Standard Tyre Tread Depth

ashnitro

Hi all,
I bought 2 new front tyres last week. Hankook for 17" alloys on an Audi A1. Got my car serviced today in the Audi Centre and to my shock, was told that my front tyres are 30% worn with a tread depth of 6mm. I'm reading online that the standard depth is 8mm. Was I done last week in the tyre centre or are there any circumstances whereby 6mm tyres would be fitted? Thanks in advance

CJhaughey

Usually 8mm is the standard new depth.

ashnitro

CJhaughey wrote: »

Usually 8mm is the standard new depth.

Thanks. That is what the Internet tells me too. But I wanted to have my facts straight before going back to the place. Would I be right to presume that second hand tyres were fitted on the car at this thread depth? Or are there any other scenarios that may have occurred?I'd like to go in there with as much knowledge and as little ignorance as possible. Thanks for your help

George Dalton

It's far more likely that this is Audi's mistake rather than any dishonesty on the part of the tyre fitter. So if you want to "go in" anywhere about the issue then I suggest the dealer.

It wouldn't be the first time I had seen Audi do this kind of thing.

challengemaster

I'd be making sure the Audi centre measured them right before doing anything else.

mickdw

Dip a matchstick into the thread at random places and check yourself. Id guess they are still at 8mm.
alternative is that you bought 2 new tyres, audi swapped them front to back at service and you are looking at the measurement for the wrong tyres now.

CJhaughey

New tyres look like new tyres even after a weeks driving, second hand tyres with 6mm tread will look second hand.
I cannot believe that any tyre centre would try and pass off part worns with 2mm tread worn off as new.
My rears are 6mm and they have a years driving and probably 20k+ km on them, they are obviously worn and would never pass for new.
Did you inspect the new Hankooks when they were fitted?
All new tyres have a date code on the sidewall its usually in an Oval and has XX10 or XX11 or XX12 where the first two digits refer to the week and the second two are the last two year digits.
You should be able to see which are new and which are older by looking at these.

blackbox

Is it possible that tyres with a very high speed rating have a lower tread depth? e.g. V, W or Z rating?