BSneadAudi

My 2017 Q5 has just 20,000 miles, but my passenger front tire is down to 5/32, and the other three tires are all 7/32.

Do I have a defective tire? Dealer said there was no alignment issue.

Also, why the fast wear? I am used to getting at least 45K miles on a set of good tires. These will need replacement by 30,000 at this rate.

DennisMitchell

In my experience, most tire wear occurs on the passenger front tire. You should rotate your tires once a year. Were the tires rotated?

If the tire is not directional, you could do a cross pattern rotate instead of just front to back rotations to balance out the wearing.

I replaced my tires at 44,000 miles.

What kind of tires do you have?

MurrayA4

BSneadAudi What size and brand of tire ?

BSneadAudi

Continental tires. It pissed me off - I bought a fully paid for service package for the first 50K miles, and after I called to inquire about the 5/32 tire, I was told the tires weren't rotated. Why wouldn't you rotate the tires at each 10,000 mile service? I never thought to ask. I brought the car to the dealer for two services, and just expected everything was being done. Now I'm screwed, because one tire is so far more worn than the others....whereas if they rotated them, it would have been on two tires instead.

DennisMitchell

If you had 3/32" difference, you would have to replace the tire. Is it rotated now?

Audi rotates free at first 5000k service. There after it is your choice, your cost. I know you would think included in AudiCare, but it is not. Nor are windshield wiper blade replacements. Grit your teeth, I know.

In addition, Continental tires don't seem to get as high mileage life. When you are ready for replacements, you need to check recommendations on the board here.

simplesez

Dealers would rather sell you tires than recommending rotation. Very nice profit margin on tires for them.

uberwgn

I had real good luck with those OE Continental tires on our '15 Q5. The car made it to 41k miles before replacing, probably could have gone a few thousand further.

I don't think you'd ever make it that far without tire rotation.

We had Audi Care as well. I don't know why, but nobody seems to pay any attention to the published maint schedule and they just do a few of the items when they're being compensated to cover the entire list. That attitude somewhat defeats the purpose of Audi Care.

BlackSVT

FWIW, Tire rotation isn't even listed in the scheduled maintenance except for that first 5k service. So technically, the dealer is following exactly what Audi recommends... The topic was beat to death as to why a few years back (I believe it was here...maybe it was on AZ), but the only conclusion is that Audi doesn't specify it.

Out of curiosity (or laziness...) I never rotated the OEM Goodyears, and wear was surprisingly equal at 48-49k when I replaced them. I do notice since I went to Stage 2, the DWS6's on there now do wear a bit more on the front now if i don't rotate them. My guess is with a lot harder launch the front are unloaded and scrub/spin slightly.. Wear is even across the tires though

It is weird, have never seen a mfgr not spec rotations...

BSneadAudi

Not yet rotated. Audi offered to do so, but now I need to get back to Audi. I wanted to check this message board before I called to complain (again) about this.
My car didn't have a 5K service. First service was 10K, 2nd was 20K.
I need to check the maintenance book (my wife has the car). I want to see what it shows is required, before I make this second call to complain. Audi really should have been rotating the tires, and if not, telling me that they weren't doing that for free, but offering me the option, and telling me my tires would wear like this if I did not rotate. This must be a pretty normal issue

simplesez

Slow down a bit. Having one tire wear more than the other 3 is not a normal issue regardless of rotation. Obvious question, do you check your tire pressure or do you assume the TPMS would catch the change? Otherwise, having tires at 7/32 with 20k miles is not abnormal. I've had OEM tires not even make it to 30k before. Most manufacturers spec tires for comfort and low noise, not tread life.

Anyway, you may just have to buy two new tires sooner than you thought.