coniglio

discovered a sidewall bubble on the RF tire while washing the car. Showed it to my mech (No, I didn't hit a pothole), said it looked like a defective tire, no damage to rim or the outer carcass..Went to Discount Tire, verdict: defective tire, need to go to a retailer for adjustment (should be 100%,still 8/32nds tread)...so off to NTB, yes, its a defective tire, but we sell them, but we are not a mfg.rep...have to go to Firestone/Bridgestone dealer....
after working my way past the Explorers (hehehe) I spoke with the manager, looked at tire...YOU HIT A POTHOLE, THAT'S ROAD DAMAGE, you will have to pay for a new tire.. I told him that Audi mech says its a defective tire, he responded that "he's a car mechanic and doesn't know tires" Then I told him, "maybe so, but the managers at Discount AND NTB say it's a defective tire" He gets quiet, and then says he thinks it's a Road Hazard issue and he won't issue a warrenty claim.
and I promise you, FORGET THE 800 # FOR FIRESTONE, you can't get through...
I just ordered 4 new tires at Discount and will get a trade-in allowance for the 3 good (?) tires.
why does Audi put these POS Blowtenzas on there cars?....oh well, thanks for the vent....
mark

NASA racer

I was reading about the differences from front to back on the Porsches and was wondering if there was a different tread pattern front to back on the S4s?<p><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/carssmall4.jpg">
00 S4 tip
Silver/Onyx
GIAC ECU/tip “race” chip (14.4 in 100 degrees)
V1

BenM@University Audi

I have them on my HM2's in 225/40/18's. I have only drove em for probably 500 miles (then my car went to get repaired) but I couldn't get them to break loose...and one thing I really noticed was that at high speeds (over 120mph) they felt smoooooth as butter, like you're cruising on a cloud, (and no not floaty, just really smooth) also very responsive at high speeds. I've had them all the way up to 145 and they still feel awesome. The tread pattern and design on these tires is perfect for AWD cars....

hwj

The different front-to-back tread patterns are for optimizing RWD. Not necessary for us, of course.

S-Curve

Okay, first let me say that I DID hit a pothole...going 10 and it wasn't very deep. If a tire blows in the situation I was in, it's defective. Anyway, back to the Firestone ordeal. I guess I picked the Firestone listed first in the phonebook because this place was slammed. The Firestone manager was pushed way beyond the guy in "Falling Down" so I treaded lightly.

Took tire out of trunk, stood it up, manager examined it for about 3 mins.
"Roadhazard."
"If that's the case, why didn't the rim bend or get damaged."
"Strong rim."
He then showed me the black marks that the sidewall made along the rim (and cleaned the rim along the inside). Showing that the sidewall folded over and touched the rim. I stood to my ground that the rim would be bent if it were roadhazard. He stood to his ground that it was a pothole (okay, maybe 15 mph). We finally came to an agreement that he'd get me a tire at 40% retail. We both walked away with something there.

Moral of the story: clean rim before going to Firestone.

Borisk

I did not hit any potholes, but got a blister anyway, Audi was not very forthcoming on replacement, even after arguing with some flunky, they finally agreed to replace 2 tires, but the dealer was outof stock so I've got one. Now if you look at the usermanual it states expressly to replace tires on TT in pairs. I'm pissed (not at the car) and probably going to pursue it. Any body else had similar experience? Let me know