Front Tires Wearing Out Quickly (2017 A8L 4.0T)
02-08-2019, 08:22 PM
#1
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Front Tires Wearing Out Quickly (2017 A8L 4.0T)
Hi,
So I hit roughly 15,500 miles on my A8L a couple of months ago, until one day I noticed that the outside edges of both of my front tires were completely worn out, with the silver threads showing (again, just around the outside edges - further in was fine). I checked the service records for my first Audi Care maintenance done earlier and it didn't look like they had rotated the tires. I ended up getting exact, new replacements at a local shop, but given that the rear tires are in excellent shape, I wanted to see if anyone else has run into an issue like this with only the front tires?
Some additional info: I have the original/factory installed 21 inch wheels (I think they are technically the "S8 Wheels") with the ContiSportContact ContiSilent 275/35 R21 103Y tires. The vehicle was acquired brand new in late 2017 from an Audi dealer and driven only in Los Angeles weather.
Thoughts? Experiences?
So I hit roughly 15,500 miles on my A8L a couple of months ago, until one day I noticed that the outside edges of both of my front tires were completely worn out, with the silver threads showing (again, just around the outside edges - further in was fine). I checked the service records for my first Audi Care maintenance done earlier and it didn't look like they had rotated the tires. I ended up getting exact, new replacements at a local shop, but given that the rear tires are in excellent shape, I wanted to see if anyone else has run into an issue like this with only the front tires?
Some additional info: I have the original/factory installed 21 inch wheels (I think they are technically the "S8 Wheels") with the ContiSportContact ContiSilent 275/35 R21 103Y tires. The vehicle was acquired brand new in late 2017 from an Audi dealer and driven only in Los Angeles weather.
Thoughts? Experiences?
02-09-2019, 02:27 AM
#2
I would look at getting a wheel alignment done. Excessive wear on the inside or outside edge of a tire can be indicative of a toe-in issue.
If you don't fix the issue, then your new tires are going to go the same way in short order also
If you don't fix the issue, then your new tires are going to go the same way in short order also
02-09-2019, 06:40 AM
#4
AudiWorld Member
02-09-2019, 06:48 AM
#5
AudiWorld Super User
1. Rotate tires no less than annually/10K miles.
2. Get alignment checked as noted.
3. Check tire pressures against owner's manual (better source than door sticker for part load settings), and check every 3 months. Don't just rely on TPMS, which will be slow to catch gradual pressure drop across all 4 tires at same time.
4. Expect with high performance summers and heavy and high torque D4's to only get perhaps 20K miles out of them.
2. Get alignment checked as noted.
3. Check tire pressures against owner's manual (better source than door sticker for part load settings), and check every 3 months. Don't just rely on TPMS, which will be slow to catch gradual pressure drop across all 4 tires at same time.
4. Expect with high performance summers and heavy and high torque D4's to only get perhaps 20K miles out of them.
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; 02-09-2019 at 07:03 AM.
02-09-2019, 06:57 AM
#6
I should have asked the OP whether he considered if the replacement tires would be in spec.
Last year, I lost a tire. The new tire would be within spec, but I elected to have it “shaved” by Tire Rack. It couldn’t have been done locally.
Lots of people choose to ignore this or are unaware, I prefer to err on the side of caution. The only cost of the “shave” was a one day delay.
02-09-2019, 07:15 AM
#7
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the feedback.
Shaving it had not even crossed my mind, nor alignment as being an issue. I’ve pretty much relied on Audi scheduled maintenance in the past with 0 issues - on 2 A6’s and an A3, that I think I’ve become complacent in being attentive, myself. As I’ve learned so far, the A8 is a different beast.
I’ll be making an appointment at the dealer over the next week or so to have it checked and get their take on it as well. Hopefully I haven’t damaged much, if anything, so far.
I’ll also have to investigate in perhaps getting different tires, long-term.
Shaving it had not even crossed my mind, nor alignment as being an issue. I’ve pretty much relied on Audi scheduled maintenance in the past with 0 issues - on 2 A6’s and an A3, that I think I’ve become complacent in being attentive, myself. As I’ve learned so far, the A8 is a different beast.
I’ll be making an appointment at the dealer over the next week or so to have it checked and get their take on it as well. Hopefully I haven’t damaged much, if anything, so far.
I’ll also have to investigate in perhaps getting different tires, long-term.
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02-09-2019, 07:31 AM
#8
Thanks for all the feedback.
Shaving it had not even crossed my mind, nor alignment as being an issue. I’ve pretty much relied on Audi scheduled maintenance in the past with 0 issues - on 2 A6’s and an A3, that I think I’ve become complacent in being attentive, myself. As I’ve learned so far, the A8 is a different beast.
I’ll be making an appointment at the dealer over the next week or so to have it checked and get their take on it as well. Hopefully I haven’t damaged much, if anything, so far.
I’ll also have to investigate in perhaps getting different tires, long-term.
Shaving it had not even crossed my mind, nor alignment as being an issue. I’ve pretty much relied on Audi scheduled maintenance in the past with 0 issues - on 2 A6’s and an A3, that I think I’ve become complacent in being attentive, myself. As I’ve learned so far, the A8 is a different beast.
I’ll be making an appointment at the dealer over the next week or so to have it checked and get their take on it as well. Hopefully I haven’t damaged much, if anything, so far.
I’ll also have to investigate in perhaps getting different tires, long-term.
02-09-2019, 07:43 AM
#9
AudiWorld Super User
Trouble with the dealer alignment approach is it will be out of this world pricy--like $800 or some absurd $$$. They will want to check and recalibrate all the optical related safety system sensors along side. My own experience is as long as car has not been in an accidident where body work is done, typically you can just do the standard laser rack 4 wheel alignment at an independent tire shop. I spend $90 for those. Have not done it yet on D4, but have on the Q5.
Also note if you follow Audi service schedule, they deleted tire rotations from those ages ago. Audi has also designed the brakes now in such a way they can take pad measurements with the wheels on the car, so they don''t tend to get rotated for that reason either. Since I use two sets of tires seasonally, mine get rotated as part of that drill.
On the 21's in audi sizing, you will likely find pretty limited choices there. A performance all season would get you better wear, but in the 21's I think those are likely just the Pirellis that tend to be mixed longer term reviews on the D4. In the 20's I can get either the Michelin AS3+ or the Conti DWS 06. The former is not too far off a high performance summer, while the latter I am finding workable for a (modest) snow weather tire. Academic though if the 21's are your set up.
Also note if you follow Audi service schedule, they deleted tire rotations from those ages ago. Audi has also designed the brakes now in such a way they can take pad measurements with the wheels on the car, so they don''t tend to get rotated for that reason either. Since I use two sets of tires seasonally, mine get rotated as part of that drill.
On the 21's in audi sizing, you will likely find pretty limited choices there. A performance all season would get you better wear, but in the 21's I think those are likely just the Pirellis that tend to be mixed longer term reviews on the D4. In the 20's I can get either the Michelin AS3+ or the Conti DWS 06. The former is not too far off a high performance summer, while the latter I am finding workable for a (modest) snow weather tire. Academic though if the 21's are your set up.
The prices we pay for driving a 4,600+ lb tank around. But it is so cool... 