Hi all,

Growing up on FWD cars, I was taught that you replace tires in pairs. If you get a flat, you buy two tires and put them on the front (driving) axle, then put the older ones on the opposite one.

But now I'm in an A4 Quattro. If I (knock on wood) get a flat tire, do I have to buy all new tires since all the axles drive now? If not, how is it recommended I proceed?

Oh, and for the purposes of the question, it's assuming good tread on the other 3 ... if they are getting old or worn I'd probably just replace all 4 a little prematurely in that case.

Thanks!

 

If your other tires are almost new and have a lot of tread left then keep those and get a new one of the same make. If the others are worn down then replace them all.

josh

 

Okay ,thanks! What axle (if there's a difference) would I want to put the newer tires?

 

with quattro they will wear really bad if they are mixmatched. You will end up having to buy five after you put one on. Its better just to replace all 4 if you can't patch the one. imo

 

it is always recommended to put the newest tire/tires on the front drive axle even in a rwd vehicle cause they are the ones that do your turning/majority of the brakeing..... if you get a flat on the rear and any other tire is showing alot of wear, i would buy 2 new tires and have them moved/mounted on the front drive axle for better take off/stopping

lets say you put new tires on the read axle, and you have bald crappy tires up front, even on a rwd vehicle, and are driving in rain, when you take a corner the rear tires might be the drive tires but the front being bad/bald will have no traction to grab/turn the vehicle.......same goes for a fwd/awd vehicle.... no need to change all 4 if decent tread on at least 2, but if you have to replace one and have bad tread on one other or the other front , change 2

sorry for the long explination

 

Audi recommends that you keep the tread depth within 4/32" so if you have over 50% tread on your other tires it should be fine to just replace one

here's an article for you to read http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=18

 

Here's what's wrong with that, it's right, EXCEPT; I work at a tire shop and we recommend that you put the new tires on the rear because when you have to slam on the brakes, or takea sharpe cornerin less than dry conditions the back end will spin out. It's much better in a emergency to have understeer rather than spining out. Michelin just paid out a 32 million dollar lawsuit because one of their shops installed the new tires on the front and some lady spun out and wrecked.

The reason you should get 4 new tires at the same time is that having different wear creates different circumferences for the different tires, which creates excess strain on the drivetrain which is trying to put the same power to different size tires.

IF YOU GET A FLAT, JUST GET IT REPAIRED. IT IS SAFE!

HERE'S ANOTHER TRICK.
most tire shops will offer road hazard type warrenties that cover unrepairable holes and other things. Get the roadhazard warrenty when you get 4 new tires. If halfway through the tires life, you get a flat that is not repairable, the shop will replace that tire for free. But since most GOOD shops recommend that you get 4 new on an all wheel drive system instead of just one to avoid damage to the drivetrain, tell them that by their ownrecommendations they have to replace all of the tires under the roadhazard warrenty, to make the vehicle safe. bada bing, 4 free new tires.
I have seen this happen and discount tire pays for it.

 

was this the same discount tire that stripped all the studs on someone's car recently?