Have to replace all 4 tires?
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Lexus Test Driver
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From: California
Have to replace all 4 tires?
I just went to America's Tire. i wanted to replace the 2 front tires on my cousins audi a4 quattro but they told me they can't just replace 2 tires. Said they had to replace all 4 cuz its quattro and blah blah blah. WTF! if this is the case, quattro sucks. never heard of this kinda bull b 4.
Last edited by CarlssonLS400; Dec 31, 2004 at 01:03 PM.
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Just replace either the front or rear tires if they worn with the same make tire/size. Sure its "Quattro" AWD but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to replace all 4. Only if all the tires are worn. No point in replacing tires that are in good shape right?
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From: St. Thomas, Ontario
Originally Posted by CarlssonLS400
I just went to America's Tire. i wanted to replace the 2 front tires on my cousins audi a4 quattro but they told me they can't just replace 2 tires. Said they had to replace all 4 cuz its quattro and blah blah blah. WTF! if this is the case, quattro sucks. never heard of this kinda bull b 4.
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Originally Posted by Dan H
Just replace either the front or rear tires if they worn with the same make tire/size. Sure its "Quattro" AWD but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to replace all 4. Only if all the tires are worn. No point in replacing tires that are in good shape right?
So...in a nutshell....you MAY get away with not replacing all four tires (depending on how worn the old ones are), but in general it is not a good idea.
Last edited by mmarshall; Dec 31, 2004 at 05:56 PM.
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Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 860
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From: California
thanks for all the tips guys. i think i might just put on 4 new kumhos. 4 new kumhos is only a little more than the price for 2 new dunlops (which i would have to do to match the rear tires)
crap like this makes me love my lex that much more
crap like this makes me love my lex that much more
Last edited by CarlssonLS400; Dec 31, 2004 at 06:33 PM.
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
What I am told by the local VW / Subaru service shop ( VW 4-Motion uses the same system as the Audi Quattro) is that you MUST have the same size tires on all four wheels, with approximately the same amount of wear. The key is the outside rolling diameter. If all four tires don't roll at the same RPM, it puts a stress on the front, center, and rear differentials. AWD systems are designed to allow for wheel slippage and varying speeds among the 4 drive wheels, but not continuously. If you have one or more tires that don't match the others in exact outside diameter (and remember that a worn tire has smaller diameter) it continually forces the differentials to compensate, and significantly shortens the differential life by heating them up. The same goes for Subaru AWD's and for any vehicle with a center differential. That is one reason why AWD vehicles are exempt from the roller-emissions tests and are done only with the tailpipe probe......with two wheels spinning and the other two standing still, the rollers can ruin the drivetrain.
So...in a nutshell....you MAY get away with not replacing all four tires (depending on how worn the old ones are), but in general it is not a good idea.
So...in a nutshell....you MAY get away with not replacing all four tires (depending on how worn the old ones are), but in general it is not a good idea.
Of course if both pairs of front/rear tires show questionable wear, then they should be replaced altogether.
Last edited by Dan H; Dec 31, 2004 at 07:27 PM.
