dealer today, "well of course tyre mileage can vary enormously due to a range of factors...". They've booked it in for another alignment check in a couple of weeks, but since it's already had one and all confirmed ok the last time I complained about excessive tyre wear I'm not holding my breath. Incidently, another thing I've noticed and I'd be interested to see if anyone else has this. Where I live is in a quiet fairly narrow road. As I pull out of my drive in the morning and make a sharp right turn at very low speed to head off down the road, I can feel the front tyres grinding as though the car is trying to go straight on. At the bottom of the road is a T junction and I make a sharp right turn again. Again, the front is grinding and sliding like it's going to slide into the opposite kerb. All at very low speed. Imagine driving on ball bearings and the front of the car pushing wide as it slips on them, it's a bit like that. Weirder still, it doesnt' do it when the car is warm. Anyone else experience anything similar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasdrury Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 I got through 4 on my 1.8T Quattro in about 8k miles, they were pirelli p zero rossos and i drove like a loon everywhere then!! Chaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Ari, I get the same 'judder/grind' on the S4 Avant. I put it down to the limited slip diff and the size of our tyres. On the mileage thing, I've done 5,000 on a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Extra-loads (came with car when I bought it, Conti on the spare) and they are still looking good (4mm)... although the fronts look like they'll go first. Just as well really, they are £190 each on blackcircles.com ! P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 I definately get the judder you're talking about Ari, but only when the tyres are cold. Didn't notice it with ContiSport 2's but the GSD-3's definately do it. I got 18,000 out of a set of fronts, they were ContiSport 2's.. the backs lasted 27,000. New GSD-3's have been on since and they're going to be ready in a couple of months, but I'm not sure how many miles they've been on for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 just taking this ever so slightly off tack, as well as relative tyre life, what other changes [grip/road noise] have you guys noticed with changing from COntisport2's? apparantly these are one of the hardest wearing tyres... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lottiefox Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Ari, the judder is probably not helped by the fact your front tyres are virtually slicks...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Word has it that Michelins are the hardest wearing tyres, and after driving on them and hating them (Pilot Sport Exaltos) I can agree. IMO ContiSport2's are great tyres but they don't suit the A4. I wouldn't say they are the hardest wearing either.. I managed to eat a set of fronts on my MG ZS TDI in 9,000 miles Grip is better in the A4 with the GSD-3's than the Conti's, dunno about roadnoise, that's what a radio's for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 "don't suit the A4" in which way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenjaminTDI Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I do think that the type of driving I do and location make a big difference. Lots of short trips, stop start, steep hills and sharp corners. But 8,000 miles... Been to Audi dealer today, "well of course tyre mileage can vary enormously due to a range of factors...". They've booked it in for another alignment check in a couple of weeks, but since it's already had one and all confirmed ok the last time I complained about excessive tyre wear I'm not holding my breath. Incidently, another thing I've noticed and I'd be interested to see if anyone else has this. Where I live is in a quiet fairly narrow road. As I pull out of my drive in the morning and make a sharp right turn at very low speed to head off down the road, I can feel the front tyres grinding as though the car is trying to go straight on. At the bottom of the road is a T junction and I make a sharp right turn again. Again, the front is grinding and sliding like it's going to slide into the opposite kerb. All at very low speed. Imagine driving on ball bearings and the front of the car pushing wide as it slips on them, it's a bit like that. Weirder still, it doesnt' do it when the car is warm. Anyone else experience anything similar? [/ QUOTE ] I would assume you have 225 tyres? It is just the width of them that rubs slightly I think. No need to worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenjaminTDI Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 [ QUOTE ] "don't suit the A4" in which way? [/ QUOTE ] I think he means because it's such a heavy car, with engines that either have lots of torque going through the front, or quattro where it's going to wear them all done rather quickly. I agree I think continental SC2s are fine with grip but the wear I have seen and heard about is less than impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Personally I found them to be absolutely mint on the MG ZS I had, the grip in the wet was bloody excellent. But I don't think they were as good on the A4, and I think the GSD-3's are better both wet and dry on my A4 FWD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tizzy Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 On my previous A4 1.8T 190 Q (2004 04) believe it or not I got 34K on P Zero Rosso's doing mainly motorway miles, but that included a blast round Europe and a lap of the 'Ring. All of the tyres wore at almost exactly the same rate and were petty much illegal by 34K. It was a company car so you can imagine how I drove it. This seems to be heading for a record judging by this trheads comments! NB: I also get a slight grinding feeling through the steering but only when the tyres are cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 who are these GSD-3's by? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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