GregDr

While rotating my tires, I noticed one has a large bulge in the sidewall. I called around trying to find 2 tires (I have always heard that you shouldn't replace just one if the others are worn). My current tires are Goodyear Eagle RS-A with a 91H load rating (they still have alot of tread left so I don't want to replace all 4 if I can avoid it). All of the places I talked to said the 91H was back-ordered and they didn't know when they could get them. However the 89H was available. I read a post that the 89H was within the Audi load specs. But I am concerned about having 2 different load ratings. So in your opinion, would it be better to buy the same model of tire with a different load rating or different model of tire with the same load rating?

Greyhound Guy

make sure they are both on the front or back.

MAA6

If you have a Quattro, then the tire tread depth from front to rear needs to be within 4/16" of each other, and the closer the better. This is because any more than that and the rotating diameter and consequently axel speed will be so different that it can damage the AWD drivetrain.

If you have the 205/55HR16 then the 91H tires are backordered at Tire Rack too. Note that Tirerack will actually wear down tires for you. So if you have 3/4" usable tread left on the good 3, you can buy one tire and tire rack will wear it down on a special machine to the same 3/4" level as your current tires. Give them a call, maybe they know the delivery date. This would be your most economical choice and you will only need 1 tire.

Luke@tirerack

buy two new tires and have them shaved to match the two existing tires

MAA6

Tire tread is measured in 32nds of an inch. For Quattro Audi's, the front to rear tires need to be within 4/32 of an inch. This is in the owners manual.

A6Gary

but 89H meets the rated gross weight label on the C4. I had mismatched front and rear tires (Michelins on front, the original OEM Continentals on rear) for some tire before I purchased a complete set of Falken Ziex ZE-512s (91H rated, of coarse!).