my original tires are getting quite worn on the 2023 Q4 with 40k kms total but many of those kms were during our winter months where i had winter rubber and wheels fitted..........if I was to guess perhaps 25/15kms split summer/winter.
at this rate Ill be lucky the summers last this season! (25k miles~40k kms)

 

Car dealers are not tire experts and the original equipment tires on Q4 are nothing special. In fact, I found them especially mediocre and they came off in less than 7000 miles. They were replaced by Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires for superior all-weather capability. But there are other good options if you never deal with snow.

I would suggest Discount Tire or Tire Rack to source new tires. Tire Rack has lots of good tire info on their website, and they will ship to a local shop of your choice. Discount Tire can get nearly anything, usually in very short order, and they have a large dealer and distribution network. I think they even source tires from Tire Rack.

I do NOT suggest simply wandering into the nearest auto parts/tire store and asking what they have sitting around.

The OE Bridgestone Alenzas were shedding chunks of tread from the shoulders, especially at the front. It’s called “chunking” and it seems to be a common complaint with those tires. Nothing dangerous AFAIK but it didn’t bode well for longevity under our driving conditions and I have a bit of a tire fetish, so I just replaced them.

 

As of today I have 15500 miles and I purchased the car October 2022.

Check your front and rear tires' tread depths. Since the Q4 is a rear bias-weight car, the rear tires tend to wear out more than the front ones. I recommend using a tire depth tread gauge to measure the tread depth of your tires. While the legal limit is 2/32 which is the height of the tread wear bars, it's advisable to replace the tires when the tread depth reaches 4/32 or less.

Amazon.ca

Btw, the Q4 tires are staggered i.e. the rear tires are wider than the fronts, so they can't be rotated.

 

If the tires will see snow, I suggest replacing them before they wear to 4/32” tread depth. I’ll usually do it somewhere in the 5/32 to 6/32 range depending on seasonal timing and whether or not I will be switching over to dedicated winter wheels/tires at some point.

Tread depth also helps the tires resist hydroplaning, so if the car starts feeling squirrelly in heavy rain that’s something to think about.

BTW given the high cost of tires and the different wear characteristics of the tires front/rear, it may be tempting to replace them piecemeal. That’s usually a bad idea unless you are sticking to the same exact tire. It’s a horrible idea if different types of tires will be mixed ( summer and all-season or winter and anything else ).

I hate the upsell as much as anyone, but this is one case where the salesperson isn’t just grabbing for your wallet. It’s best to replace tires as a set, as a matter of safety as well as performance. ( No, I don’t sell tires, I just wear them out… )

 

Our 2023 Q4 etron is down to the wear bars at 7,000 miles on the original tires. With 44 psi all four and Colorado dry roads and moderate driving style (25% acceleration), I have no good explanation. I do think we have shorter tire life here in the high desert. I thought our rubber footprint would be lighter with a Q4.
I'll be looking at the Michelin CC 2 before winter!

 

it’s not your driving style, the Alenzas that VAG group have decided to put on Q4 and ID4 are not EV rated…..

 

Few tires are "EV rated" at this time, and AFAIK there is no accepted standard for "EV rating". It's up to each tire manufacturer to decide what to prioritize and whether or not to mold an "EV" in the sidewall. Noise ( low ), rolling resistance ( low ), load capacity ( high ) and treadwear resistance ( high ) are the usual parameters.

I think VAG chose the Alenzas for low noise and low cost. Availability in the appropriate weight rating and sizing for their "staggered" layout may have been limiting as well. But the tread compound is wimpy ( maybe a bit too cheap... ).

I think this is another cost of being an early adopter.

 

Few tires are "EV rated" at this time, and AFAIK there is no accepted standard for "EV rating".

Bingo. "EV Tire" is a marketing scam. Most all high quality touring and AS tires have qualities that benefit EVs. Tires that are engineered for LRR will universally have short tread life and poorer traction. IMO folks should shop for a tire that meets their needs for traction, ride, tread life and whatever else is important to them. As long as you get adequate load and speed ratings you are set. IOW you want a good tire, not an "EV tire".

 

Respectfully VAG group has fitted their ID4s with Pirelli Scorpions Hankook and other manufacturers while meanwhile keep outfitting the Q4 with Alenzas that according to my local tire shop are NOT the same quality as the ones sold retail.

Hankook makes EV tires and they are amazing on the Q4 and ID4

 

[...] keep outfitting the Q4 with Alenzas that according to my local tire shop are NOT the same quality as the ones sold retail.

That would factor into the "low cost". When car manufacturers contract with tire manufacturers they get to specify some of the characteristics of the tire. The details are opaque to the end user, except for the scuttlebutt that "these tires don't seem the same as what XXX reviewed." And they probably aren't!

But again, Hankook's "EV tires" means whatever they want it to mean. Another brand's tires without an "EV" on the sidewall may work just as well on EVs. This is an evolution, and before too long most tires may be "EV capable" or "EV optimized". But there is a counterforce for the labelling. Some people fly into a rage at any hint of "EV". Manufacturers don't like to repel potential customers.

 

got chatting with a Blazer EV owner today...........couldnt help but notice it was also fitted with Bridgestone Alenza.........must have been quite the fire sale!!! I fitted Nokian for winter tyres..........perfect.

 

I got 40k miles out of my Contis on my 2019 etron. I think it really depends on how you mash the Go pedal.

 

I agree! Driving style makes a huge difference for tire life

 

I think hilly terrain and rough roads also decrease tire life. Having said that, I like the "GO" pedal.

As for Continental, IMO they make some good tires and also some that aren't so good, especially in regard to tread life. Strangely enough I'm thinking of an OE Conti tire in the latter category.

FWIW cars get tested by reviewers on OE tires. It's hard to make a tire that sticks like glue and also has long tread life.

 

What have you all been doing regarding wheel alignment? My dealer keeps trying to sell it to me but I never worried about it with other cars unless I had problems with handling or tire wear.

 

I never worried about it with other cars unless I had problems with handling or tire wear.

Sounds about right.

 

My Q4 50 quattro's summer tires have now 35km (22miles) on them and are just at the end of life... getting a new set this week.
Winter tires (Nokian spikes) have ~20km and they are still ok for another winter, I guess...

 

My Q4 50 quattro's summer tires have now 35km (22miles) on them and are just at the end of life... getting a new set this week.

What are getting as replacement? Probably just needs to be a separate thread on what folks are purchasing as replacement tires. Haven't looked to see if that already exists. Feeling lazy in this heat.

 

As a Finn, naturally getting Nokian Tyres Hakka Black 3 SilentDrive, ~€1300 in Finland... no idea whether they are better or worse than some other options, but I have always bought Nokian, for both summer and winter tires and been happy with them

 

I’m looking at the Michelin Defender 2. Discount Tire has a set of 4 for about $1100. Just waiting to see if a July 4 sale appears.
I now have 13000 miles on the tires that came with the car. Have to wonder what else Audi cut corners on to keep their costs down. Kind of glad I leased the car.

 

I’m looking at the Michelin Defender 2. Discount Tire has a set of 4 for about $1100. Just waiting to see if a July 4 sale appears.
I now have 13000 miles on the tires that came with the car. Have to wonder what else Audi cut corners on to keep their costs down. Kind of glad I leased the car.

I have run the Michelin Defender LTX and its predecessor on many crossovers with good results. They combine long tread-life with good performance on snow. That's a neat trick.

 

Finland has summer?😎

Nokian makes all-weather tires in the US now. And their winter tires rock!

 

Even accounting for variation in how enthusiastic different drivers are with the “go pedal”, the high “launch” torque of EVs seems to be hard on tires. Good tires can take it. Crap tires can’t.

So far, Michelin Cross Climates are good tires. And I like the “go pedal”.

The OEM Bridgestones did not like my “go pedal”. 💩

 

The OEM Bridgestones sure don't last long. I bought a 2024 with about 9K miles and they were already looking kind of rough. The dealer let me spec the replacements as part of the deal - I picked Pirelli Scorpions and it's too soon to tell how that will work out.

 

I replaced the OEM Bridgestone tyres with Michelin Cross climates for spring, summer and fall driving........the original rubber were well worn and poor grip after 40k kms.........very happy with the change.

Q4 rides on Nokian Hakkas for our long winter season which are excellent

 

Since this thread has been revived......

Installed Goodyear Electric Drive 2 tires about 3,000 miles ago. Much improved over the Bridgestone OEM tires. Comfortable drive, good wet/dry grip (no snow or ice experience), very (very) quiet. Tread wear so far looks good.

And I'll say it again, hate the staggered set up. I should have looked at squaring up the tires when I was shopping. The staggered set up reduces the tread life warranty by half.

 

And I'll say it again, hate the staggered set up. I should have looked at squaring up the tires when I was shopping. The staggered set up reduces the tread life warranty by half.

moved to 19" wheels/tyres all round for the winter setup........despite the cost of extra set of wheels long term savings for tread life and not having to swap the rubber twice a year and the harm on both sidewall sets.