Hello Audi Community,

I need some advice desperately, ive had my Audi A4 '09 prem+ with sport pkg car since Dec '08. I didnt have the vibration issues most folks talked about, but in Dec '12 i ended up replacing all four tires, i got the Conti DWS. Thats when the nightmares have ensued. I have vibration issues and pulling issue, i got an alignment done, the issue improved slightly. Just yesterday i got a road force balance, the vibrations are now more pronounced, and was told that my control arms are outdated and to get the new updated control arms would cost $1,500 on top of that i have one slightly bent rim.

Notice that my issues started right after my car went out of warranty. I like to know peoples suggestions or advice on how to proceed with the minimal cost. Can the work be done for much cheaper than what the dealer is asking? can the bent rim cause the increase vibrations?

Thanks!

 

Hi Li7,

Sorry I didn't respond to this earlier, but I was out watching the fireworks.

I had a similar experience as you. I have an '09 A4 premium plus with the sports package. After owning it for two months, I put a set of Continental DWS tires on it. Everything was going fine, until several months later when I decided to rotate my tires. After that, I noticed a vibration in the front of the car at high speeds.

I took my car to my dealership for the vibration problem, and they told me that my tires were out of round and very unbalanced. To remedy this, they shifted the tires around on the rims to the most balanced point, and then road force balanced them. They told me that my tires will never be 100% balanced, but that they fell within Audi specs.

They then took my front tires and put them on the back (cancelling out my tire rotation). They told me never to rotate these tires again.

Your's is not the first story I've heard about vibration problems with DWS tires. While I generally like them, I'm considering going with another brand when I buy new tires at the end of the year.
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The control arm issue for' 09 and early '10 was well documented, especially on the A4 forum. If you never had vibrations back then and never had them replaced, you were lucky; the bushings were not the correct size in the upper control arms. I would think you would have a reasonable case even out of warranty. I suggest you call AOA and start the process. (See next paragraph first..)

TSB #2019644/3 (Vibration in steering wheel at high speeds. R/R control arms

https://forums.audiworld.com/archive...t-2770882.html

Yes, even a slightly bent rim or two will cause vibrations. Before you go the control arm route, take your car to a wheel straightening specialist and have them all checked. Bent rims are common and can usually be repaired for about $100 per wheel. Been there, done that many a time - I live in Potholeachusetts.

 

I hear lots of anecdotal praise for one brand of tire or another. I discount al that and look at the realities of the tire business.

The first thing is that you are buying a product that is out of balance and out of round when delivered to you. This is not because tire makers don't want better products, but tires are made by hand. Yes, no fancy machines where you pour materials in one end and tires roll out the other. Just human beings using moulding, weaving, & compounding equipment.

Second some manufacturers make the same tires in different countries, and the materials used vary from place to place, as well as the skill level of the workers. You should always inspect tires offered to be sure all are from the same origin. For Audi Quattro I measure the circumference also to be sure all four tires are within 1/8" to keep the Torsen differentials happy.

Third, Europe has very strict material and purity laws that produce a better tire than those made elsewhere, even in the USA. One reason is the restrictions on the use of polyester and mandate to use nylon. Nylon is a curious compound that actually shrinks when heated. Nylon tires grip the rim better as the tires get hot.

Some people laugh at me for rolling with Goodyear LS2 tires on my Audi. While Goodyear is a long established and still American company, the LS2 is made in Germany. People working in Germany care about quality and the tires show it. They are more round and require very little weight to balance.

My tire shop thinks I'm crazy but I indicate runout on each rim when the old tires come off, and use a wire brush to remove all corrosion on the mating surfaces of the rim and brake rotor. I put the balanced tire and rim on the car and then check balance on the car. I have had to notch the outer rim of a rotor to make the whole assembly balance, other times just removing the wheel and placing it on different holes will balance better. I then do a string alignment.

With 110K I have not done any suspension work except a front passenger wheel bearing that was growling like a bear.

 

A good wheel straightening specialist should have the equipment and knowledge to check the tires as well as the wheels for out of round condition.

 

Thanks for the advice, very helpful, i plan on taking my wheels to be straighten hopefully that will fix it. Not sure about the control arms being covered out of warranty , but worth a shot.

 

I had yokohama's before i replaced them and i loved those, they were stiffer and had better cornering and grip. However, they were ice pucks in the snow. But nonetheless they spoiled me. Going to DWS, i noticed the weak side walls and a difference in driving, i figure i go with this tire because it was highly recommended on most forums and tirerack rankings.