Quattro flat tire replacement

I have a 2002 A6 2.7L Quattro and just got a flat tire. I know it’s
best to keep all 4 tires the same and keep the tread wear similar, but
they don’t make the specific tire that’s currently on the car any
more. How bad would it be if I just replace the one tire with a new
one? What if I just replace the front two (left/right) and keep the
rear tires I have? There’s decent tread left on the 3 good tires so if
I can get away with not buying 4 new tires, I’d rather not...

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On Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:30:31 GMT, bobthe > wrote:

>I have a 2002 A6 2.7L Quattro and just got a flat tire. I know it’s
>best to keep all 4 tires the same and keep the tread wear similar, but
>they don’t make the specific tire that’s currently on the car any
>more. How bad would it be if I just replace the one tire with a new
>one? What if I just replace the front two (left/right) and keep the
>rear tires I have? There’s decent tread left on the 3 good tires so if
>I can get away with not buying 4 new tires, I’d rather not...

If you can find tires that are at least similar in behavior to the ones you
are running now, put a pair of new tires on the rear wheels and put the best
two of your current tires on the front. And use appropriate caution for the
first few hundred miles until the mold-release agent on the new tires wears
off...

/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd

On Mar 13, 3:30 pm, bobthe > wrote:
> I have a 2002 A6 2.7L Quattro and just got a flat tire. I know it's
> best to keep all 4 tires the same and keep the tread wear similar, but
> they don't make the specific tire that's currently on the car any
> more. How bad would it be if I just replace the one tire with a new
> one? What if I just replace the front two (left/right) and keep the
> rear tires I have? There's decent tread left on the 3 good tires so if
> I can get away with not buying 4 new tires, I'd rather not...

No need, my car's manual (guess you don't have one?) says that the
tires on the same axle need to be within 3-5% of the same tread depth
of each other. No need to replace all four. I had this scenario last
year and purchased 1 new tire and used the spare, making the other
tire the 'new' spare.

As far as the specific brand/model, I would just go with whatever is
closest. Most times, when manufacturers discontinue a tire, they have
a newer model/style that replaces it. Go with that.

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

In message . com>
"Dano58" > wrote:

> No need, my car's manual (guess you don't have one?) says that the
> tires on the same axle need to be within 3-5% of the same tread depth
> of each other.

That's actually a pretty tight tolerance!

If we assume that a 'typical' tyre has a tread depth of 6mm, then the
above suggests that the tread depth of the tyres must be within 0.3mm of
each other!

--
Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with 'bellfamily')

"Peter Bell" > wrote in message
. ..
> In message . com>
> "Dano58" > wrote:
>
>> No need, my car's manual (guess you don't have one?) says that the
>> tires on the same axle need to be within 3-5% of the same tread depth
>> of each other.
>
> That's actually a pretty tight tolerance!
>
> If we assume that a 'typical' tyre has a tread depth of 6mm, then the
> above suggests that the tread depth of the tyres must be within 0.3mm of
> each other!
>
> --
> Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with
> 'bellfamily')


I believe the owners manual (at least in my 2003 A4) says all tires within
2mm (hope I remember the correct number). Otherwise the continual difference
in rotation front to back heats the oil in the Torsen differential causing
premature wear?

--Art

On Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:29:57 -0400, "Art M"
> wrote:

>
>"Peter Bell" > wrote in message
...
>> In message . com>
>> "Dano58" > wrote:
>>
>>> No need, my car's manual (guess you don't have one?) says that the
>>> tires on the same axle need to be within 3-5% of the same tread depth
>>> of each other.
>>
>> That's actually a pretty tight tolerance!
>>
>> If we assume that a 'typical' tyre has a tread depth of 6mm, then the
>> above suggests that the tread depth of the tyres must be within 0.3mm of
>> each other!
>>
>> --
>> Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with
>> 'bellfamily')
>
>
>I believe the owners manual (at least in my 2003 A4) says all tires within
>2mm (hope I remember the correct number). Otherwise the continual difference
>in rotation front to back heats the oil in the Torsen differential causing
>premature wear?
>
>--Art
>


I was in Discount Tire awhile back and they wouldn't sell just two
tires to a guy that had a Quattro.

Don't kill the messenger, I am just repeating what the manager told
the guy ..... they (not sure if they is the store or the chain) had to
pay for a new transmission once because the tires they put on weren't
within the tolerance spec as written in the manual. Since they guy
was down to 6/32 on two and the new tread would be 11/32, they refused
to do it; they actually let him walk. The manager said, from now on,
their policy is to replace all four so they avoid that issue.

YMMV.

On Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:15:44 -0600, "
<Curtis Newton> wrote:

>On Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:29:57 -0400, "Art M"
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Peter Bell" > wrote in message
k...
>>> In message . com>
>>> "Dano58" > wrote:
>>>
>>>> No need, my car's manual (guess you don't have one?) says that the
>>>> tires on the same axle need to be within 3-5% of the same tread depth
>>>> of each other.
>>>
>>> That's actually a pretty tight tolerance!
>>>
>>> If we assume that a 'typical' tyre has a tread depth of 6mm, then the
>>> above suggests that the tread depth of the tyres must be within 0.3mm of
>>> each other!
>>>
>>> --
>>> Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with
>>> 'bellfamily')
>>
>>
>>I believe the owners manual (at least in my 2003 A4) says all tires within
>>2mm (hope I remember the correct number). Otherwise the continual difference
>>in rotation front to back heats the oil in the Torsen differential causing
>>premature wear?
>>
>>--Art
>>
>
>
>I was in Discount Tire awhile back and they wouldn't sell just two
>tires to a guy that had a Quattro.
>
>Don't kill the messenger, I am just repeating what the manager told
>the guy ..... they (not sure if they is the store or the chain) had to
>pay for a new transmission once because the tires they put on weren't
>within the tolerance spec as written in the manual. Since they guy
>was down to 6/32 on two and the new tread would be 11/32, they refused
>to do it; they actually let him walk. The manager said, from now on,
>their policy is to replace all four so they avoid that issue.
>
>YMMV.

I agree. If the other three tires are worn, replace all four to be
sure. That is the bane of Quattro; the tires should match all around.
Also, I would not mix brands or models of tires. I stick with OEM on
my Quattros.

Dave 03 RS6 (two year wait for my R8)
00 4.2 A6 (now with son-in-law)
94 S4 (now with grandson)
90 200 Turbo Quattro
86 VW Synchro Wagon

I presume the flat tyre is actually un repairable?

Ste.D