Jacko

I bought my 2008 A4 Avant with the Titanium package which also came with winter tires from Audi as part of their promotion. The 18" Titanium rims have been beautiful to see in the winter but have also been problematic. When driving, snow has embedded itself in between the spokes on the rims and caused the entire car to vibrate until it is removed via a paint stir stick. Since the snow in Sault Ste. Marie is plentiful, it's been very difficult to keep up with the snow removal demand unless you spend 10-15 minutes after each drive to remove it all. Over the course of the two months that I've had the car, it has developed, what seems to be, a permanent vibration at higher speeds(90 + kms/hr) even though there is no snow in the rims. My fear is that because I didn't remove the snow from the rims after each drive, the tires have now warped(scalloped)permanently. I'm going to let Audi Canada know about the problem but also feel upset that I've potentially ruined a great set of winter tires. Has anyone else experienced this or heard anything like this? Does anyone have a suggestion?

P.S- I love my Audi but not the problem.

1move

iTrader: (1)

Yeah get some winter rims, like I did

Q-ball

I got winters put on and when there is snow packed in the rims mine vibrate like crazy while driving too. I guess it throws off the balance.

Yohan

Did you check to see if any of the wheel magnets got knocked off during the removal of all the built up snow?

Jacko

Hi Yohan,
What are wheel magnets and where would they be located on the rim?

1move

iTrader: (1)

They are wheel magnets/ balancing brakets for the wheel and they are on the inner side of the rim going allong the parimiter, they are stickable/magnets that act as counterweight for balance of tires

Jacko

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Black_RS4

yeah, maybe take your car in and get your tires balanced... or maybe there is snow buildup on the inside of the rim...

alexz10

I have a 2008 A4 Titanium Package too. I just got mine, I love it! This is a good thread about this problem. Although I cannot believe that the snow could warp the rims. It does sound like a balance issue. My old '00 A4 used to shake between 80 and 100 kph until I got the brakes done.