Tyre Dispute

[jimmyVX]

I recently bought ( 1month ago) a 2011 B8 A4 Avant Black Edition from an Audi main dealer some 200miles away from home. On viewing the car I noticed one of the front tyres had a bulge in the side wall. They agreed to replace it, which they did before it was delivered to me.

Cut a long story short I had noticed the car pulled slightly to the left and while it was at my local dealer today having a small warranty job taken care of I asked them to check the tracking. They just called to tell me that the tracking is fine, but put the pulling down to a inconsistent tread pattern and depth across the front tyres.

Is this something the supplying dealer should be responsible for putting right?

[Fleckers]

i would argue the point

but I would have checked it upon arrival anyway

[DocArbathnot]

Speak to them and see what they say, I assume 1 tyre ok and the other is worn.

They are under no obligation to change the worn tyre but you may get away with a contribution towards another one.

[TheEnd]

Almost all the cases of cars pulling to one side are to the left, and that's often down to the camber of the road.

[gizlaroc]

jimmyVX said:

They just called to tell me that the tracking is fine, but put the pulling down to a inconsistent tread pattern and depth across the front tyres.

They put a different tyre on the opposite side of the axle??

I would demand a matched pair.

[jimmyVX]

Apparently they both Pirelli P-Zero Rosso just one is AO rated that the other isnt One tyre has 8mm tread and the other 5mm. I dont know how much different the AO rating makes to the tread pattern?

I did some research and it was suggested that minimal tyre tread difference made very little difference and therefore wouldnt be an issue.

I would assume that a non-AO approved tyre should have been picked up in their own 145 point inspection?

[DocArbathnot]

gizlaroc said:

jimmyVX said:

They just called to tell me that the tracking is fine, but put the pulling down to a inconsistent tread pattern and depth across the front tyres.

They put a different tyre on the opposite side of the axle??

I would demand a matched pair.

They are under no obligation to put a matched pair on an axle (although it is good practice)
Only tyres of the same type and size i.e. no mixing of summer/winter

[gizlaroc]

jimmyVX said:

Apparently they both Pirelli P-Zero Rosso just one is AO rated that the other isnt One tyre has 8mm tread and the other 5mm. I dont know how much different the AO rating makes to the tread pattern?

I did some research and it was suggested that minimal tyre tread difference made very little difference and therefore wouldnt be an issue.

I would assume that a non-AO approved tyre should have been picked up in their own 145 point inspection?

There are a few P-Zero Rosso, different treads, different tyres.

You may even have a symmetrical and asymmetrical tyre on the same axle, not a great idea and a main dealer should know better.


http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/gb/en/car/sheet/pzero_...

[gizlaroc]

DocArbathnot said:

They are under no obligation to put a matched pair on an axle (although it is good practice)
Only tyres of the same type and size i.e. no mixing of summer/winter

No, but it is fkin' stupid.

[pmjg66]

Ask them to swop over at the front (checking direction of rotation) of the tyres..

this can usually correct the pull...

or swop front to back if the rear tyres of similar tread...

[aw51 121565]

pmjg66 said:

Ask them to swop over at the front (checking direction of rotation) of the tyres..

this can usually correct the pull...

or swop front to back if the rear tyres of similar tread...

Tyre conicity, whereby the new tyre is defective in this regard? undoubtedly .

OP, do what the quoted poster suggests and report back.

[pmjg66]

aw51 121565 said:

pmjg66 said:

Ask them to swop over at the front (checking direction of rotation) of the tyres..

this can usually correct the pull...

or swop front to back if the rear tyres of similar tread...

Tyre conicity, whereby the new tyre is defective in this regard? undoubtedly .

OP, do what the quoted poster suggests and report back.

Incorrect the new tyre will have a lower rolling resistance due to the increased tread block than the part worn one which is standard for all tyre types including non defective tyres

Op would like to hear back my previous suggestions...

When i carried out used car preparations at a main dealer the only stipulation was from the manufacturer (not individual dealer) was tyres must be a minimum of 3mm but i guess different manufacturers could be different.

be interesting to know how you get on.

[ModernAndy]

I hope it's not a quattro. When I worked for them a training expert told me that different tread depths have been known to cause diff wind-up.

[Engineer1]

I'd suspect you would need more that 2-3mm of difference between the two front tyres to cause issues say a brand new tyre and a bald one as tyres don't always wear down the same ammount for the same mileage.

[singlecoil]

jimmyVX said:

I recently bought ( 1month ago) a 2011 B8 A4 Avant Black Edition from an Audi main dealer some 200miles away from home.

I'm curious as to why people do this, it must make sorting out any problems substantially more difficult.

[Snowboy]

As it's a main dealer I'd complain and say you expected a matched pair of decent tyres.

I would guess the outcome will involve them offering a goodwill payment towards a new pair of front tyres.
Possibly 50%,

[N Dentressangle]

pmjg66 said:

Ask them to swop over at the front (checking direction of rotation) of the tyres..

this can usually correct the pull...

or swop front to back if the rear tyres of similar tread...

I agree - try this yourself or at your local Kwikfit before anything expensive. It's worked well for me in the past.

Otherwise, I think you have to try and be nice to the dealer and see if they'll sort it for you as a bit of goodwill as Snowboy suggests.

[Ari]

singlecoil said:

I'm curious as to why people do this, it must make sorting out any problems substantially more difficult.

Are you? It's because the car the OP wanted was for sale at a garage 200 miles away from home so he went there and bought it.

[Snowboy]

singlecoil said:

I'm curious as to why people do this, it must make sorting out any problems substantially more difficult.

If you live in Devon, the lake district, some areas of Wales - your nearest Audi dealer might be 200 miles away.

[singlecoil]

Ari said:

singlecoil said:

I'm curious as to why people do this, it must make sorting out any problems substantially more difficult.

Are you? It's because the car the OP wanted was for sale at a garage 200 miles away from home so he went there and bought it.

Must have been exceptionally rare, then. I must admit that I am not au fait with the availability of the various Audi models.

But when I think of how often we see threads started by people who have done similar, bought cars from many miles away and now have problems with them, I remain curious as to why people continue to do it.