One Flat Turns to Four

[Huw Powell]

Enough of the silly armchair engineering.  The reality is that 
mismatched tires will tear a differential apart.  This is because the 
light spider gears are transferring power all the time.

Pickup truck people find this out when they run totally different wheels 
and tires front and rear in 4wd.

The amount of wear on a given tire is probably not enough to worry 
about, although regular rotation is encouraged, and Quattros should get 
four new tires at a time.

Putting on a new tire of same brand and model with three half-worn ones 
might be ok.  Wrecked tires are the nightmare of quattro systems - how 
much difference is ok?

Anyone ever hear of a Q diff blowing up (under 500 hp)?  Ever?

My comment about shaving the new tire was a joke.  A well meant joke.

- Huw