Can someone go into more detail about tires and the quattro system? Are there specific tires we need to have? What would happen if you have two different types of tires?

 

k well right after i hit the curb i got re alighned and got new tires also switched it diagonal like said but the noise is still there

 

Different types of tires are basically fine as long as they're the same size. You need to keep the rolling diameter as close to identical as possible at all four corners to avoid messing up the diffs. You wouldn't want to run 205-55-16s on the front and 215-55-16s on the rear, but a pair of Falkens up front and Yokohamas in the rear would be fine. Only thing to consider is how they'll react differently (different tread designs) in bad weather.

 

Jeremy, just bought new tires (LONG story) for the stockers for the trip to NY.....until I get the new shoes that is. I have uneven worn tires on both sides...I didn't notice til this afternoon. I plan on moving the one worn tire to the back with the other worn tire this evening. Having uneven tires at two corners for a week isn't going to ruin anything....is it. I have noticed it riding a little differently, but I attributed that to the uneven wear and not any quattro problems.

The difference in tread (I believe) is very small. The tread is still above the wear indicator, but two have a little more meat on them than the others. I just don't want to continue riding around if this is going to be a huge issue with the quattro system.

 

Obnox, I don't think you have any worries at all about quattro - it'll be fine. B5 Audi, if you moved the wheel/tire and the noise stayed where it was, then the noise has nothing to do with the wheel or tire - time to look at other parts. Try putting the car securely on jackstands (no wheels on the car), and have someone accelerate the car in gear to about 25mph and check the axles - they should be spinning smoothly with no eccentric wobbling. If there is none, then look at your suspension. If there is, you probably have a problem with the axle/CV joints (transmissions and diffs don't seem to fail much on our cars).

 

I had basically the same thing... hear noise from rear right (bearing), replace, then hear bearing noise from rear left, replace, then notice vibration from front, but suspension and bearings are fine. Jacked the car up and spun the front wheels - both had HUGE flat spots in the tires in addition to wheel runout. Replaced wheels and tires and everything is smooth as silk. I'm just amazed that people keep driving their cars with an obvious problem like that..

 

Thanks guys. I only asked cause I got these rims used and there were two different brands of tires, both the same size though. I also wanted to add something about a post i did a couple days ago about it being necessary for having hub rings when getting rims. I have a set of 18's and I tried it without using the rings. It was ok until 60mph and then it starting to vibrate. I just put on the rings today and the vibration was gone. The verdict...get the hub rings if anybody has any question about it. I got them for mad cheap from tirerack. They were $20 shipped and shipping was only like 2 days.

 

the sound starts like when u hit 40mph+.

 

Then try running it up to that speed or just over while someone watches for axle wobble. It could be slightly out of balance and not become apparent until then. Goes without saying that no one should be in front of the car during this experiment...

 

Bad news, new tires - same noise. I Honestly from a mechanical standpoint would want to say some how its coming from the back left spindle/hub, only because I grabbed that off a junker car and put it on and didn't have it aligned. However...


The noise, according to me and 5 other people who've driven it, is coming from the front, and goes away during right turns, but sounds like its coming from the front drivers side.


Which wouldn't make any sense, sense more pressure should make the noise get louder (Right turn puts presser on drivers side)


Everything seems tight, the bearing has 0 play, the control arms and bushings are fine, everythings fine....


Argh