My vRS has done about 6,000 miles and I've noticed the tyre tread at the front is down to 5mm at the centre and 4mm at the edges. I've checked the pressure - it's okay.

I know it could be the alignment / tracking, but having said that I have no reason to suspect any problem - I've never hit anything other than the occasional pot-hole.

Is it possible I'm just thrashing it too hard through the corners ? 75% of my driving is on fast, twisty A & B roads and I don't exactly go slowly ?

:confused:

Probably hard driving - what tyres are they?

Rob.

Standard fit from new - Dunlop SP Sport 3000 - 17/50/205

I'd be amazed if they'd worn-out in that mileage. A friend of mine has a BMW 330CI, drives like a nutter and his Dunlops lasted 17k on the front... I'd get the tracking checked....

Num

But what about the rears on his BM, as its a RWD car? FYI my fronts last about 8-10,000 miles, rears about 20

Rears? 4k!!... :1: Nah - seriously they were all changed at the same time.

They're not exactly worn out yet but I was surprised that the wear was uneven - right at the edge the tread is noticeably more worn than in the centre - on the outside only - of both front wheels

Remember the BMW is rear wheel drive ....... so you can't really make a realistic comparison

Our RS has done ~26K on the original tyres and still look fine. I obviously don't drive it hard enough:drive1:

I managed about 30k on my Michelin Pilots, and any excessive wear I blame on the previous users...

Rob.

Originally posted by greg2302 in this post

They're not exactly worn out yet but I was surprised that the wear was uneven - right at the edge the tread is noticeably more worn than in the centre - on the outside only - of both front wheels

Remember the BMW is rear wheel drive ....... so you can't really make a realistic comparison

Things that can cause this pattern of wear include under inflation, incorrect toe-in and hard cornering. If you are happy that your pressures are OK and you're not wearing the tyres out yourself by smoking them round corners, have the alignment checked.

The inflation pressure is okay, I'll get the alignment checked in 4k miles at my service, think it's probably down to hard cornering ....

Remember the BMW is rear wheel drive ....... so you can't really make a realistic comparison [/b]

Agreed -

OK then - Front Wheel Drive. My wife's Fiat Tipo did 43k on the original set of tyres and only needed to be replaced because the sidewalls were cracking. From the remaining tread depth, they probably had another 10-12k in them. I admit this isn't a good comparison either in terms of sheer "performance" but shows what can be acheived with a light right foot.

The amount of wear would you have had would indicate, as others have pointed out, that

A/. the tracking is out - wear on the inner / outer edges is the result or

B/. you drive the car hard and that's caused it - Neil RS @ 26k is a case in point.

We have 400+ drivers covering 30/40k PA - on average, tyre life is IRO 20k/25k - and all our cars are FWD.

Num

BTW - the BMW has now covered 52k and he's just on his third set - more Dunlops at almost

I think I drive quite hard but have managed 20k now out of a set of Continentals. Still have 2-3k left on them.

However a drop to 5mm in the centre after 6k seems quite alot. New tyres tend to have about 8mm, right?

Originally posted by greg2302 in this post

My vRS has done about 6,000 miles and I've noticed the tyre tread at the front is down to 5mm at the centre and 4mm at the edges. I've checked the pressure - it's okay.

I know it could be the alignment / tracking, but having said that I have no reason to suspect any problem - I've never hit anything other than the occasional pot-hole.

Is it possible I'm just thrashing it too hard through the corners ? 75% of my driving is on fast, twisty A & B roads and I don't exactly go slowly ?

:confused:

Not a problem, by the sounds of it it's all down to your cornering speed.

I have done over 20k now and the outside edges of my tyres are severely scrubbed, but over the rest of the tyre there is probably another 1.5mm before the wear indicators will be reached.

I'm gunning for 25k before changing the fronts (Dunlop Sp3000a).

Forgot to mention I do a lot of motorway miles, which are relatively easy on tyres. Country roads (and roundabouts:D )are different altogether. Ask any biker

How often do you get through back tyres on the bike though?

Rob.

About 3000 miles, yeh I know it's none to clever. But when your tyres are like bluetac what do you expect:D

Booked in for alignment/tracking check on Tuesday - hopefully it is out, otherwise I might need to temper my driving style .... :(

It was the tracking, right enough. I drive 40 miles every day on this really crappy B road full of pot-holes and rocks, it's great fun, but I suspect it will only be a few days before the tracking's out again. :(

I have a suspicion my tracking could be out too... The car turns ever so slightly to the left when I let go of the steering wheel. The Marshalls I have fitted seem to be wearing quite badly though. When I got a tyre changed under defects after only 4000 miles, I was down to 5mm wear on the existing tyre. Maybe I'm enjoying the new found level of grip too?

PS: At

Just wait until you get the Eibachs, Jason!!

At least you don't drive a new-shape Mondeo !

The girlfriend's TDCi has 17k, is on its second set of tyres and I've just had them swapped front to rear as they are half worn on the front.

The tyre pressures are checked religiously every weekend, the wear is even across the tyres and the tracking has just been done. At this rate a set is lasting every 12000m !!!

Don't know if anyone else has a new shape Mondy, but I know they that the chassis is highly rated - but at what cost ! :eek:

ps. It doesn't appear to be down to her driving style...

Originally posted by fen_l&k in this post

Just wait until you get the Eibachs, Jason!!

I can't bloody wait, I tell you. I've made a note that I MUST have them for the 20/21st September meet! Could this be yet another thread that I try and gather interest in a group buy of eibach lowering springs? Yep, it is now.

(see group buy thread of mine, somewhere on here)

I have done 46k in my 02 1.9 TDI Elegance and have had 3 sets of tyres on the front (gonna need another set soon) and one set on the back.

The second set (Avons) on the front lasted 7k, turns out the tracking was screwed by the mobile tyre company.

I spoke to a taxi driver who said that they get about 15k out of a set of fronts due to all the town driving they do.

I do a lot of motorway miles and a lot of country road driving (on some really sh!ty roads) but this still seems quite soon for a set of fronts. May be i should get some lighter shoes. (also had a set of disks and pads on the back)

My front tyres were replaced after just 7k miles, but most of my driving was on main roads and motorways. Not used to tyres wearing so quickly perhaps the vRS is prone to the tracking going out quickly. Tracking and Camber all out plus my suspension comes loose a touch too often.