Steve'sA6

I have a bad sidewall on one of my Continental 18" ContiPro tires and it needs to be replaced.
The remaining tires have anywhere between 4 to 5/32nds of tread left
This leaves me with the following options:

1. Replace just the one damaged tire
2. Replace both front tires with new tires and leave the 2 best remaining tires on the rear
3. Replace all 4 tires
4. Replace the one damaged tire and have it shaved (by tire rack) down to 5/32nds to match the tread depth of the other 3 tires

I am getting conflicting advice from the dealer and online research. Some say that as long as the tread depth is the same on each axle, it is okay to have more or less tread on the other axle. Thus, the recommendation is to buy 2 new tires for one axle.
Others say that the differential in the Quattro system will be damaged by driving on tires with different tread depths front and rear.

Does anyone have the definitive answer and/or advice on this issue?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and comments.

u2jrmw

My understanding with Quattro has been to replace all 4, but I am no expert. The only time I ignored this was when I had to replace one when the car only had a few thousand miles on it.

superswiss

The acceptable tolerance of Quattro is 4/32nd difference in tire thread between all tires. Given that a new tire is 10/32nd, you are outside of the tolerance. What you can do is order a new tire from Tirerack and ask them to shave it down to 5/32nd.

Vodka G

I say replace 2 and let the other 2 ride until it needs it at 3/32 which wont be long

uberwgn

Same. Keep the best two and put them on the front. Put two new tires on rear.

NABS4

+1

Steve'sA6

Why put two new ones on the rear vs the front? I would think that the newer tires would yield better handling and steering by being on the front?

gk1

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=236

John Simcox

Here in the UK CostCo will only fit new tyres to the rear of the car. Reason being that with less grip at the rear than the front there is greater risk that the car will get into a spin, and remember this is in a country where the vast majority of cars sold are front wheel drive and logically would have thought it better to have fresh rubber on the driven wheels

uberwgn

I'm not certain what the current thinking is on fitting the new tires on the rear, but it seems Audis tend to wear the rears faster...at least that's what I've experienced with ours. I'm sure there are other rationales.