Sam CS 05

1- in an AWD car like Cayenne, where are the better tires preferred in gaining most winter traction, Rear or Front?

2-Does driving the car in the manual (M2,M3,...) cause more wear on transmission when compared to the Automatic?

TIA.
Sam

ltc

Rear
No

Dennis C

I'm not sure why you're asking the first question, but if you are considering putting snow tires on only two wheels, I'd reconsider that decision. If you have all-seasons on two wheels and snow tires on two wheels, the results will be bad on either the front or the back.

Sam CS 05

Thanks Lewis. I think you answered my questions.

Dennis, i have a set of winter tires used for 3 seasons (scorpions) and I don't mean to mix tires rather I noticed there seems to be more wear on one pair... therefore my question.
Thanks.
Sam

BTW: I do miss my Twin Turbo.

Andy E.

Good question. The Cayenne seems to defy logic and tire physics by wearing the fronts much quicker than the rears; even though it's an AWD and the rear tires tend to put more power on the road than the front tires.

I just finished rotating my factory 21's (probably for the last time in their short lifespan) by putting the worn front tires on the rear. I know that this isn't the logical route to take however the front tires, particularly the edges, wear at an extremely high rate; almost as if the tires are under-inflated. Is this because of the low profile 35-series tires? The dealer says that it's normal.

Cole

If I had to choose one end I actually think I would choose the front. Better to have steering and braking traction than accelerating traction.

This sound like another reason to put the better tire on the front. If they are wearing faster on the front you will get better life out of the set with the good ones on front.

JAGMAN1

Most tire shops will put the better tires on the rear for liability reasons. Reason being, with better traction on the rear, the car tends to understeer more which is considered to be safer and more predictable than the oversteer that would result from having less traction on the rears...

Dennis C

I haven't noticed uneven wear on my Cayenne's tires. I rotate them every 5K miles.

Sam CS 05

Thank you all. It seems like the answer to my question is not as straight forward as I first thought. My front tires do wear faster (I admit, I don't rotate my tires)). Is it as simple as the extra weight of the motor on front wheels causing the extra wear? my main goal is to have better traction and control of the car especially during the snow days.
I'll ask our area indy and post the answer if useful.
Be well.
Sam

ltc

Yes
Hence putting them on the rears, since IIRC, the F/R power distribution is a bit biased towards the back...it's hard to get a Cayenne to exhibit torque steering.
Having said that, I would always prefer 4 matching tires on an AWD (not 4WD) vehicle.

touareg

The touaregs had this problem in the beginning, VW was even replacing tires for free since they were wearing out in less than 15k.

Solution ended up being alignment issues from factory. Get a good quality place with a 4 wheel electronic alignment shop for the toe and camber and it should take care of the issue. Shouldn't cost you more than $100 to have it done.

ltc

And not surpring, Cayennes had the same problem in the beginning as well...who would have thought since they are so different.

IIRC, there were 2or3 alignment specification updates...still small in number compared to the coil packs or rear window microswitch.

Andy E.

Rear window microswitch? Cruel visions of children getting decapitated by rear windows have entered my mind!

Please explain....