My 2Tone Allroad - a 2016 Allroad Story

[eljay]

I wish you hadn't posted this because I'm taking a trip soon and am exercising all my self restraint not to buy a roof box for my A4 and this doesn't help

The box looks fantastic on there!

Ha!
Yeah, it was my first time using and it was great! It fit 4 carry-on suitcases comfortably, which made travel inside the cabin much more comfortable for 4 adults and a child.
I'm not helping here, am I?!

[19birel]

Ha!
Yeah, it was my first time using and it was great! It fit 4 carry-on suitcases comfortably, which made travel inside the cabin much more comfortable for 4 adults and a child.
I'm not helping here, am I?!

Not helping at all haha.

I usually sleep in my car on hiking trips so having the ability to move everything normally in my trunk to the roof would be key. Then I could fold the seats and have extra room to setup a sleeping bag haha. MUST RESIST!

[eljay]

Not helping at all haha.

I usually sleep in my car on hiking trips so having the ability to move everything normally in my trunk to the roof would be key. Then I could fold the seats and have extra room to setup a sleeping bag haha. MUST RESIST!

Then you should definitely stop looking at those boxes where you can open them up and extend a canopy with legs over the side of the car and have a nice shelter too!! ;)

[eljay]

In other Allroad news, I checked my tires and found them pretty much worn. I hope they last another month and then the winters come on.
I checked my log and I put them on at 68,000 kms and now I have 104,000 kms, but that's total. So, looking at when I was switching between summers and winters, they lasted a total of 29,000 kms (~18k miles). They are 255/40R19 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 100W XL with 340 treadwear rating.
It sounds like they went a little too quickly and the Allroad is certainly not driven aggressively. Alignment was done at an Audi dealer at 90k and it drives fine without issues and the wear is even. So, I am a bit puzzled.
I love everything about the tires: great grip, good on wet roads, comfort and low noise. But that wear has me thinking of looking elsewhere for my next set. I was hoping for at least 50k summer kms out of them.

[Dr.B6Banter]

Yeah, I've always considered Indy 500s as more of a sport/ light track tire. The tread wear rating is not bad on paper but they are pretty soft tires so good for a track but don't last as long.

[19birel]

On my A4 I've been running Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4s and have been pretty happy with them. I drive like a nut job but the last set managed 25k miles. I think if you switch to an all-season you'll get a little more longevity as they're not as soft a compound

[rockstar143]

Love this thread...absolutely.

[eljay]

Love this thread...absolutely.

Thank you.

[eljay]

Back in winter mode now. :(

Methinks it was time... 20231031_223035.jpg

I got 30k kms out of the summer tires.

[eljay]

Not much happening with the Allroad for the moment. Just did some basic maintenance with oil & filter, air filter, and cabin filter change.
I'm starting to hunt for new summer tires and debating whether to stick with the Firehawks as I did like them.

I have a full set of side assist door mirrors with rear radar sensors and wiring harness and I'm debating whether to proceed with the installation or sell the kit and start saving pennies for other upgrades.

[eljay]

So, it's summer tire buying decision time...
I am still leaning towards another set of Indy 500 for all the positives I listed above. Treadwear holds me back and eyeing other options, but I'm not sure whether I should experiment or stick to the Indy 500.
Price-wise most other options will be more expensive and likely last longer, so it almost feels like price/treadwear ratio is the same. If one tire costs 30% more and lasts 4 summers instead of 3, then it's the same price as a 3-summer tire and that lower treadwear tire will be a better summer-only tire. Am I thinking about this correctly?
I am thinking of trying GENERAL G-MAX RS, which is about the same price as Firehawks and has 360TW.
Another option is General G-MAX AS-07, which is an all-season with 500TW and would be only about 10% more per set.
I would love to get Michelin A/S4, but those are 40% more.

Any other options?
--------
Edit: Here's my short list (all-in prices for a set in CAD$):
Indy 500 - $1110 (340TW)
General G-Max RS - $1055 (360TW)
General G-Max AS-05 - $1120 (500TW)
Kumho Ecsta PS71 - $946 (320TW) - always wanted to try this Kumho line, but I don't think they will last

[JLAllroad]

What kind of mileage does 3-4 summers equate to?


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[eljay]

What kind of mileage does 3-4 summers equate to?


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About 10k kms every summer.

[JLAllroad]

About 10k kms every summer.

So heavy Audi with relatively narrow tires wears tires quickly.

What I?ve found is Conti?s and lower tier last about 30k kms, for those with treadwear warranties that is usually about a 50% proration on the next set.

Wet, Dry, Snow, I?ve loved the DW06?s I?ve run, and they perform quite well up to the wear bars.

Michelin PS all season (3&4+) last 50k kms, similar performance (worse in snow) but really suffer to the point of sketchy the last 10k kms on anything other than dry or damp.


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[eljay]

So heavy Audi with relatively narrow tires wears tires quickly.

What I?ve found is Conti?s and lower tier last about 30k kms, for those with treadwear warranties that is usually about a 50% proration on the next set.

Wet, Dry, Snow, I?ve loved the DW06?s I?ve run, and they perform quite well up to the wear bars.

Michelin PS all season (3&4+) last 50k kms, similar performance (worse in snow) but really suffer to the point of sketchy the last 10k kms on anything other than dry or damp.


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Thanks.
Yes, that sums up my experience with all of those tires as well, albeit not on my Allroad.
I love Pirelli's P Zero All Season Plus on my B6 Avant, but they didn't last at all, and manager at Costco told me they had many people come in to claim the treadwear warranty. I did too, but they refused because I didn?t come in to have them rotate the tires every 5k. Crazy.

My favourite tires were Michelin AS3+, but they would be much more expensive and I don't think I'll get the same wear for the extra cost and I'm really only after summer tire and don't care for any cold weather or light snow capabilities.

I'd like to try the G-Max RS, but I keep reading that they have soft sidewalls. But those reviews talk about sedan sizes and not Allroad or SUV sizes, so who knows whether those comments apply to the 255/40R19 100 XL rated version. The extra load rating should provide a bit more stiffness, I'd expect.

[eljay]

Last month, I went to renew my inspection sticker, and the shop found a broken front passenger spring.
I don't know what it is about this winter and broken front springs, but this is the fourth broken spring in my immediate family between December and January.

Anyways, I got the strut assembly out by just undoing the top control arms on the body side. I didn't touch the dreaded pinch bolt.
The top mount is bulky and awkward shape, so I stared at the spring for a good while to ensure I could put the spring compressor on and still be able to remove it when it's released. I still managed to back myself into the top mount and had to jiggle the compressor ears around to get them out from under the mount after the spring was fully released.

Also, my front pads were getting down, so I had to address that, too.
The picture shows the state of the rotors, and I was shocked how they looked. I have never seen the shiny part of the rotor flake off its base like that. It's like they were just chrome plated and flaked off. These were Brembo Premium rotors with their Ceramic pads. They lasted about 50k kms.
I wouldn't recommend them.
I went with Zimmerman Made in Germany rotors this time.

So, new front spring, new front brake rotors and pads and inspection.
Passing 110,000 kms.

And I also decided to go with Indy 500 tires again, so those are on the way.

[eljay]

For some reason, I cannot upload any pictures using the app. What's going on?

[eljay]

So, I've had a light vibration on what seems to be driver's front. There are no stability issues in terms of wheel shudder or steering feel etc. Just a noise like a bad tire.
Now, tonight, it decided to stop and shut down on my wife with message "Stabilization (ESC) programme fault!" She managed to start it up again, but it drove in limp mode home with limited acceleration.
I've scanned it and got fault code for ABS Brakes module:
00446 - Function Limitation due to Under-Voltage
002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent

So, I am suspecting front driver's wheel bearing is the culprit. Would it make sense to throw a low voltage code? Sounds strange to me. I'll have to take the wheel off and check the hub/bearing. I've dealt with bearings on my B6 and on MK5 VW, but the noise was always a hum/grind type noise. This is kind of a light knocking that increases with speed. And judging by the frequency/speed, it must be on the axle and not on the outside of the wheel, so it's not a tire/wheel balance issue.

From reading around, replacing bearings is quite common on B8.5 and I'm at 111,000 kms, so I guess I'm due for my first one, huh?! :(

[Dr.B6Banter]

If the B8 hubs are setup the same as the B6 where the wheel speed sensor bolts through the knuckle and the tone ring is on the axle, the wheel bearing would have to have significant amounts of play before I could see the sensor not reading correctly or being damaged.

At least on my B6 when I had to do front wheel bearings last summer, there was absolutely no play/vibrations/ABS codes but a fairly audible humming/whirring which correlated with wheel speed at the front that went away after bearing replacement.

Was not aware that wheel bearings were common on this platform. The ones on mine must have been done by the previous owner because its at 320k currently and they seem fine (knock on wood lol)

[eljay]

Yes, they are the same setup and that was my experience as well with B6 hubs/bearings with sound progressively getting worse.
I'll get under the car this weekend and check everything.

[eljay]

I looked under the car and I cannot find any obvious issues. When I rotate the wheels by hand, I don't hear any grinding coming from the wheel bearing. The only "noise" is the rubber on the CV joint rolling over as I turn the wheel while the whole wheel/suspension is hanging down on the lift.

HOWEVER, there's a little play in the driver's side axle compared to the passenger side. I replaced that axle a year ago with a cheap GSP brand axle to get me going in a pinch due to a torn CV boot on the original axle. There's just slight in/out play on the shaft. I suspect that this is my source of the noise I'm hearing. So, my plan now is to put a new boot on the OEM axle and swap it back in.
However, could a bad axle with slight play cause the "Stabilisation Programme: Fault" message I got above and put car in limp mode? The fault code above is an electrical/wiring/fuse error, not a sensor malfunction, so I'm not sure replacing the axle will address that.

[19birel]

I think I had a similar warning pop up once, but no limp mode and no engine shutdown resulted from it, just the ABS, an stability control lights on the dash accompanied by a warning on the DIS. I scanned it when I got to work that day and it ended up being a yaw sensor of some sort. However, the next key cycle the warnings were gone and have yet to return 4yrs later:/

[eljay]

I think I had a similar warning pop up once, but no limp mode and no engine shutdown resulted from it, just the ABS, an stability control lights on the dash accompanied by a warning on the DIS. I scanned it when I got to work that day and it ended up being a yaw sensor of some sort. However, the next key cycle the warnings were gone and have yet to return 4yrs later:/

Yeah, I may swap the axle, clear codes and see what happens next.
I wonder if I can still re-use the 6 inner axle bolts. I already re-used them once. Perhaps time for a new set. I bet they are like a million dollars a piece at the dealer.

[eljay]

I took the axle out. It definitely has more play at the inner joint than my previous OEM axle.
When spinning the rotor, I don't hear any big grinding noises from the bearing and what I hear is I believe from the brake pads rubbing the rotor as the sound is the same on the passenger side. The bearing looks like this.


Anything weird in that picture? The speed sensor is not damaged.

[eljay]

I ended up installing a new wheel bearing and the code is gone, so it must've been something to do with it despite no obvious sign of issues.

I also ended up buying a set of General G-Max AS-05 tires and I really like them. They suit my driving on this Allroad and should last a good while longer than Indy 500.
In the process of finding tires, I bought a set of Indy 500 first, but only got 2 tires shipped from my order from an eBay seller. I never got the other two. They ended up refunding me for the two I didn't get, but now I am stuck with two brand new Indy 500 tires!! Arrgh. I would sell them for my cost if anyone needs them. 255/40R19 size.

In other news, I posted the Allroad for sale to see if I get any offers. I am happy keeping it and still love it, so it's more a feeler.

[19birel]

I ended up installing a new wheel bearing and the code is gone, so it must've been something to do with it despite no obvious sign of issues.

I also ended up buying a set of General G-Max AS-05 tires and I really like them. They suit my driving on this Allroad and should last a good while longer than Indy 500.
In the process of finding tires, I bought a set of Indy 500 first, but only got 2 tires shipped from my order from an eBay seller. I never got the other two. They ended up refunding me for the two I didn't get, but now I am stuck with two brand new Indy 500 tires!! Arrgh. I would sell them for my cost if anyone needs them. 255/40R19 size.

In other news, I posted the Allroad for sale to see if I get any offers. I am happy keeping it and still love it, so it's more a feeler.

What would the replacement be if it goes?

[eljay]

What would the replacement be if it goes?

B9 Allroad or another worthy wagon.
C300 wagon looks nice too and it's a little cheaper, but I had a C300 sedan rental and it just felt too smooth and boring.

But I think that's not going to happen as the difference to a newer Allroad is a price of a small car. :(

[19birel]

B9 Allroad or another worthy wagon.
C300 wagon looks nice too and it's a little cheaper, but I had a C300 sedan rental and it just felt too smooth and boring.

But I think that's not going to happen as the difference to a newer Allroad is a price of a small car. :(

I always forget you guys got the C class wagons, we only get the Es here in the states. I think If I went MB it would have to be an AMG variant of some sort, even a "lite" version like the C43. Those are $$$ though haha

I feel that though, every time I have considered moving on from mine the marginal benefit seems outweighed by the cost. Maybe I'm just a sucker for these cars, but mine is sticking around for the foreseeable future haha

[eljay]

I always forget you guys got the C class wagons, we only get the Es here in the states. I think If I went MB it would have to be an AMG variant of some sort, even a "lite" version like the C43. Those are $$$ though haha

I feel that though, every time I have considered moving on from mine the marginal benefit seems outweighed by the cost. Maybe I'm just a sucker for these cars, but mine is sticking around for the foreseeable future haha

Yes, exactly my thoughts.
C43 wagon would be amazing, but they are expensive!
And as I mentioned, I am happy driving my Allroad for a while yet. It doesn't eat oil, timing chain service is a good while away, so I'm just hoping for normal maintenance on it.

I have to say that (knock on wood) that the only "issues" I've had with it were related to sloppy mechanics' work. Besides that it has been very reliable. So, jumping into an unknown used car will only happen if it's something desirable and the financial difference doesn't mean taking out a loan.

[19birel]

Yes, exactly my thoughts.
C43 wagon would be amazing, but they are expensive!
And as I mentioned, I am happy driving my Allroad for a while yet. It doesn't eat oil, timing chain service is a good while away, so I'm just hoping for normal maintenance on it.

I have to say that (knock on wood) that the only "issues" I've had with it were related to sloppy mechanics' work. Besides that it has been very reliable. So, jumping into an unknown used car will only happen if it's something desirable and the financial difference doesn't mean taking out a loan.

Yeah having no car payment or car sized hole in the old savings account is a nice feeling haha. It's also a great way to justify spending money on mods bc that ends up being cheaper than a new car every time hahaha

[eljay]

So, the noise I've heard from the front suspension got a little louder. And this time, I could tell that it was louder when turning left, so it became more obvious that it was a front right wheel bearing. I just had that changed (no time to mess with it myself) and it's a smooth and quiet ride once again!