A6 Le Mans 3.0 TDI

[pse12345]

Evening all,

New to the forum, I have a puncture in one of the rear tyres - they all have ca. 4mm left. I currently have Michelin Pilot Sport 2 fitted all round. Assuming the worst, and the tyre is shot. Should I replace with the same type? would be keen to hear thoughts on which tyres are best suited...

Edited by pse12345 on Monday 28th December 19:24

[Dilligaf10]

Recommendation is that on a quattro all 4 tyres should be replaced at the same time. Probably not what you want to hear though.

I am just trying Kuhmo's on my A8L at present but I suspect our requirements are rather different as I need a soft ride and little road noise due to work commitments.

[Defcon5]

Part worn with about 4mm left maybe?

[pgilc1]

Defcon5 said:

Part worn with about 4mm left maybe?

Are you seriously recommending putting a partworn tyre which is unlikely to be of the exact type of the others on a car worth maybe £25K and also a quattro??

[Defcon5]

I meant a part worn PS2. Provided it has the same amount of tread as the one that is being removed I dont see a problem.

[pgilc1]

Defcon5 said:

I meant a part worn PS2. Provided it has the same amount of tread as the one that is being removed I dont see a problem.

Agreed. that would be fine. but maybe hard to find?

[00161wj]

Dilligaf10 said:

Recommendation is that on a quattro all 4 tyres should be replaced at the same time. Probably not what you want to hear though.

I am just trying Kuhmo's on my A8L at present but I suspect our requirements are rather different as I need a soft ride and little road noise due to work commitments.

I cant stand this, you spend fairly big money on an A8L and then fit kuhmo tyres.... you've ruined the car.

[Dilligaf10]

00161wj said:

Dilligaf10 said:

Recommendation is that on a quattro all 4 tyres should be replaced at the same time. Probably not what you want to hear though.

I am just trying Kuhmo's on my A8L at present but I suspect our requirements are rather different as I need a soft ride and little road noise due to work commitments.

I cant stand this, you spend fairly big money on an A8L and then fit kuhmo tyres.... you've ruined the car.

I have been searching for quiet tyres for a while. Use to fit Pirelli P Zero Nero's but they get a "saw-tooth effect when part worn that sounds like a wheel bearing going.

I get through 2 - 3 sets of tyres a year and as you may see by my profile the car is used where noise and comfort are the main consideration. To be honest I have not noticed any lack of grip in the wet or the dry, (or in fact ice & snow) over the Pirelli's even when pushing on a bit when empty.

I know that you only get what you pay for but as the car is my working tool perhaps we have different priorities.

As for ruining the car it has actually improved it for my use. Spending big money on an A8L, well less than £25k for a 2 year old car from a main dealer is not what I call big money on a £60k+ car. The other consideration when buying the tyres by the way is that the car is due for replacement before April 2010 anyway.

[blueg33]

00161wj said:

Dilligaf10 said:

Recommendation is that on a quattro all 4 tyres should be replaced at the same time. Probably not what you want to hear though.

I am just trying Kuhmo's on my A8L at present but I suspect our requirements are rather different as I need a soft ride and little road noise due to work commitments.

I cant stand this, you spend fairly big money on an A8L and then fit kuhmo tyres.... you've ruined the car.

How do you know he has ruined the car? Have you driven one back to back on the Kuhmo's and say Pirelli's? Just because a tyre isn't a premium brand doesnt mean that its not up to the job. The scariest tyres I have ever had were pirelli P6000's on my wifes Leon Cupra, we temporarily swapped them for Nankangs (still awful - don't let women chose tyres when you are away!) which were better than the Pirellis but worse than the Falken 452's that it currently wears.

I run Vredstein Ultrac Sessantas on my A6, not a premium brand but way better then the original Pirelli PZero Rosso's and the Dunlop SP9000 that I fitted when the Pirellis wore out.

[duncansaunders]

Dilligaf10 said:

Recommendation is that on a quattro all 4 tyres should be replaced at the same time. Probably not what you want to hear though.

Where does it say that?

Owners manual for my car says various things such as:

"If the front tyres are worn more than the rears it is advisable to change them around as shown (front to back> All the tyres will then last about the same time."

"For safety reasons tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not singly. The tyres with the deepest tread should always be used on the front wheels."

Both of the above apply to all cars, generally.

"All four wheels must always be fitted with tyres of the same type, make and tread pattern; otherwise the drive train can be damaged as a result of the constant difference in the wheel speeds."

"The use of tyres with varying degrees of wear will not adversely affect the four wheel drive transmission".

The above two apply to 4wd Audis with a torsen centre diff (longitudinal engines)

So, I would say that option 1 is to find a part worn matching tyre. Option 2 is to buy a pair of tyres and put them on the front. Keep the part worn tyre as a spare.

I suppose you've already investigated getting the puncture repaired?

[00161wj]

I cant stand this, you spend fairly big money on an A8L and then fit kuhmo tyres.... you've ruined the car.
[/quote]

How do you know he has ruined the car? Have you driven one back to back on the Kuhmo's and say Pirelli's? Just because a tyre isn't a premium brand doesnt mean that its not up to the job.
[/quote]


Yes i have, driven many cars with kuhmo etc tyres on. These tyres have had the rear end sliding out on a rear while drive car i previously owned with the slightest of power applied on cornering. Fitted continentals and it handled like a dream. Even if the latest kuhmos have been drastically improved it still looks shocking having a set og kuhmo tyres holding up your A8... fact!

[gizlaroc]

00161wj said:

Yes i have, driven many cars with kuhmo etc tyres on. These tyres have had the rear end sliding out on a rear while drive car i previously owned with the slightest of power applied on cornering. Fitted continentals and it handled like a dream. Even if the latest kuhmos have been drastically improved it still looks shocking having a set og kuhmo tyres holding up your A8... fact!

I reckon the Kumho KU-31 is one of the best tyres out there.

I always use Michelin PS2's on all my cars in the summer and Dunlop Winter Sports in the winter.
I have tried the Pirelli P Zeros, rossos and neros, Conti sport contacts, Goodyear Eagle F1s and for me the PS2 is better than them all, they are so progressive when they let go you can feel what is going on far better.

I have also had a few sets of FK452's, these have been to replace run flats on my wifes 1 series and 3 series, however, I went straight from PS2s to the FK452 Falkens and then relaised they were way bhind, so after 3000 miles ditched them and put PS2s back on.

Now, the point of all that is to say that I am not just saying this as all I know is the Kumho tyre.

I bought a set of 18's for my M3, as I prefer it on 18's to 19's handling wise and it was a second fun car, and when they arrived they had Kumho KU31 tyres on, now I knew this and just presumed they would be crap, so I already had a set of PS2s sat there ready to put on once I time. However, due to work it was 3 weeks before I got a chance to swap them, and I very nearly didn't, the Kumhos were fantastic, not quite as progressive, but not far off and better than many other tyres I have tried on an M3. I would definitely buy them again.
Alot of M3 drivers use them, especially in Europe, and over there they are not classed as a budget tyre.



On a Quattro you can't have more than 2mm difference in tread between front and rear axle, it throws off the electronics badly and can be a real problem when you really need it.
And you have to have the same depth on the same axle.
It says all this in the manual.

I would look on ebay and grab one (or even a pair) as it will be far cheaper than buying new. All tyres have a manufacture date, so ask the seller how old it is, if it is over 3 years then leave it imho.

[gizlaroc]

Just realised you put Continentals on your car.

I have to say the Continental Sport Contact 2 is the worst tyre I have ever had, had them on my S4 and they were shocking!!

They were on my A6 avant that I am driving at the moment and as part of the deal I got them to swap them for some Michelins.

We all like different thing I guess.

[blueg33]

duncansaunders said:

Dilligaf10 said:

Recommendation is that on a quattro all 4 tyres should be replaced at the same time. Probably not what you want to hear though.

Where does it say that?

Owners manual for my car says various things such as:



" The tyres with the deepest tread should always be used on the front wheels."

Both of the above apply to all cars, generally.

Not happy with that statement from the manual. Most tyre manufacturers recommend putting trhe deepest tread (newest tyres) on the back. There is a thread running on this at the moment with an interesting vid.

[blueg33]

00161wj said:

I cant stand this, you spend fairly big money on an A8L and then fit kuhmo tyres.... you've ruined the car.

How do you know he has ruined the car? Have you driven one back to back on the Kuhmo's and say Pirelli's? Just because a tyre isn't a premium brand doesnt mean that its not up to the job.

00161wj said:

Yes i have, driven many cars with kuhmo etc tyres on. These tyres have had the rear end sliding out on a rear while drive car i previously owned with the slightest of power applied on cornering. Fitted continentals and it handled like a dream. Even if the latest kuhmos have been drastically improved it still looks shocking having a set og kuhmo tyres holding up your A8... fact!

I have only used Kuhmo's (can't remember the model) on the track where I knew I would kill them pretty quickly. TBH the didnt seem much worse than average eg Toyo proxies. The car that I usually use on the track tends to wear either Yohohamas or R888's.

Edited by blueg33 on Wednesday 30th December 11:15

[pse12345]

Thanks for all your replies. I am off to a main dealer this morning - I'm not overly optimistic about the puncture being repairable but I will ask. I will probably get all four done today as I need to be back on the road ASAP.

Impressively, the tyre wear has been even - all four have 4mm left. Just another layer of evidence underlining what a great car this is (in spite of the anti-audi motoring press I usually read!).

The car is a 07, I bought in in March 08 and - being naiive and a new driver - the sly W"$%&*%s sold it to me with 3 different types of tyres on the car. I swapped out for the PS2s but I'm slighlty worried about the "permanent damage to the drivetrain" comment. Surely the drivetrain is more robust than that? Drives well now anyway....

[pse12345]

Btw, gizlaroc......which tyres would you go for then?

[Dilligaf10]

The Kumho's may not be everyone's cup of tea but they have improved my A8L for the job it is doing, i.e. smooth quiet motoring. Time will tell regarding wear rate but so far grip has not been compromised at all in fact in some circumstances it has been better.

Managed to get up a sheet ice slope at an estate up on the Cotswolds the other day, don't think the Pirelli's would have managed without slipping.

As they say, horses for courses. I really would like to be driving a Lambo or hot rod all day, everyday, but difficult to put 4 passengers and luggage in for an airport run! It is all about your personal requirements.

[Tame Technician]

audi nat said:

dont fit crap to itx will just wear quicker (i know there quick any way) but handling not as good, stick to mitchelin or pirelli

Absolutley!!, Michelin are by far the best tyre, But they are almost twice as expensive, if you want out and out grip and handing Mich Pilot Sports cant be beaten. Pirreli PZero rossos would be my second choice, maybe Goodyears.

Only if you really really cant tell the difference, when you driving, fit cheap tyres.


That said, If you must fit cheap tyres, I have run Kumho's before, and they are a resonable compromise for cost/abillity, or maybe Fulda's other than that, stay away from the cheaper brands.

Edited by Tame Technician on Wednesday 30th December 19:12

[blueg33]

Tame Technician said:

audi nat said:

dont fit crap to itx will just wear quicker (i know there quick any way) but handling not as good, stick to mitchelin or pirelli

Absolutley!!, Michelin are by far the best tyre, But they are almost twice as expensive, if you want out and out grip and handing Mich Pilot Sports cant be beaten. Pirreli PZero rossos would be my second choice, maybe Goodyears.

Only if you really really cant tell the difference, when you driving, fit cheap tyres.


That said, If you must fit cheap tyres, I have run Kumho's before, and they are a resonable compromise for cost/abillity, or maybe Fulda's other than that, stay away from the cheaper brands.

Edited by Tame Technician on Wednesday 30th December 19:12

Unusually, I feel I have to disagree with TT

I really hated the Pzero Rossos on my A6 Le Mans, they were so slippy and when half worn were like slicks in the wet, they tramlined horribly, were noisy even new and did that horrible sawtooth thing so I thought a bearing had gone.

They wore badly too, I got 17000 miles from a set when I got 20,000 from Dunlop SP9000s. The Ultract Sessantas are currently 12000 miles in and show 6mm of tread all round