Checking the condition of the tires (Audi A4 B6)

The front wheels set the car in motion, and the steering is done through these wheels. In addition, the front wheels bear the main load during braking. For this reason, the tires of the front wheels wear out faster than the tires of the rear wheels. The condition of the tires is most conveniently checked by placing the car on jack stands.

1. Rotate each wheel completely. Use a small screwdriver to remove stones and other foreign bodies from the tread grooves. If there is a piece of glass or a nail in the tire, air may escape from this area.

2. Pay attention to such defects as punctures, cuts, cracks and torn pieces. If the rubber is damaged, moisture penetrates into the tire. However, from the outside, you may not notice that the stabilizing steel breaker is already being eaten away by rust. To be sure, ask a specialist to check the tire. The same should be done in case of severe wear of the tire.

3. The tread depth over its entire area must be at least 1.6 mm. The tire shown in the picture has wear indicators in several places on the tread. These places are marked on the sidewall with the letters "twi". As the tread wears, the driving performance of the tires deteriorates, especially on wet roads. To be on the safe side, summer tires should be replaced when the tread depth is two millimeters, and winter tires when the tread depth is four millimeters.

4. Check that all tires are worn evenly.





5. Carefully inspect the sidewalls of the tires. Bulges indicate damage to the tire carcass.

What does the tread surface tell us?

Worn outer side of the tread (front tire). Fast cornering. Tires can be swapped for rear tires.

The outer sides of the tread are more worn than the middle. The tire has been used for a long time with low pressure.

Uniform smoothing of the tread pattern The shock absorber is probably faulty.

Uneven wear (in different places). Wheel unbalanced. Contact a workshop.

Severe wear in one place. Braking with a locked wheel. Short-term locking and certain wear of tires (flattening) cannot be prevented even by the anti-lock system.





Severe wear of the middle part of the tread pattern. Occurs due to frequent driving at maximum speed. Under the action of centrifugal force, the tires bulge, so they wear out more in the middle. This effect is most pronounced on the rear wheels, and also when the tire pressure is too high.



Curved profile. A slanted profile indicates incorrect wheel installation. Light alloy wheels can also have a negative effect on wheel installation.



Wheel imbalance manifests itself in the form of vibrations of the steering wheel or front end. The reason is the uneven distribution of mass within the wheel, which also causes increased tire wear. The imbalance must be corrected in a workshop. In the workshop, the wheel is screwed to a balancing machine, which shows the imbalance. Uneven rotation of the wheel is corrected using lead weights, which are installed in different places on the wheel rims.



Static imbalance A is manifested even when the wheel is spun with the car raised and then allowed to stop. The center of gravity will be at the bottom. A wheel with static imbalance jumps while driving, and the shock absorbers wear out faster.

Static imbalance B is only apparent when the wheel is rotating quickly. The overweight point is not in the middle plane of the wheel, but is shifted to the outside or inside. As a result, when driving quickly, the wheel makes angular oscillations and wobbles.