Nitto Motivo tire review. 1 summer, 20,000 miles and they are dead, down to the cords, and I don't drive hard! Bought these in factory size at 245/40/18. Have 20,000 miles on them now and they are worn to the cords, here's the kicker on just half the tire on the inside edge. I knew they did not road force balance well. I said all along they did not feel round and now that there toast that pretty much confirms that. Shook avery one of those miles after numerous balancings. They had a 60,000 mile warranty and didn't even come close. Car has been aligned at two different Audi dealers and suspension checked every time it goes in for alignment. Everytime it goes in it's generally within spec too.

I hated these Motivos right from the start, They were never smooth! Never have I had such a poor set of tires on any car. Never again will I buy a Nitto tire. Never! Glad there done and now I can go back to Michelin or Conti. both of which I've had no issues with on the car. Other than wearing out around 36-38000 miles. Thought the Nitto's might see some better wear, but honestly I'm glad I can get them off for the shaking they provided. Now I can go back to some nice round, smooth tires. 176,000 miles now on my 05 4.2 and its still running like a top!

 

Did you happen to lower your suspension? If you did and you did not install KMACS bushings it is not possible to properly set the camber and the tires will ride on the inside edge.

 

Knapp,

Great to hear that the 4.2 is still running like a champ at 176k miles. I am at 133k miles and she is still running great. Nice to hear from you.

Kevin

 

Stock Audi factory sport suspension. Same thing that's been in it since mile #1.

Yes, my tires when they wear will always wear to the cords in the inside edge, but they wear it uniformly all the way around the tire. This was not the case with the Nitto's. And the reason I knew these tires were not kosher right from the start. They shook since I installed them, and they have been road forced balanced numerous times, never did they ride true and round without shake. Glad they are shot and I can now return to decent tires again!

I should also add the Nitto's did not ride real good, they were sensitive to air pressure and had lots of thud on road joints. Not as bad in summer heat but not great, cooler temps was where they rode even worse, which is surprising as the air pressure is lees when cold. They also started out quiet but got louder as the miles piled on. These last miles have bee real loud and you can tell they are shot and out of round. I called Nitto when they were new and they wanted me to get them to a Nitto dealer, of which there was none around me at that time. I had ordered them off of e-bay because they were supposed to be a long lasting tire and I fell for there marketing. Now I know better to stay with the tried on true Conti and Michelins, they have never ever been trouble, (shaking and feeling out of round).

I read about the KMAC bushing kit, and all the issues the guys that had them had as well, and I opted to not even go there with all the issues using them. I just replace the tires when the wear to the cords on the inside edges, which is always around 36-38,000 miles. The car has 176,000+ miles on it now, I have replaced quite a few sets of tires! LOL!

 

Another tire to stay away from are Falken's. They were on my car when I got it CPO. They always tram lined on highways with grooves from the heavy trucks. It made driving those highways a challenge requiring constant concentration. And the tires got uncomfortably noisy as they wore. I got about 30k out of them but I should have replaced them sooner. I just put on Conti DWS and they are much quieter and they do not tramline on the highway. My wife is now willing to drive the car. She did not like the instability with the Falkens.

 

Hey these Nittos do the same tramlining too. I should also mention I lost 1-2 MPG with them also.

I usually don't see the tramlining till a tire is at the end of its service life. The Nittos started doing it about 5000 miles.


It does not pay to try less than the good name brand tires on these Audi's I guess.