2022-2025 Audi A5/S4/S5 Continental Tire Recall 44CT

Audi has announced a voluntary safety recall, identified by code 44CT, concerning certain Continental ProContact GX AO tires. This recall affects specific 2022-2025 Audi A5, S4, and S5 models. The issue stems from a non-compliance condition in the tires' design that can lead to serious safety risks.

Why This Matters: Safety Risk

The affected Continental tires were designed with a tendency for higher flexing in the tread shoulder, which can cause excessive heat buildup. This condition may lead to a belt edge separation within the tire structure. If this separation occurs and continues, the tire could experience a partial or full tread or belt loss. Such a failure significantly increases the risk of a crash, potentially resulting in serious injury or death to vehicle occupants.

What's Being Recalled

This recall, 44CT, specifically targets Continental ProContact GX AO tires, size 255/35 R19 96H XL, with Article Number 1557369 and DOT Number CP32 WMC9. The affected tires were manufactured between the 19th week of 2021 (1921) and the 32nd week of 2024 (3224). These tires were sold either as original equipment, replacement tires, or were present in dealer inventories.

Symptoms

Owners of affected vehicles may notice certain indicators if their tires are experiencing this issue. These can include localized tread wear in the tread shoulders, excessive vibrations while driving, and unusual noise coming from the tires. These symptoms suggest a potential problem with the tire's integrity and should be addressed promptly.

How to Check if Your Vehicle is Affected

Audi has applied the code 44CT to help dealers identify vehicles produced with the affected tires. Continental Tire the Americas, LLC (CTA) will notify owners of vehicles identified as having affected tires. You can also check your tires directly.

To determine if your tires are affected, you will need to locate the DOT (Department of Transportation) serial number on the tire's sidewall. The last four digits of the DOT number indicate the week and year of manufacture. For example, '3821' means the 38th week of 2021. The affected date range for this Audi tire recall 44CT is from the 19th week of 2021 (1921) to the 32nd week of 2024 (3224).

Manufacturer's Remedy

Vehicles identified with potentially affected tires will undergo an inspection by an authorized Audi dealer. If the tires are found to be part of the recall, they will be replaced free of charge. The cost of inspection, replacement, mounting, balancing, and handling of the tires will be covered by Continental Tire.

Important Warnings for Owners

• No Delivery Until Repaired: Federal law prohibits dealers from delivering any new or used motor vehicle or equipment covered by this notification until the defect or noncompliance is remedied. This means vehicles in dealer inventory cannot be sold or leased until the recall repair is completed.
• Owner Notification: Continental will directly notify end consumers and car owners identified as having affected tires. You will be directed to contact your tire dealer or car dealer to schedule an appointment for inspection and, if necessary, replacement.

Repair Procedure Summary

The repair procedure involves a thorough inspection of all four tires on the vehicle, as well as any other tire sets (e.g., snow tires) the customer may have. The DOT number on the tire sidewall will be checked against the affected date range. If the tires are affected, they will be replaced.

For unsold vehicles (Criteria K1), the exact Continental ProContact GX AO tire model must be used for replacement. For retail sold units (Criteria K2), substitute tire models are permitted, provided they meet the vehicle's minimum requirements. The replacement tires will be balanced, inflated to the correct pressure as indicated on the B-pillar label, and the wheel bolts torqued to 120 Nm.

Contact Information

For additional information regarding this Audi tire recall 44CT, you can contact:

• Continental Tire USA: 1-888-799-2168 or visit https://tinyurl.com/continentaltire (NHTSA ID: 24T-009)
• Continental Tire Canada: 1-855-453-1962 or visit www.continentaltire.ca (Transport Canada: 2024-487)

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Source: NHTSA ID 11009987