alignment or suspension problem
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AudiWorld Senior Member
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alignment or suspension problem
if my front tires start to wear badly on the outer edge of the tires only... is that an alignment problem or a suspension problem... the entire tire looks great but the outside edge is really wearing thin.... these are new tires with about 8K miles on them.
the rear tires still look new (75% thread) with only about 31K miles on them
the rear tires still look new (75% thread) with only about 31K miles on them
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Wilbur by the Sea
Could be a control arm or alignment problem
You need to get a four wheel alignment with print out to factory specs to see if it is in/out of alignment.
I have always gone to the dealer or somebody that knows what they are doing. Specifically a guy who use to work at a dealer that does performance stuff.
That's your starting point.
My car has 138K miles and it wears tires perfectly, always has, but I always keep my car aligned.
I have always gone to the dealer or somebody that knows what they are doing. Specifically a guy who use to work at a dealer that does performance stuff.
That's your starting point.
My car has 138K miles and it wears tires perfectly, always has, but I always keep my car aligned.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
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sounds like your front TOE is off. your two front tires are pointed slightly inwards...
like this:
/ \
(top view of car)
they are slightly "duck-footed". I agree with PaulW...go to a local tire shop like NTB, Sears, basically anywhere that does 4 wheel alignments...and have them look at it AND make sure they give you a printout before doing the job. im guessing, based on wear, that your toe is in the negatives if your tires are wearing on the outside edges. inside only wear would most likely be caused by positive TOE or negative camber. if the wear is smooth...prolly TOE...if its rough and choppy...Bad control arm or TRE. but that would probably be across the body of the tire. Good luck...hop my info helps. BTW, get your alignment done AND rotate your front tires (criscross unless they are directional) to the back.
(disclaimer - I worked for NTB for 3 yrs in highschool as a salesman and tech)
/ \
(top view of car)
they are slightly "duck-footed". I agree with PaulW...go to a local tire shop like NTB, Sears, basically anywhere that does 4 wheel alignments...and have them look at it AND make sure they give you a printout before doing the job. im guessing, based on wear, that your toe is in the negatives if your tires are wearing on the outside edges. inside only wear would most likely be caused by positive TOE or negative camber. if the wear is smooth...prolly TOE...if its rough and choppy...Bad control arm or TRE. but that would probably be across the body of the tire. Good luck...hop my info helps. BTW, get your alignment done AND rotate your front tires (criscross unless they are directional) to the back.
(disclaimer - I worked for NTB for 3 yrs in highschool as a salesman and tech)
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
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no stability problems.. but i have a very noticible vibration for the 1st 1-2miles
then it seems to stabilize..
so.. i should criss-cross front to rear tires rather than the typical front-to-back exchange.
so.. i should criss-cross front to rear tires rather than the typical front-to-back exchange.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Atlanta, GA
Sounds like your toe too positive.
Positive toe will wear the outside edge of both of your tires. Negative would wear the inside of your tires. If the wear is slightly choppy, its definitely toe. If it is smooth wear,it could be camber or air pressure, but I hardly see too much positive camber on A8s.
Usually if you have loose suspension components, it would cause a negative toe when rolling and would wear the inside of the tires. Like everyone has recommended, get a good alignment.
Usually if you have loose suspension components, it would cause a negative toe when rolling and would wear the inside of the tires. Like everyone has recommended, get a good alignment.
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I always use a 5-tire rotation.
LF > Trunk
Trunk > RR
RR > LF
LF > LR
LR > LF
Lots of advantages to this, not the least of which is that you're not stuck with an obsolete spare with full tread.
Trunk > RR
RR > LF
LF > LR
LR > LF
Lots of advantages to this, not the least of which is that you're not stuck with an obsolete spare with full tread.
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