[A4] Should I replace all four tires? 1998 A4 2.8 Quattro

[Igor Kessel]

Venkat Venkataratnam wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> 1998 A4 2.8 Quattro
> 
> I had one of my front tires go flat last week and it got damaged too. I 
> intend replacing just two tires (a pair) rahter than all the four tires. 
> The rear tires look really good (less than 15000 miles).
> 
> Some mechanics are telling me that I should replace all four tires since 
> it is a Quattro. Can't i just get away with replacing two particularly 
> when the other are very good. May be I will put the new tires on the 
> rear wheels and put the old ones on to the front.
> 
> Any suggestions/advice will be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Thanks.
> 

Venkat,
it's all urban tales. I've had every possible combinations of 
wheels/tyres in my quattros. At the moment (temporarily off course) my 
'97 S6 has some v-rated 225/50/16 Generals on the 16x7.5 Avus rims in 
the front and the w-rated 255/40/17 Sumitomo HTRZ-II on 17x8 
A!Avantgardes in the back.

Three things are a "must-have":
1. all four tyres are to be of the same diametre, hence the need for a 
tyre dia calculator. Use the Miata one for example. Or stick with the 
OEM brand, model and size.
2. the two tyres on each one axle are to be of the same brand, make and 
model. You don't want to spin off the road in the rain due to the 
different tread pattern.
3. the best tyres always go on the front axle. Coz acceleration of a car 
is a distant third to its ability to brake and to turn.

My wife's '98 A4 quattro also has seen quite a few different wheel/tyre 
combinations w/o any adverse effects.

-- 
Igor Kessel
two turbo quattros in the stable,
the third one is in the works