Just put on my summer tires and rims!
From take-off I am experiencing a thumping noise coming from the tires...someone has said that it could be a buldge in the tire, or the belt is broker...does anyone know the cause; how do diagnose; and the solution?

 

How did you store them. Maybe you have a flat spot (that will go away soon).

 

They were stored upright, which might be the problem, but I have been driving for three days now- how long could/should it take?

 

Okay, I think that tosses out the flat spot theory. If it was a flat spot, it would be gone by now.

 

One option is to locate a Tire Shop with a Hunter Road Force Test machine or equivalent. Each wheel is mounted one at a time and spun up with a roller riding on the tire that re-creates the load of the vehicle weight on the tire.

Hunter Road Force Test machine can find defects in the tire tread such as soft spots from pot holing, broken belts, etc that will create vibrations when driving. Bottom line is that if Hunter machine rates a tire as failed then it needs to be replaced.

 

here you go

staggered setup might change the gear ratio...?

 

[QUOTE=thealla;129984]here you go

staggered setup might change the gear ratio...?[/QUOTE

not really sure what to say...we both were in my car and heard/felt the noise and your mechanic also said that there was a ratio problem, so I am obviously not making anything up, or smoking anything!

 

Best to get a second opinion ...

 

[QUOTE=QT;129993]I know we both heard that and I'm trying to find the tire for you


but Bryan (IT, Specialized in audi/vw/porsche ^^; in the audizine thread states that's no prob.

so in the mean time, just drive on these tires, I will look for tires

like I said, I didn't rip you off or anything

 

I just changed my rear tires and one was thumping. It was starting to separate. A good curb bump or pothole can cause belt separation. Are the tires all the same size. If you have different fronts and rears on a quatro the tranny will hate you, come apart and attack your wallet severly.