I've got a '98 1.8TMS with 22,000 miles, and the dealer(s) are already telling me I need new tires. As a matter of fact, they didn't even align/rotate/balance @ 20,000 service using this excuse. I don't believe this should be their policy. The tires aren't ideal, but they'll last till 30,000 miles.<p>What kind of wear are others getting?<p>Has anyone found a better replacement?<p>Thanks,<br>Wesley Walls<br>'98 1.8TMS

I have the dunlop zs, and at almost 26k, they are doing fine. The grip is excellent. If potholes or some other source jarred things out of alignment, it might explain the premature wear. 98.5 1.8TQMS.

I had just over 24K on my tires before I had to replace the two fromt tires due to a bent rim...see my post in the general forum titled Bad luck....

Just curious; I only have 4500 miles on the Avant. Old Coupe Quattro definitely wore out fronts faster (about twice as fast as rear if I didn't rotate).<br>

As with my 200TQ and my 5000CSTQ before that, the fronts wear faster (Audi has a front-drive bias even in quattro in every version of quattro I've used), but I've still got plenty left on my dunlop zs at just about 26k now. Frankly, I'd just as soon have the wear be uneven front vs. back, so you shell out for just one pair at a time.

The tire wear is consistent across the tires...no flat spots. The dealer even commented on even wear. They've been rotated once, at 10,000 miles. The tires are now about evenly worn front-back. Frankly, I think the dealer(s) are blowing smoke. As I stated, they're definetely more than halfway worn and have seen better days, but as far as I can tell there is no good reason not to continue rotating them as there's plenty of mileage left. If I were to guess, I'd say they're 2/3's worn.<p>Wesley Walls<br>'98 1.8TMS

I was only able to get about 12,000 miles after about 4 auotcrosses and 2 drivers schools. Believe it or not this is extermely good. The wear as well was very even as well over the entire tread width even after A-LOT of abusive and aggressive driving. I did get some bizzare rollover on the outer edge a few times trying to run too low of a tire pressure at one of the drivers schools. In general these tires wear quite well.

I GOT ABOUT 15000 MILES ON MY SP8'S. I DROVE THEM HARD, BUT WAS STILL DISAPPOINTED. FWD 1.8T.

Let's assume what you say is true. Under normal driving, does the quattro on the 98.5 A4 distribute power more frequently to one end or the other. If so, I bet it goes to the front.<br>

Man, I wish my Dunlops would last 20k miles!<p>Since I took delivery of my 1.8TQms this past April, I've commuted about 75 miles each weekday over mostly curvy mountain roads .<p>With just about 13k miles on the SP8000Es, I expect them to last maybe another couple thousand miles. I've rotated them twice as the fronts have worn faster than the rears. The tread appears to have worn pretty evenly although I've scraped the sidewalls of two tires, necessitating their replacement. (The roads are still in pretty marginal shape because of last year's storms.)<p>In any case, with a wear rating of 200, these Dunlops have lasted as long as expected. From last Oct. to Apr., I wore out a set of Dunlop D40M2s(180 rating), on my SE-R in only 9200 miles!<p>Guess I'll be trying those P7000 Supersports this winter...<p>Jim

Replacing front tires alone is not a good idea for quattro cars! It is very important that all four tires are as close to the same size as possible, and they are exactly the same make or wear on the torsen differential will be acellerated. A good tire shop will stop you from doing that, and they are not just trying to make more money by selling 4 tires. Rotate your tires, so they wear evenly, and replace them all at the same time. :-)<p>Charles<br>