graycat89

Greetings everyone. I have a 2008 A6 Avant with S line package and 98300 actual miles. I have enoticed for the past couple of years that the ride has become loud and a bit stiff. Just wondering if something is wrong with the suspension components wearing out etc. Tires may also need to be replaced and they have about 30% thread left. I am riding Continental Pure Contact Touring and were purchased on 2/2018 and they are no longer made 245-40-18. Tires tend to do get hard and noisy as they get older. Thanks and best regards.

kelisko

What's the air pressure inside your tires? This does affect ride quality.

graycat89

Good point!!! I generally stick with the indicated pressure in the door jam. 38 front and 42 rear. I generally get my tires at our local Costco or Discount Tire and this is what they suggest. I guess you don't have to stick with it. I could run them at around 33 PSI however it may increase the wear in the outer part of the tire. Of course I can always experiment.

das60

Look in your manual. I recently discovered that door jam is essentially the fully loaded pressure. I think my rear is 32 or so as the car carries me and my 18 pound bicycles....

uberwgn

Yeah, the door jamb info for cars sent to the USA only shows MAX LOAD conditions. Been like that for many years now. You'll have to defer to the Owner's Manual for Normal load inflation strategies.

graycat89

Thanks for your replies and I guess I have to refer to the tires manuals. I think that 35 all around is a good number to start. Perhaps a bit higher in the rear. Low tire pressure can increase temperature and it diminishes MPG by a hair. We don't have children and I usually ride alone, sometimes with my wife and she weighs about 125 pounds. Will experiment. All the best.

uberwgn

The manual for our 2006 wagon states:

245/40/18 All Season tire: Normal load 38 Front and 33 Rear. Max Load is 38 Front and 42 Rear
245/40/18 Summer tire: Normal load 33 Front and 30 Rear. Max Load is 35 Front and 39 Rear

Gray, you really should check your own manual and see what the values are for a 2008MY car. They may be the same, they may not.

kelisko

I always refer to the sticker inside the fuel flap. I use 245/40 R18 rated 97Y so I set mine to 32 PSI front, 30 PSI rear.

uberwgn

Keli, your MY2005 car must be the last year to display that full information. Our 2006MY car does not have that sticker.

graycat89

Same here. My wagon is a 2008 and it does not say anything in the fuel door. Also nothing regarding full load, just a single F 38 R 42. However the manual suggests under normal load and up to 3 occupants, F38 R35