Uneven tyre wear 64 plate S3 8v

Ana318

Ana318

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Hi, I lost the back end (luckily managed to hold it and collision was avoided) today, it fishtailed when pulling away out of a turning in S mode, I pulled away quickly but not ridiculously fast. The road was very slightly damp but not actually wet at all, it wasn’t raining and any residual dampness was morning dew/overnight rain. There were no adverse conditions that would have caused me to think the driving style I employed was unreasonable. I’m an experienced driver, held my licence for 30 years.

It was a total surprise when this happened and I pulled over and checked my tyres. To my shock my back tyres need replacing. I have only owned the car for a few months and when purchased all tyres (ContiSports) had an even 6mm of tread on them.

Now, I realise that I should have been aware of the tread issue already and that was my mistake! So please don’t give me too much grief about this guys ;)

When I checked the tyres all round the fronts still have a good 4mm tread on them and the backs are finished. I do occasionally drive quickly but on the whole the 6k miles I've done since owning the car have been pretty sedate tbf as I do a lot of ‘Mum’s taxi’ and school runs. I live very rurally and the roads are dangerous, which keeps my foot off the pedal mostly.

Is this normal? Does anyone have any ideas they can throw at me as to the cause..? Any help is greatly appreciated.

P.S I’ve ordered Michelin Sport 4’s to replace the ContiSports - any reason why this would be a bad idea!

My previous car was a different beast - 2016 TTS. I owned the car from new and got 18k out of the the tyres the car came with and all tyres were worn evenly. Driving style hasn’t changed. I loved the car, but being a 2+2 was no longer practical when my son had grown to big to get in the back.

To my knowledge the S3 8v is unmodified (as yet lol).

Thanks in advance.
 
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Initial thoughts would be a faulty Haldex, but if you've not had issues before then this I would think to be unlikely.

The MPS4s are very good tyres, can't fault them. Believe their wear is quicker than most however


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
 
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What tire pressures are you running front and back? If you have too low or too high of pressure, it would lead to premature tire wears, really have to see the tires and more info before anyone can make any assumption...

But Conti is one of the worst tire IMO.. Don't even begin to compare them to PS4 lol
 
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Something wrong somewhere, even with a faulty haldex I don't think you would get that amount of wear on the rear as a faulty haldex effectively turns the car into a front wheel drive. To have lost that amount of tread in 6k miles on the rear is so not normal.
When the new tyres are going on I would be checking the current set up including what pressures the rears were running at.

I drive my stage1 pretty hard and have never had the rear break away out of a junction and have pretty consistent tyre wear front to rear over 35k miles. When my haldex broke it turned into a wheel spinning at 75mph monster which was nearly impossible to drive quickly.

MPS4 (presumably not the S) are decent tyres.
 
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Can only agree with what has been said, because you should not be able to wear 4mm off the rear tyres of an S3 in only 6000 miles.....at least not when the fronts have only worn 2mm in this period. :openmouth:
Under normal conditions you would expect the fronts to be wearing quicker than the rears.
Sorry I don't know what to suggest that hasn't already been said, but clearly something is not as it should be.
 
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Thanks so much for your replies and support! I have to be honest and say that I have never fully trusted this car and it’s always felt a bit ‘curvy’, right from the get go. But I put this down to being so used to the TTS and thought that it was me that needed to adjust to the difference between the two cars. The TTS was like a superglue rocket, could easily take bends at really silly speeds with no signs of slippage. However, until today, other than a bit of aquaplaning occasionally I have never felt the S3 actually go, just had the ‘feeling’ that it wasn’t well planted. I remember saying when I first brought it home that it’ll be alright once it’s lowered, with better tyres and chipped! Lol

That said, I was truly shocked at just how unstable the car was today and balding tyres or no, the car was all over the gaff.

I’ve booked it in to have its interim and oil change service together, while it’s there they’ll look at it and see what’s what with the set up and hopefully find a issue that is covered by the warranty. Luckily I bought it approved used.

Thanks also for your thoughts re the MPS4’s, glad you rate them. Not so bothered about fast wearing (as long as they wear evenly ;) ) grippy is much more important :p

Thanks again :)
 
audi upgrades
is the rear tyres wearing evenly across the tread?
I would say it’s quite difficult to wear out the rears faster unless you are trying to drift the car even then these cars are really front wheel drive with a part time rear axle that kicks in when needed so drifting is not easy. Only way I can see it wearing faster when driven normally if the rear toe is way out so rear wheels is pointing like this / \ which could happen with worn bushes maybe not as exaggerated. Would be worth getting 4 wheel alignment.
 
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AlS3BE said:
is the rear tyres wearing evenly across the tread?
I would say it’s quite difficult to wear out the rears faster unless you are trying to drift the car even then these cars are really front wheel drive with a part time rear axle that kicks in when needed so drifting is not easy. Only way I can see it wearing faster when driven normally if the rear toe is way out so rear wheels is pointing like this / \ which could happen with worn bushes maybe not as exaggerated. Would be worth getting 4 wheel alignment.
Click to expand...

I spent an awfully long time on the phone to the Audi service manager at 2 branches (different dealership groups) today, explaining to them that I do understand that the S3 being a primarily fwd vehicle that only becomes awd when required would dictate that the engine weight/fwd predilection/steering coming from the front would cause any uneven wear disparities to be leaning towards the front not the rear. They agreed. I asked if a full wheel alignment would have been done as part of the 145 point AU check, to which I was told no, I don’t know why but I was surprised by this, silly me. So, when it goes in it will be having one and hopefully it will enlighten me a little?

I have not been drifting and haven’t tried, due to my insecurities about this car and my lack of confidence in it. (To my surprise I did manage to drift my TTS once, but only but putting it so hard into a corner straight and pulling really hard down on the steering wheel.. and there it went.. so perfectly, sideways around the corner. ;) )

Yeah, the wear is pretty even, however one tyre is a little worse than the other.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, very much appreciated. It is really good to know that it’s not just a crappy oddity of the S3 and there is actually something amiss! :)
 
Only suggestion is to support the idea of alignment off by Ana318. Was setting off on jolly hols, packed car travelling nicely down the motorway and.... bang. Rear tyre exploded. Recovery bloke showed me the tyre. Worn through on the inside. Hadn't spotted it (and neither had the Audi service dept 2 months earlier). Other tyres fine.
 
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Forgot to mention tyre pressures (they were a little low compared to the values on the door jam, but I thought the recommendeds were potentially a little high anyway?) rears - 34 / fronts - 36
 
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Did you physically check the tyres when you bought the car? The only timer I had more wear on the rear is when I swapped the tyres from front to back.

I am currently running PS4's and like them. They really come to life when it more than 10 degrees outside but were still fine through last years winter, all be it a mild one. Wear rate has been fine.
 
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Knacker said:
Only suggestion is to support the idea of alignment off by Ana318. Was setting off on jolly hols, packed car travelling nicely down the motorway and.... bang. Rear tyre exploded. Recovery bloke showed me the tyre. Worn through on the inside. Hadn't spotted it (and neither had the Audi service dept 2 months earlier). Other tyres fine.
Click to expand...

Could be alignment but also have a look at this thread on the RS3 forum - it’s not just Pirellis

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/pirelli-tyre-defects-response.382143/
 
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Yeah, I checked them myself. The salesman on the phone told me they were 5.5mm but I measured them at 6mm. Here are the images of my tyres. I will be keeping the tyres to take to Audi and to keep as evidence too.
 

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Looks like combination of tire pressures and alignment... The right tire has definitely been running over inflated at some point, maybe it was the previous owner, the left tire looks as though both alignment is off and over inflated at some point... But it's just worn tires, don't think there's anything wrong with the car...
 
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larbel said:
The right tire has definitely been running over inflated at some point, maybe it was the previous owner
Click to expand...
The tread depth was 6mm when the OP bought the car a few months ago and she states the pressures were 34.
 
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Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated and if it does turn out just to be the alignment and running over inflated previously, then that would be really great! The fix is easy, a new set of tyres and precision alignment. However, I must say I’m still a bit freaked out by the total lack of rear end stability in dry conditions when I wasn’t totally hammering it.. I’d have expected more grip even with very worn tyres? If that is the case then sadly the S3 is definitely not for me!

And I’m still pretty perplexed as to how the fronts are in such good shape and the backs are shot to bits.. the disparity is huge?!
 
Ana318 said:
Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated and if it does turn out just to be the alignment and running over inflated previously, then that would be really great! The fix is easy, a new set of tyres and precision alignment. However, I must say I’m still a bit freaked out by the total lack of rear end stability in dry conditions when I wasn’t totally hammering it.. I’d have expected more grip even with very worn tyres? If that is the case then sadly the S3 is definitely not for me!
Click to expand...
Those tyres are nearly bald in spots, of course the grip would be poor. You have 300 odd horsepower going through them.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
 
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Lol yeah, that is a fair point! But as I said, I wasn’t hammering it, just a little more gas than my usual snails pace
 
Also, check the dates on the tires? Don't think they're the original tires for 14/15, but aging tire harden and looses it's grip + Conti isn't a good tire to begin with + bald... All adds up...
 
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larbel said:
Also, check the dates on the tires? Don't think they're the original tires for 14/15, but aging tire harden and looses it's grip + Conti isn't a good tire to begin with + bald... All adds up...
Click to expand...

Will do! And thanks again all for thoughts, suggestions and help :)
 
Wow! My rear wheel drive car tyres lasted longer than that and they are softer. :) Inspired by this thread on the way home from work on quite wet roads I was trying to get my car rear end to break traction or do anything other than under steer without success. Absolutely no rear end issues and I was surprised by how planted it was. Even pulling away hard with lock on it just gripped no wheel spin. The steering is a bit lifeless but grip has felt very secure.

I am perplexed as you and thinking the geo must be well out. Good luck.
 
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ictus_duplo2 said:
Wow! My rear wheel drive car tyres lasted longer than that and they are softer. :) Inspired by this thread on the way home from work on quite wet roads I was trying to get my car rear end to break traction or do anything other than under steer without success. Absolutely no rear end issues and I was surprised by how planted it was. Even pulling away hard with lock on it just gripped no wheel spin. The steering is a bit lifeless but grip has felt very secure.

I am perplexed as you and thinking the geo must be well out. Good luck.
Click to expand...


Wow, okay, well that’s enlightening. What tyres and pressures are you running? Thanks for this insight, it’s really helpful!
 
Ana318 said:
Wow, okay, well that’s enlightening. What tyres and pressures are you running? Thanks for this insight, it’s really helpful!
Click to expand...

Running Michelin Pilot Sport 4's 225/40 r18 running standard pressures-ish. Actually 34psi front, 37psi rear. They have done at least 5k miles and still 5mm all round. I make good progress so am really happy with the rate of wear. Sure there are stickier tyres out there but its my daily driver.

Picture of rear tyre for comparison.Tyre2
 
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ictus_duplo2 said:
Running Michelin Pilot Sport 4's 225/40 r18 running standard pressures-ish. Actually 34psi front, 37psi rear.
Click to expand...
Do you really have the rears higher than the front or have you simply written that the wrong way round? :relaxed:
If the former can you explain why please?
 
ictus_duplo2 said:
Running Michelin Pilot Sport 4's 225/40 r18 running standard pressures-ish. Actually 34psi front, 37psi rear. They have done at least 5k miles and still 5mm all round. I make good progress so am really happy with the rate of wear. Sure there are stickier tyres out there but its my daily driver.

Picture of rear tyre for comparison.View attachment 184831
Click to expand...

Those are looking really good! Thanks for sharing. Mine now has MPS4’s all round too, although I’m not going to push it at all until they’ve done the wheel alignment and tested it, but I’m sure they’ll be a vast improvement on the Conti’s, which I didn’t rate at all anyway.

Little update. The guys at the tyre place said that they thought to wear was consistent with that of a rwd vehicle, they also said it doesn’t look like they’ve been running over inflated and the wear is pretty much even (I think the pics I posted are a bit misleading?), albeit the left was in slightly worse shape that the right. They also said that while the state of the rears would affect handling, it shouldn’t have to that extent and that would also be consistent with the power seeming to come from behind, however they didn’t give that as an actual explanation.. just that the back breaking away wasn’t in character with the vehicle.

Now just got to wait until I take it to Audi and see what they say?
 
Can you describe more exactly what happened when the tail went? It’s technically extremely difficult to get the S3’s tail out under normal circumstances, but worn tire and damp road could help...

There’s a way to induce oversteering on FWD bias Haldex, it’s when you approach a turn at speed. Start turning and let go of the throttle, this is called lift off oversteering, and can sometimes happened unintentionally especially at higher rpm (s mode).. Not sure if this is your case but just saying...

As for worn rears, did they at some point rotated the tires front and back? Perhaps during service that you’re unaware of? Again, just saying...
 
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larbel said:
Can you describe more exactly what happened when the tail went? It’s technically extremely difficult to get the S3’s tail out under normal circumstances, but worn tire and damp road could help...

There’s a way to induce oversteering on FWD bias Haldex, it’s when you approach a turn at speed. Start turning and let go of the throttle, this is called lift off oversteering, and can sometimes happened unintentionally especially at higher rpm (s mode).. Not sure if this is your case but just saying...

As for worn rears, did they at some point rotated the tires front and back? Perhaps during service that you’re unaware of? Again, just saying...
Click to expand...

It was a standing start at a junction, when there was enough of a break in the traffic I pulled away in S mode fast enough to catch up with the speed of the traffic before it caught me up, I didn’t floor it and I didn’t go for an insanely small gap in the traffic that would have required a massive amount of welly. It was quicker than an average car would pull away, but not in any way representative of what the S3 is capable of by any stretch of the imagination! I pulled out, I turned right onto the road maintaining the speed, all was normal until I straightened the car up when the back swung out to the left, I twitched the steering wheel and then it went out to the right, I took my foot off the gas and didn't brake, I didn’t fight the steering wheel and it corrected itself and I resumed acceleration, off I went to the next safe place to pull in and inspected my tyres.

It was 9am in the morning, it is possible that there ‘may’ have been some residual morning dampness due to overnight dew.. but the road looked and felt dry. When I refer to possible dampness that is just me not wanting state it was dry categorically, because first thing in the morning it is possible that it wasn’t 100% dry. It was a well used junction, there were no loose stones and I could not see any signs of a spill.

The car hasn’t has any work done at all since I took ownership and therefore it hasn’t had the tyres rotated since purchase.
 
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Your in the mouth moment, suggest combination of worn tyres and road conditions and there may have been some residual oil on the road as well. Purchase new tyres with full alignment and suspension/steering check. FYI your TTS also uses a Haldex system.
Also, I presume your car has stock 18" wheels and not upgraded to 19"
 
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Flying Scotsman said:
Your in the mouth moment, suggest combination of worn tyres and road conditions and there may have been some residual oil on the road as well. Purchase new tyres with full alignment and suspension/steering check. FYI your TTS also uses a Haldex system.
Also, I presume your car has stock 18" wheels and not upgraded to 19"
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input, honestly I do not feel it was road conditions, but just because I don’t feel like it was.. doesn’t mean I’m right however.

Yes it has 18” rims and yes the TTS did have the Haldex system on it.

The car now has a full set of new tyres and is booked in to have a full wheel alignment check etc.

The cars instability is only one issue. What no one seems to have any suggestions for is why the disparity between the state of the tyres front to rear. How comes the fronts still have 4mm tread on them and the rears are done? If anyone could give me some insight, I’d be very grateful as it makes no sense to me? Ofc I’m by no means an expert, but I also am not a total novice. ;)
 
Ana318 said:
Thank you for your input, honestly I do not feel it was road conditions, but just because I don’t feel like it was.. doesn’t mean I’m right however.

Yes it has 18” rims and yes the TTS did have the Haldex system on it.

The car now has a full set of new tyres and is booked in to have a full wheel alignment check etc.

The cars instability is only one issue. What no one seems to have any suggestions for is why the disparity between the state of the tyres front to rear. How comes the fronts still have 4mm tread on them and the rears are done? If anyone could give me some insight, I’d be very grateful as it makes no sense to me? Ofc I’m by no means an expert, but I also am not a total novice. ;)
Click to expand...

Without your wheel alignment we will all be just guessing. As I said in an earlier post it could be the wheels aren’t pointing straight like | | instead pointing like this /\. That would have a massive impact on wear on the rears and it would be more or less even wear across the tread. Things like worn bushes, bent suspension arms etc can cause this.
I doubt it could be the haldex as even if that was stuck on the power spilt will be 50:50 front to rear so wear will still be even probably more front than rear as front steers. It can’t exceed 50:50 as it’s not a differential.
 
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Fair do’s... well I guess there’s not much point in speculating further, best to just wait and see what’s what when it goes in for the checks.

Thanks again for everyone’s input and support :)
 
Ana318 said:
Fair do’s... well I guess there’s not much point in speculating further, best to just wait and see what’s what when it goes in for the checks.

Thanks again for everyone’s input and support :)
Click to expand...

Only other thing that just occurred to me is your rear brakes could be stuck on or just slightly on but you should have seen worn discs/pads before tyres.
Get that checked out while you are at it.
 
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Also, your tyre pressures for an S3 saloon with 18" should be 39F 36R for low load and 42 F&R for full load...unless you use all season tyres then 38F 35R and 41 F&R...Sport back is slightly lower
 
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Flying Scotsman said:
Also, your tyre pressures for an S3 saloon with 18" should be 39F 36R for low load and 42 F&R for full load...unless you use all season tyres then 38F 35R and 41 F&R...Sport back is slightly lower
Click to expand...

Thanks :) Mine is a sportback, 36F / 34R feels right to me, I like them a tad on the low side
 
Quick update. The car has been back to Audi and it has had a full drain down of the Haldex oil, flushed through with fresh oil and strained, drained again and refilled. Hopefully this will have fixed this issue, no further problems to report thus far and I have done 2k of miles since collecting it, driving from one side of the UK to the other, up and down and over to the continent also. Apparently it's not a recall but this is the protocol to follow issued by Audi should any handling probs arise on the S3.

Thanks again for all your help :)
 
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