Tyre wear patterns

[kalniel]

So a quick piece of paper and a pencil check by me prior to MOT reveals a slightly uneven tyre wear on the fronts of my A3, namely as the following in mm:

2 2 3               3 2 2

It's only a mm difference on the inside tread ring so not huge, but I'm wondering the cause - theoretically it would be camber, but this is fixed and non-adjustable for front suspension on the A3. Going around corners too quickly so more load on the outside of tyres?

I'll be changing the tyres prior to MOT anyway, as I like to keep above 3mm for safety. These PS3s have worn too quickly for my liking as well :/ though at 24k not out of expectations of other reviews.

[GoNz0]

very normal wear pattern. not bad at all considering

[Guy]

24k and you're grumbling? Wouldn't call that a bad lifespan especially for the grip on offer!

[kalniel]

24k and you're grumbling? Wouldn't call that a bad lifespan especially for the grip on offer!

Well given I mostly drive on dual carriageways/motorways I was hoping for a little better. The primacys before lasted much longer - but shocking grip True about the grip of the PS3s, they have been nice. I'm trying Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance next - doubt dry grip will be anywhere near the PS3s, but wet should at least match and probably better them and with better economy to boot.

[phil4]

So my rough understanding is that camber is often used to change a cars handling and handling feeling characteristics as well as to change cornering grip. Eg to give a bit of "bite" and therefore more feel on turn in.

If I'm right, many cars won't have perfect flat camber, and so as you've seen the tyres won't wear evenly.

I used to have a 1 series that would go down to canvas on the inside long before the rest of the tyre looked shabby.

For uneven wear I'd look for what you've described but on one tyre only, or uneven wear patches. And as I'm sure you're aware centre wear can be over inflation.... Or just wider tyres spinning quickly.

What fun!

[kalniel]

So my rough understanding is that camber is often used to change a cars handling and handling feeling characteristics as well as to change cornering grip. Eg to give a bit of "bite" and therefore more feel on turn in.

If I'm right, many cars won't have perfect flat camber, and so as you've seen the tyres won't wear evenly.

-ve camber, yes. Would actually give a wider contact patch on the outside tyre with the most load during cornering. -ve camber would wear the inside shoulder more than the outside. Mine is the opposite, so if I was picky, I'd say it could do with being set up with a touch more -ve camber, but as it's unadjustable, the only change should be due to damage.

I used to have a 1 series that would go down to canvas on the inside long before the rest of the tyre looked shabby.

Yep that would be (way too much) -ve camber.

For uneven wear I'd look for what you've described but on one tyre only, or uneven wear patches. And as I'm sure you're aware centre wear can be over inflation.... Or just wider tyres spinning quickly.

Indeed, only wearing on one tyre, or uneven patches, would indicate some kind of damage. It's not centre wear (which would be more like 323), although the shoulder treads are a bit better than the full groves, they aren't in contact with the road as much so I'd expect that.

[Guy]

Well given I mostly drive on dual carriageways/motorways I was hoping for a little better.

Don't buy such a grippy Sports related tyre then. Can't have it all.

How often do you check your tyre pressures? As running over or under inflated can make a huge difference as well as producing some interesting wear rates.

Tbh you will never see or have tyres that wear to the exact same mm across the whole surface.

[kalniel]

Don't buy such a grippy Sports related tyre then. Can't have it all.

But I like grippy tyres for the rare B road blast

How often do you check your tyre pressures? As running over or under inflated can make a huge difference as well as producing some interesting wear rates.

About once a month, sooner if there's a big temperature change. At the moment I'm slightly over if the weather is hot/for the drive home, but about right most of the time/for the drive in the morning. (Why does the temperature have to change during the day.. can't the sun understand constant temp is better to get tyre pressures right?? ) And no, I'm not that dedicated that I'd be willing to pump them up every morning and let them down a bit before going home...

Tbh you will never see or have tyres that wear to the exact same mm across the whole surface.

Yeah fair enough

[Zak33]

So a quick piece of paper and a pencil check by me prior to MOT reveals a slightly uneven tyre wear on the fronts of my A3, namely as the following in mm:

2 2 3               3 2 2

if you just drove JUST in straight lines Kal, you'd need your trackiing checked as it's toe-ing in a little... imagine skiiing in a Snow Plough style... toes aimed in fractionally.

Not camber... this is tracking.

But,,,, as you DONT drive in straight lines, and you HAVE to corner I'd suggest youre doing very well.

If we get really really finnickity, you'd say the Near Side one is proper as all roundabouts go clockwise in the UK so you always scrub the outer edge of a NSF tyre... and the Off Side (drivers side) is wearing fractionally more on the outer edge from toe-ing in a tiny tiny bit...

but.. frankly... leave it alone

one turn of the track rod end might make it go t'other way!

[kalniel]

I love tyres so new they still have stickers on

[TheAnimus]

Off topic-ish, but how long do people find their tires last?

[malfunction]

I'd have to check my paperwork but I think I get a minimum of 2 years / 24,000 miles out of them usually, with a mix of mostly short trips and (ahem) enthusiastic back road driving with some motorway. Have had various makes but the ones that stand out are:

Michelin Energy Savers: rubbish at high motorway speeds - made the front end feel very twitchy - but I found them fun at lower speed. Got 19,000 miles out of one set and 21,000 miles out of another.

Pirelli P6 / P6000s: bloody awful - not much feedback and no grip at all when cold. They felt like they lasted much longer than the Michelins - in the end I couldn't wait to get rid of them - I got 25,500 miles out of them.

I have some Firestones on there at the moment (can't remember exactly what - will check) but these seem good for back roads. Haven't had them on a decent motorway / A road trip yet though (only had them on a week or so).

Oh and this is on a boggo hatchback (10.5 year old 1.6 petrol Focus), so I'm talking about the fronts. I probably get at least twice as long out of the rears (the last set of rear tyres were perishing rather than running out of rubber!)

[DanceswithUnix]

Off topic-ish, but how long do people find their tires last?

Last car was probably about 15K on the fronts (Michelin Sport), no idea on the back as they just don't seem to wear out so I didn't keep track.

I don't spend that much time on motorways or dual carriageways though.

Edit to add: The Alfa 147 I have now came with Pirellis on it, they squeal in car parks and aren't that good in the dry. I hope they don't last too long.

[kalniel]

Off topic-ish, but how long do people find their tires last?

FWD turbo diesel and around 25k if driven sensibly for the fronts, rears don't seem to be wearing at all so more age dependant (or I should rotate, but I like having soft fronts while keeping harder large tread tyres on rears). But varies hugely on the softness of tyre and car/driving. My astra had vredesteins that I'd estimate were going to last 40k.

[Guy]

Off topic-ish, but how long do people find their tires last?

Too many variables. Type of tyre, car they are attached to, type of driving done, type of driver, how well they're maintained!

[Zak33]

Kumo... v short life. Most that I've used are 12k miles and they're down to 3mm

Kleber Quadraxers, currenty at over 18k and still got 5mm on. Driven hard.