Tyre wear...why so fast???

[Urko]

Is it normal that rear tyres would wear after 18.000 km, absolutely no tread left but front ones are still like new. Ute (SSV) is lowered, don't carry any heavy load... I am sick of buying tyres every year. Not doing burn outs, or driving it hard etc etc...tyre pressure checked every 3 months (nitrogen)...what is going on...The guy in tyre store didn't believe me that I am a slow driver....

Cheers

[steve_t]

Even wear?

[CLUBRED]

Are they wearing evenly?

I got 28,000 out of my first set of RE050A's, I'll be getting close to a new set soon so around 35,000 (sedan, std sus).

[Urko]

Rear left a bit more???
Even wear?

[Urko]

Are they wearing evenly?

I got 28,000 out of my first set of RE050A's, I'll be getting close to a new set soon so around 35,000 (sedan, std sus).

u lucky bstrd :) I ve done 38k and this is going to be my 3rd set of tyres....something is not right

[steve_t]

Rear left a bit more???

Nah, I mean even across the tyre. Not on the inner edge more or in the centre more etc.
Perhaps it's the road surface you travel on. Perhaps you're not as slow a driver as you think. Perhaps it's the suspension geometry after lowering

[Micks]

Our Calais V with 18K on it @ the moment has approx 50% front left & about 70% rears.
Been told never to trust the alignment from the factory!

[Urko]

Nah, I mean even across the tyre. Not on the inner edge more or in the centre more etc.
Perhaps it's the road surface you travel on. Perhaps you're not as slow a driver as you think. Perhaps it's the suspension geometry after lowering

Sorry silly me, left rear (the centre and inner edge, almost no tread left), right rear (even but only 1mm left)...it cant be wheel alignment??? Fronts are good as new....does anyone else have the same problem after lowering???

Thanks

[steve_t]

Alignment, camber, caster settings... are there caster settings?

[Souljah]

Go get a proper 4 wheel alignment and report back.

[Urko]

Alignment, camber, caster settings... are there caster settings?

Sorry don't know caster settings...should I go and check the suspension first before buying new tyres?

[Urko]

Do you reckon wheel alignment hasn't been done properly?

[Urko]

Go get a proper 4 wheel alignment and report back.

That's what I am doing tomorrow, new set of rear tyres and 4 wheel alignment...just wanted to know if that's the way to go...

[JJW501]

I don't do burnouts but I did buy a V8 coz I like to accelerate fast. I also do the odd track day. 2009.5 SS ute with the usual bolt ons.

Current rear KU31 Kumhos have done 20,000kms plus a track day....maybe 15% left. Fronts still have well over 50% and have done 2 track days +20,000kms (I have some spare rears that I run at the track sometimes).

Original Bridgstones I think I got about 28,000 from the rears but I really should have replaced them earlier. The fronts were about half worn at that stage.

JJW

[Micks]

Perf tyres don't really give good longevity & not spose to! I bought some Toyo 18's for my Crewie last week & were cheap as.

[stevej07]

I got 47k out of RE050As on the rear of my E3 Tourer after lowering with mostly inside wear and I am still going on the factory fronts at 50K. I sometimes think it is worth spending some extra cash on the tyres especially when I get double the life out of them. I had a lowered VE SSV Ute and that was very similar in wear with the the same RE050As.

[Wonky]

My quite low MY9.5 SSV ute got 50+k from fronts and almost 30k from rears. All KU31 Kumho.

[HSVREDSLED]

Ok...take this for what its worth.

Previous car, VY Clubsport. Had the usual wearing out the inners. Put a camber kit in...good choice, but found traction suffered. New Car SSV Sportwagon lowered from dealer. I have been to 4 different shops until I found someone who could get it going straight. Front tyres rooted after 20,000ks. Common comments. These thing are not meant to be lowered nor have oversized wheels for factory standard. Remember also that heat is a biog killer so even of you are doing 80% freeway driving, the heat will ensure quicker wear.

[Hos]

Lowered SSV wagon, SSL springs, regular rotation and alignment, driven quite sedately. Just replaced the rear RE050 at 37,000km with even wear across the tread and around 1-2mm to wear indicators. Could have got another 3-5k out of them but found the ass end to be a bit slippery in the first lots of rain for the year.

I'd say something is way out with your alignment if you are chewing tyres that quickly (providing you are driving sensibly most of the time). Find a wheel and suspension shop that is familiar with VE's and how to set them up. Where are you located? I'm sure forum members could recommend somewhere nearby.

My local shop recommends regular balance, alignment and rotation (every 5000km), and offers very cheap rates for return customers who get their tyres 'serviced'.

[surfwagon]

Ok...take this for what its worth.

Previous car, VY Clubsport. Had the usual wearing out the inners. Put a camber kit in...good choice, but found traction suffered.

That seems to be the wrong way around because usually the camber kits square up the tyre on the road putting more rubber in contact and so normally giving better traction.
After all with lots of negative camber you are only putting a corner of the tyre on the ground hence why they where out the inners.

[Urko]

Lowered SSV wagon, SSL springs, regular rotation and alignment, driven quite sedately. Just replaced the rear RE050 at 37,000km with even wear across the tread and around 1-2mm to wear indicators. Could have got another 3-5k out of them but found the ass end to be a bit slippery in the first lots of rain for the year.

I'd say something is way out with your alignment if you are chewing tyres that quickly (providing you are driving sensibly most of the time). Find a wheel and suspension shop that is familiar with VE's and how to set them up. Where are you located? I'm sure forum members could recommend somewhere nearby.

My local shop recommends regular balance, alignment and rotation (every 5000km), and offers very cheap rates for return customers who get their tyres 'serviced'.

I am from the Gold Coast (Main Beach), going local shop tomorrow to replace them, offered me regular balance etc every 5000km as well, so we will see.
Have MAXXIS on atm...

[QIKMIK]

I just had a four-wheel wheel alignment done on the Senator and it made a huge difference to the way the car feels on the road. I bought the car with a fresh set of Maxxis MA-Z1s on it (by the dealer) and after 20,000k, they have been scrubbing the inside rear a bit and the outside fronts a little too. I put it down to the roundabouts in Canberra and a bit of exuberant driving. I got a screw in one of the fronts so went in for a replacement. We ended up getting a RE050A like the ones Holmart are doing at the moment and using the brand new factory spare on the other side. I asked the bloke about the life remaining in the rears. He stuck his head under the rear and replied "You need a wheel alignment". Biggest change was to toe and minor camber adjustments but we should see more even wear on all corners. Looking a getting approx 30,000k total on the rears at this stage.

Bottom line... as some others have said, get an alignment. It'll be the best $50-60 you'll spend on the car.

Mick

[amckiwi]

VE Ute on SSV 19's 40psi
5,000k on std susp
15,000 on Pedders Coil Overs
Tires are at about half life :)
Stu

[jc_sv8]

I got 68k out of the factory RE050's. swapped them out for Maxxis which are now have nearly done 50k and will need to be changed in the coming months.
Still tossing up going to tire rack for a decent set.

[Plenty]

I got 68k out of the factory RE050's. swapped them out for Maxxis which are now have nearly done 50k and will need to be changed in the coming months.
Still tossing up going to tire rack for a decent set.

:shock: bloody hell...... 50k from high performance tyres? You either drive like a granny in a Prius or someone secretly swapped your tyres over without you knowing........

What are you calling a decent set? The only thing i can see that would be better over seas (that you couldn't get here) would be the Pilot Supersports which are not available at the standard SS-V sizing in Australia.

[jc_sv8]

Decent wheel alignments, running at 40PSI, and no burnouts is all it is... :driving:

I need to buy some extras for a project and even with shipping they were around $400 cheaper for the 4.
Ozzy seem to have some good online specials for the Michelin Pilot Primacys. I've never used them so not sure.

[NickS]

I don't see any problems ... I've done 22,000kms and I'm on my 3rd set of rears! (C63)

:lol:

I'll get closer to 30K out of the rears on the GTS and hopefully 50K out of the fronts!

[VRIIClubby]

*
:shock: bloody hell...... 50k from high performance tyres? You either drive like a granny in a Prius or someone secretly swapped your tyres over without you knowing.

My old man used to get 90 000 km's out of his RE050's... Not many corners in those K's though.

Currently on my wagon im @ about 26000km's and mine are still more than 50% on the rears and alot more on the front. Still the original tyres.

[scorpion]

Sport Maxx TTs on my VE GTS. 37,000km from my first set of these tyres. Wheel alignments every 5,000kms. Run 40 psi in fronts and 38 psi in rears.

On my VX GTS (wifes car now) I have have since new got approximately 55,000 kms per set. It's now wearing Sport Maxx TTs as well.

Was dissapointed with tyre wear on the VE. From reading about the new GTS to be released I noticed a comment that HSV have dumped Bridgestone in favor of Continental ... tyre wear considerations were noted in the article.

[steve_t]

Are the Conti's on cars already? Will the Gen F tyres be trading off grip in exchange for longer tyre life?