True or False?

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

I purchased some new tires last night and they told me that I should get the road hazard warranty because they won’t just replace one tire on an AWD car, so I would need to replace all 4 if I got a flat etc.

They said that tires with with different tread depths would ruin the center differential. Anyone else hear this? I feel like the whole design of the center differential, and diffs in general, is to compensate when one wheel is spinning at a different speed than the other.

If you had welded diffs, I would agree but not stock.

Thoughts?

#2

False

It’s tread depth for one thing.

Anyway the variance, to cause a problem, has to be pretty massive. A little tire wear isn’t going to cause a problem, and if you are that scared of it… Just get the new tire shaved a bit.

#3

the tolerance for tire diameter is typically reported as 3%, which wont happen with the same size tire despite tread wear

#4

I had to buy 2 new tires a year ago, and kept the same fronts as they were fine. I bought the road hazard protection on the 2 new ones but that was all.

A couple months back I had a nail in a tire and drove too far on it that the sidewall was ruined. Took the wheel off and took it to the tire shop for replacement. They said:

  • “Lucky you, you bought the road hazard protection on your tires so this one is at no cost. We’ll fix ya right up”
    -I honestly don’t know if it was one of the new ones or not as I’ve swapped wheels on and off a couple times (lw set of second wheels) and rotated when I do, but funny how well it worked out.

Generally, I say the road hazard programs aren’t worth it on a tire I’m only going to get 15-20k out of as a plan for all 4 is as much or more than a new tire to start with. So 1 tire you’re back to square one, 2 replaced tires and it was worth it. But I’ve never replaced two damaged tires in one year.

#5

Ok, that’s what I figured. Thanks.

I wonder how many poor people with their AWD cars here in UT are convinced to buy 4 tires everytime they get a flat. Shame.

#6

Don’t let them sell you on siping. Discount Tire pushes siping hard. I can see it improving snow performance on an all season, but a snow tire, with oogles of engineering hours and testing, definitely not.