Hi all
i have now had a response from AUDI UK regarding tyre wear, I have copied and pasted it below.
Audi insist that there is no modification for tyre wear !!!
Further to our recent email communications regarding your vehicle's current tyre wear.
I have spoken to our Technical Support Team on your behalf, they have confirmed that there is no modification available which
will have an affect of your vehicle's tyre wear.
However, they have provided the following information which I hope will prove helpful to you.
Tyre wear/tyre performance and expectations
A wide range of demands are placed on tyres and each of these demands is covered to a greater or lesser extent in the design of
the tyres. Depending on the use of the tyre and the type of the vehicle, certain demands may be more prominent, while others
could be of lesser importance.
Tyres for high powered vehicles are expected to have high contact and good grip with the road surface, even on wet and flooded
roads, although to achieve this, tyres of this type will not have the same mileage expectancy as tyres on lower performance
vehicles.
The durability of passenger vehicle tyres does not just depend on the composition of the rubber and design of the tyre, i.e. a
soft compound would wear considerably faster than a harder compound tyre. The conditions of use, vehicle related influences and
the driving style have a high impact on the durability and therefore, life expectancy of a tyre. In today's cars with modern and
advanced engines, a particularly gentle and economical driving style is possible with the option of driving in a sporty fashion
if desired. The driving style is the decisive influencing factor for the life of a tyre.
Influencing factors affecting tyre life
The following factors influence the life of a tyre in varying intensity:
Road surface - Modern tyres must perform under many road conditions: wet, dry and scorching hot, melting snow or ice. They must
perform on motorways, road networks in need of repair, dirt tracks and on good roads where it is possible to increase overall
journey speeds. Indeed many sections of modern dual carriageway have been opened with sweeping bends, encouraging fast progress
on the straight and round the bends. All these conditions result in greater wear and tear on tyres.
Climatic conditions - When the road surface is wet, the coefficient of friction is much lower than when the tyre is operating on
a dry surface. Coupled with a more cautious driving style, the total effect can reduce the tyre wear rate by a factor of three
or four.
Driving Style - A "sporty" driving style and entering into corners at high speeds is made noticeable by increased one sided/edge
wear pattern. In practice this means that wear is increased 16-fold if the cornering speed is doubled. This is the "premium fee"
you pay for reaching your destination in a shorter space of time.
Typical wear associated with a hard/sporty driving style
Vehicle development - Powerful anti-lock (i.e. non-skid) braking systems and ESP add safety and performance. As a result,
considerable stress is placed on tyres that have to maintain a sure grip on different road surfaces, especially wet surfaces.
These stresses reduce overall tyre life. Power steering makes turning a vehicle's wheels easier, which is ideal for urban
driving conditions, but it also causes excessive scrub on tyres, especially if the wheel is turned while the vehicle is at a
standstill, for example whilst manoeuvring out of tight parking spaces. The use of driver assistance systems such as ESP and ABS
has encouraged a more sporty driving style to be adopted by many drivers; this in turn does lead to a reduction in tyre life
expectancy.
Air suspension - The introduction of vehicles with adjustable ride height such as the Audi Q7, A6 and A8 assist the driver with
allowing an appropriate ride height to be controlled, if inappropriate ride height is used for long periods, i.e. maximum ground
clearance setting when travelling around town, life expectancy of the tyre can be greatly reduced. As additional loading of the
tyre will cause an above expected scrubbing effect on the tread blocks, an appropriate or automatic setting should always be
used unless situations dictate the use of a manual override.
Inflation pressure - Inflation pressure is the lifeline of the tyre. It is imperative that the pressures recommended by the
vehicles manufacturer are adhered to at all times. Any deviation from the recommended value will have a detrimental effect on
service life and possibly vehicle safety, tyre pressures should be checked on a regular basis at least weekly and if mileage
dictates more frequently.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us, allowing me the opportunity to reply. If I can be of help with anything else,
please contact me on the details below.
Kind Regards
Customer Relations Advisor
Audi UK
T
0800 699 888
E
Customer.Services@audi.co.uk
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AFTER READING THE ABOVE , I WILL NOW EMAIL AUDI UK AND MENTION THE FOLLOWING.
SVM code 4L34A003
The Vehicle lowers from Off Road to Automatic at 80kmh (50mph). Previously this happened at 100kmh (62mph)When the vehicle lowers to Automatic, it remains at this level and does not return to Off Road at 70kmh (43mph) as it did previously.
The svm code is run via vas online connection at your dealer and its applicable pre 2009.
2009 onwards already support the new setting
The above apparently improves the tyre wear.
Will keep this post updated .
