LeakiestWink

"Kevin McMurtrie" <mcmurtri@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:mcmurtri-43BAE0.23032629012007@sn-radius.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net...
> In article
> <1169470954.821143.270080@11g2000cwr.googlegroups. com>,
> "Sly" <slyjenkins@tesco.net> wrote:
>
>> Just had two new tyres on my A3 and they balanced them with
>> steel
>> weights, not lead as they are toxic and not allowed to be used
>> any more
>> incase anyone eats their wheels!
>>
>> Since then my ASR light flashes when I pull away and has to be
>> turned
>> off and on in order for me to carry on driving.
>>
>> Could the weights be affecting the ASR or worse still could it
>> affect
>> my ABS when I need it most?!
>>
>> My garage is looking into it, but this could help if they find
>> nothing
>> and others too in the future.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Sly
>
> My A3 manual says you must change all four tires at once so
> they're the
> same size. The computer probably doesn't know how to
> compensate for
> much difference in wheel rotation speed.

Are you sure it says *must*?

It probably says something like ideally all 4 tyres should be of
equal tread depth, or at least a maximum tread depth difference
front to rear of 4mm.

It probably also says you should ideally have the same type of
tyre (size, make and tread pattern), between front and rear, and
definitely in identical matched pairs on axles.

The ESP computer should re-calibrate itself, everytime you first
drive off from a cold start, in two stages, the first around
5mph, and the second stage at around 30mph (it could be 30kmh).
This really needs to be done on a straight flat road - could be
difficult if you live on a steep hill, or hairpin bend!

One of the other posters I think mentioned you need to *run-in*
new tyres - on the front - 100-200 miles, on the rear (of a front
wheel drive) 500-600 miles - to remove the releasing agent the
rubber is coated in when the tread is moulded during manufacture.

Rgds, Sean