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Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:00 am
by rcm63
I'm on just over 9000 miles and my front tyres will soon need replacing by the look of them.
My rears have loads of tread left.
What's the maximum tread difference front/rear to not mess up the haldex system?
When I had my TT quattro I could at least rotate the tyres to even out the wear.
The tyre people on my last TT tyre purchase suggested no more than a couple of mm's difference front/rear.
I suspect they were just trying to sell 4 tyres instead of two but would be interested to hear any thoughts.....
Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:04 am
by Stoo.
2mm max difference according to specs.
Worked out as axle averages.
So two new tyres at 7mm on the front would be average of 7mm.
Two rear tyres, 4mm each.
Average of 4mm
3mm difference, too much.
Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:20 am
by JonG
Audi already create a difference of 3.5mm by putting 235/35 tyres on the front and 225/35 on the back.
I'd balance things up, and put your new tyres on the back, and move your rears to the front.
Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:27 pm
by chunky79
So put the narrower tyres at the front and lose grip?
Bloody awkward having different size tyres on a 4wd.
Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:31 pm
by Dave_Hedgehog
haldex like most of the modern quattro systems is not affected by different rolling radius front to rear
change the tyres on each axle when they hit the wear bars, or in the case of the contis on the front as soon as you can

Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 5:07 pm
by adsgreen
Dave_Hedgehog wrote:haldex like most of the modern quattro systems is not affected by different rolling radius front to rear
change the tyres on each axle when they hit the wear bars, or in the case of the contis on the front as soon as you can

Haldex should work fine.
http://www.billswebspace.com/HALDEX.pdf
Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 5:50 pm
by JonG
chunky79 wrote:So put the narrower tyres at the front and lose grip?
Bloody awkward having different size tyres on a 4wd.
Doh ... my bad ... forgot about the width difference

Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 6:14 pm
by rcm63
Thanks for your input folks.
I spoke to someone at my local VW garage todya and they said tread difference front/rear is only important on
non Hadex 4wd systems.
Cat wait to get those Conti's off the front!

Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:42 pm
by Carrg
What you planning on replacing them with??
Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:58 pm
by rcm63
Probably Goodyear F1 Aysmmetric 2's. Apparently the are 2 decibels quieter too!
Re: Front/Rear tread difference
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 4:57 pm
by chunky79
Forget the noise levels, the Assym2's are just amazing.