Hire Car: substitute tyres for the factory Bridgestones?

[skip100]

My factory tyres (Potenza RE050A) for my WM Caprice aren't lasting well at all - the rears are almost down to the indicators and they have only done 26,000. (a Holden dealer didn't rotate them when I asked them to, which doesn't help, but still....) I've been driving sensibly most of the time, and I run with the pressure a few psi above the normal recommended pressure.

Can anyone recommend an alternative tyre which will be quiet, last longer, without sacrificing too much performance? A tyre retailer has suggested Kuhmo KU19s - any opinions on them? Note that this is for a limousine (sedan - non-stretched).

Thanks,
Greg.

[macca33]

Maybe PM 'LS1corpcruiser' for some suggestions - he also runs a limo and would be in a good position to suggest something for you. I think 'Spank' does as well.

Cheers,

Macca

[planetdavo]

There is a techline on VE based product, depending on VIN breakpoint, for excessive rear tyre wear. If an early type, there is a fix.
Have you ever brought up this issue with the dealer?

[gmeup]

26k is quite low, how are the fronts holding out?

[skip100]

Haven't brought it up with the dealer yet - I will. The wear appears very even though.

The fronts look considerably better, although I haven't measured the tread depth.

Greg.

[racketsports]

Skip, can't help with the tyre choice but my Oct 06 Calais only got 27K out of the REO50A's. The rear outers wore first, front appeared to hold out better. I wonder if this is something to do with the LSD, I'm interested to see what the tech report is on this fix.

Cheers
Racketsports

[skip100]

Thanks Racketsports. I'm interested in the tech report too - I hope my dealer will be forthcoming. 27K eh - that's probably what I'll reach exactly!

Does my Caprice have an LSD? (I don't think it does)

Greg.

[SV346]

haaaa u guys'd hate to be my tyres havnt had a set pass 20,000kms :p

[Wonky]

Hmmm, sounds low. At 15,000km my Bridgestone 20s had 6.5mm tread depth left - started at 9.2mm according to the specs I found so were probably going to do 40,000km or more. I believe Curtis got over 40k from the same tyres on his.

I now have the Kuhmo Ecsta Spt KU31 as I couldn't afford factory rubber in the 275x20s I now have on the rear. Can't comment personally on the wear yet as have only done a few thousand kms, but they do have a pretty good ranking for wear on tirerack.com. My guess is not being a sport tyre the KU19s would wear even better.

[skip100]

My dealer said my wear is about right. Two different opinions from two tyre retailers: one said I should get about 40,000, whereas the other said my wear is about right because it's IRS, however I may improve on it a little with an alignment.

I asked the dealer about the known issue with the VE wear, but as their foreman wasn't available they couldn't help me.

Greg.

[KCB50L]

My dealer said my wear is about right. Two different opinions from two tyre retailers: one said I should get about 40,000, whereas the other said my wear is about right because it's IRS, however I may improve on it a little with an alignment.

I asked the dealer about the known issue with the VE wear, but as their foreman wasn't available they couldn't help me.

Greg.


There is a techline on this, the diff cradle/ rear suspension mount is in crooked and needs to be realigned to the body of the car, a wheel alignment will not help this, your dealer is to lazy to look at it.


here is the ref number for the techline from feb 08:
Premature Rear Tyre Wear
VE WM
Group 4 Ref. No. TL1485 - 0801

[GODSMACK]

haaaa u guys'd hate to be my tyres havnt had a set pass 20,000kms :p

Where do you get your replacement rubber from??

[craigus]

someone correct me if i'm wrong here but factory tyres always wear out quickly. eg
Mitsu Challenger - 35000km's on factory tyre. 65000km's on SAME MODEL tyre bought as replacement
Suzuki Swift - 25000km's on factory tyre and they are almost bald.
Subaru B4 - 18000km's on factory!!! 38000km's on same model replacement tyre.
These are/were my parents cars, bought new, always driven around town with little highway use.
this leads me to believe although same model tyre, they are actually different in some way

[planetdavo]

someone correct me if i'm wrong here but factory tyres always wear out quickly. eg
Mitsu Challenger - 35000km's on factory tyre. 65000km's on SAME MODEL tyre bought as replacement
Suzuki Swift - 25000km's on factory tyre and they are almost bald.
Subaru B4 - 18000km's on factory!!! 38000km's on same model replacement tyre.
These are/were my parents cars, bought new, always driven around town with little highway use.
this leads me to believe although same model tyre, they are actually different in some way
Tyre manufacturers DO NOT produce special "short life" OE tyres, and long life "aftermarket" tyres of the same model!
More likely answer is that most new car buyers don't think there is any need to get an alignment for, oh, at least a year...

[skip100]

The car has been to the dealer for the tyre wear - they can't find anything wrong with it. They said that the Technote does not apply (my VIN is after the breakpoint).

I'll be fitting Kuhmo KU19s which I can get for under half the price of the Bridgestones, and I'll relax and enjoy my driving a bit more from now on.

FWIW, I contacted an alignment specialist that I know has a very good reputation, and they said for a low profile tyre my wear is ok.

Greg.

[German Statesman]

I've noticed in the hire car game up here, that Caprices are going through their tyres quicker than Statesmans - perhaps Caprices have a softer compound for the sportier handling they have.

I ran Falken FK452s on the '04 LTD I've got, and they lasted 35k with a softer compound...we look after the national distributors so we act as test pilots when a new model comes on the market. I know a few people don't have good things to say about Falkens but I'm impressed by this new range they have - no tyre noise and good wear.

[skip100]

This may be a storm in a teacup, in which case I apologise.

I've just measured my tread depth - I have 4 to 4.5mm. If I'm going to run them right down to the limit, that means I have about 2.5mm left, and extrapolating from my wear rate to date, that means they might last until 40,000, and that's without any rotation at all.

It was a tyre retailer that told me "they're almost down to the indicators".

Greg.

[Wonky]

It was a tyre retailer that told me "they're almost down to the indicators".

Ah, the old scare you into a sale trick...... Ba$tards!! :vpo:

[German Statesman]

Huh...that used to put a bit of guff into my commission account when I was a service a advisor :eyes:

[mmjlw]

I still have 2 of my original tyres on my 07 SSV after 72000km the other two I changed at 60000km

[hdj105]

Skip,

My father also had the rear wear issue on his WM Caprice, rear tyres unroadworthy at 15,000km (fronts fine - he's an easy driver). After much angst with the dealer, Holden replaced one tyre.

Since the rear alignment (or cradle) was fixed all seems to be ok now.

Check out NVU for new OEM tyres ;-)

[skip100]

RE: 72,000, a few of my colleagues
(hire car drivers) say they routinely achieve 80 or 90,000km. Even 72,000 seems completely unachievable to me - I have never got anywhere NEAR that in my entire life. NB: my colleagues tend to stare down at my right foot when I tell them my mileage.

RE: NVU: thanks!

Greg.

[Ls1CorpCruiser]

RE: 72,000, a few of my colleagues
(hire car drivers) say they routinely achieve 80 or 90,000km. Even 72,000 seems completely unachievable to me - I have never got anywhere NEAR that in my entire life. NB: my colleagues tend to stare down at my right foot when I tell them my mileage.

RE: NVU: thanks!

Greg.


Most of my colleagues here in Melb are getting anywhere between 50 - 75,000ks on average depending on the right foot application theory :jester:

I have managed 130k and 88k front and rear respectively in the Grange. No rotation as it has staggered fitment. I put the life down to the MRC in that there would be less body roll and potentially less stress on the tyre.

When it came time to replace them I had very little choice due to the tyre size and speed rating so opted once again for the rather exxy Bridgestones.

It has had an edit and pod filter installed and I do (regularly) give it a bit of stick.

Hope to get the same results from future rubber.

Will keep you posted.

:)

[SSBarney]

OMFG, my VE is at 32,000km and i and my second set of Potenza's are dead!!
:bawl::bawl::bawl:

[skip100]

Got my Kuhmo KU19s now - so far I like them. It'd be interesting to see if anyone else agrees, but do they give a more comfortable ride? I notice that when I go up the small but abrupt step in my driveway (from the kerb), I don't get the same jarr as I used to with the Potenzas, and I am running the same pressure. Aside from this, they're very quiet too. It'll be interesting to see what kind of wear I get.

Greg.