Do I need to replace all 4 tyres?
 

Hi guys, the two front tyres on my Quattro A8 will need replacing soon but the rear tyres will last another few months. Question is, is it essential to replace all 4 tyres at the same time?

I’ve heard there are two Audi Quattro systems and one is far more sensitive to uneven tyre wear across the 4 tyres than the other Quattro system. Do you know which system I’d have on my car?

I've seen this question come up a few times and from what I've seen there is no need to replace all four, what seems to be most important is to ensure tyres on the same axle match.

No need to replace all 4 at once - I'd rotate the rears onto the front to finish them off when you get a pair of new tyres fitted. Once the fronts are then dead again repeat the process and you've got some nicely bedded in tyres on the front that'll last longer and won't scrub tread off as readily.

Whether it makes sense to do that will depend on how close to the limit the rears are at the moment - just swapping to new tyres of the same type isn't an issue. If you're changing brand they 'may' have a different rolling radius, but again the quattro system can cope fine.

Was only the uR quattro and others around that period that needed more care, although if you have the LSD in the back end it pays to keep similar tread across the axle at all times

I think that the Torsen system is relatively tolerant of differences in tyre circumference. The Haldex system used in the LR Freelander I have is not and I understand that running, say, tyres with 3mm of tread and tyres at the other end with 7/8mm will knackered the Haldex unit.

Thanks guys. Ok, it does appear that my A8 has the Torsen Quattro system.

I’ll change the tyres on the front and take your advice of swapping them to the rear.

+++

Thats weird about the haldex unit in the Freelander, what an oddity, I've run staggered, slicks and weirdo sizes all over my track TT, its subject to all forms of abuse and I have the haldex unit locked in permanent 50/50 with a PowerTrack insert as well.

The clutches are fine and the diffs have never sh*t themselves either.

Back to the OP, I rotate front to back, get the most out and replace all 4 at the same time +++

Are all the 8s torsen AWD?

Also, I rotate from front to back and then replace all 4.

All '8s are Torsen. Audi/VAG used Haldex on TTs, S3 and VW Golfs.

Cheers. That’s what I thought. Haldex - transverse engines. Torsen - longitudinal. Thanks for confirming.

This seems quite a good summary of 4WD systems:

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/wvmekv7/

Give me Torsen all day, any day, personally...

And I agree about swapping/mixing, but only in pairs on the same axle - though I currently have matched Michelin PA4s on my S8, I have Michelin PA4s as front and Pirelli Sottogeros as rears on My Model S +++

Big Al,

How much difference are you seeing in wear between front and rear, as mine are all wearing very evenly, both back to front and left to right - and have done so on all 3 of my 8’s. I have always replaced in 4’s because they all needed it at the same time.

Cheers
Mark

Hi Mark, Seens there’s about 2mm difference, front to back but as I’ve only recently purchased the car I have no idea how the previous owner dealt with tyre rotation etc.

This seems in line with the wear I’ve had on my D3.

I can't honestly comment on this becasuse some nasty *******s keep dropping screws on the road that I manage to collect with my front tyres.

It's dependant on driving style. For me front wears 2x as fast as rear, if rear tyres go from 8 to 6mm fronts are down to 4mm. If you swap them round at this point they will be the same again at 2mm ready to replace. Front does most of the braking and steering so it depends a lot on how hard are you braking and steering, if you drive gingerly the difference will be lower or even unnoticeable.

I have also noticed that all my cars wear left side(specially front) tyre faster than right side, I put it down to going round the roundabouts near the limit of grip putting more load on left side.

I guess it is, mine wear remarkably evenly, but the mileage is mostly long journeys using cruise control with a boot full of luggage, so not much hard cornering as "the management" get critical... :rolleyes:
(Local journeys, of which there are plenty, are short and slow.)
But I also swap tyres twice a year (summer/winter) and my tyre man always advises which should go front/rear left/right to even out wear. I don't keep track myself, just leave it to him.

Yes, forgot to mention driving conditions as well, long steady motorway journeys will have more even wear, I mostly do local short runs with a lot more braking and steering than motorways.:)

Pretty much all my mileage is motorway and dual carriage way c. 90%. My tyre wear has been even across 8’s and 3 tyre brands, so I must be driving like Miss Daisy!

Thank for sharing that link. Very interesting.