Uneven wear on tyres

[TMo1980]

I need some help trying to figure out what's going on with the tyres on my Q5 TFSIe 2020. So I recently had a software upgrade at Audi to correct some electrical glitches, and they did a visual inspection which came up with the following tread measurements for my car:

Front Left - 3.7mm inner tread, 3.6 middle, 4.3 outer

Front Right - 4.5 inner, 4 middle, 4.2 outer

Rear Left - 5.3 inner, 4.8 middle, 4.9 outer

Rear Right - 5.3 inner, 5.2 middle, 5.1 outer

My mileage at this point was almost 36k miles. However, my recent service in mid October (at 32k miles) came back with these readings:

Front Left - 4.4 for all

Front Right - 4.7 for all

Rear Left - 5.5 for all

Rear Right - 5.5 for all

So my question is, is it normal that the tyres suffered such variable changes since the last service? Did Audi not bother to take the correct measurements in October, hence why they're all the same? The tyres were replaced during the rear axle recall in April '22 - the car has done around 22,000 miles since then on these new Michelin Latitude Sport 3 295/40 R20 106Y tyres.

I'm just trying to understand how this type of uneven tyre wear happens and whether there is something I should get checked, such as wheel alignment or the suspension (suspension came back fine in the visual check). Audi didn't give much help beyond this, apart from telling me that I should change the Front Right tyre immediately and offering to do it for an inflated price (no pun intended). Also, they always say that the tyre pressure is checked although it's currently reading at 33psi per tyre, when it should be 39psi as per the manual.

My knowledge of cars is pretty limited so it's left me in a bit of a confused mess! It racks up around 12k miles a year and I just want to make sure I'm keeping it safe to drive, especially with the daily school run and having the kids in the car. Any insight anyone can provide will be great, as I'm really losing faith with Audi and feel that there's something just not quite right with the info and service they're providing. 

 

Edited January 15 by TMo1980

[Magnet]

Hello Tony,

Many thanks for joining, and I hope the forum may be able to be of assistance. 
Personally, I wouldn’t get too concerned about the apparent differences in measurements - two different people measuring, and probably two different gauges. 
Any uneven wear will be visible, so you can easily check for yourself with that aspect. 
If the wear is indeed variable across the tread width, then I would recommend a 4 wheel alignment check, and subsequent adjustment back to within the manufacturers specified limits. 
I’m not sure whether this is going to be of help, but I have used my local ATS for such checks with family member’s cars, and found them to be friendly, explanatory and efficient. Obviously, I’m not sure what your local depot is like. 
Audi, and recommending they fit a new tyre to the front right ( are you sure it was the front right and not left?). Whatever, I wouldn’t fit just one new tyre on a 4 wheel drive vehicle - all tyres should be reasonably even, tread wise. I would leave well alone, but just get the wheel alignment checked. 
Re. tyre pressures:- Do you check your tyre pressures on a fortnightly basis, or do you leave that until the car is serviced? If it were mine, I would buy a c£10 digital gauge from Halfords, and use that whenever the pressures are checked. 
If as you say, you are losing faith in Audi, I would be tempted to search out a trusted localish independent, and entrust your servicing to them. Perhaps someone on here can offer some recommendation. 
Perhaps you can let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[TMo1980]

Hi Gareth,

Thanks so much for getting back to me with all this great info - you’ve really helped to put my mind at ease! 

You’re right, it is the Front Left tyre that Audi were talking about 🙂 I’ll keep an eye on the tread and am going to get the wheels realigned - there’s an ATS Tonbridge so I’ll give them a call. Thank you for the recommendation! There’s still plenty of tread left and I don’t want to spend money unnecessarily if it can get a few more months of use.

I haven’t actually checked the tyre pressure since it was serviced back in October, so I’ll ensure I do that fortnightly from now on. However I’m still not sure why the reading is at 33psi when it should be at 39psi - only Audi Tunbridge Wells know that! It’s not even close to the recommended pressure. I will definitely look into some approved Audi specialists for any future work - there’s a few in the area with excellent reviews.

As for Audi, I’m going to give the UK office a call tomorrow as there’s a few things I’d like to discuss about their customer service. Do you happen to know who would be best to call? I want to avoid the dealerships as they won’t provide  the answers I’m looking for.

Thanks again for your help and I’ll keep you updated with any new developments!

Edited January 16 by TMo1980

[Magnet]

Hello Tony,

Thanks for coming back, and it’s pleasing to hear that some of the advice given is going to be helpful to you - it’s very good of you to say so, since we seldom get any praise. 

Anyway, to the job in hand :- just a personal view, but I always visit places where I might entrust work to, rather than ring them up, so that I get a feel for the folks who are going to do the job. If I’m not too impressed with them, then they don’t get my custom. You just cannot get the same feel over the phone. 
 

Tyre pressures - not checked the tyre pressures since October! Blinking heck Tony, that might be a record, and of course, you are basing your judgement on the dealer actually checking the pressures when it was serviced. Yes, we all take it they should, but do they actually?? Would you mind me repeating my advice and suggesting you invest in the pressure gauge at Halfords, and using it once a fortnight, adjusting the pressures accordingly, and only after confirming they remain relatively static, reduce the check to once a month. It will reap benefits for you in terms of longevity, handling and ride quality. 
 

Audi contact:- If you are going to discuss tyre tread measurements, and pressures, I cannot really see what you are going to achieve, since the differences are ‘historic’, and can no longer be confirmed/refuted. But worth a call, I guess. 
Sorry Tony, but I don’t know who would be best to talk with. 
Please come back to us if you feel there is anything else we can help with. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[TMo1980]

Haha! Yes, I've certainly been very lax at checking the car over regularly and have purchased a tyre pressure gauge from Amazon. And that's also a really good idea about visiting the various garages - there's so many in my area and it's an absolute minefield!

Regarding contacting Audi UK, the tyre tread/pressure question is just a side issue. My real gripe is about the software update that was used to fix the ongoing EV issues we were having. A few weekends back, myself and the family were unfortunately stranded in Oxford (about 100 miles from home) as the car was unable to start. It had a Drive System Failure error message that couldn't be fixed by the AA, and so we had to wait three hours for a tow truck to take us home.

I'd just like to know why this software update wasn't carried out during my recent service? The customer services advisor gave me a load of rubbish about it being a different type of software update compared to ones that they carry out during a service, which I find extremely hard to believe. There's just been a complete lack of information and transparency and it's left us feeling very let down by Audi.