Check your tyres!

[Koops]

Had my new Exeo ST SE Lux for only 3 days (18" low profiles) and have scraped the front wheel rim :cry:
I was gently pulling up alongside a kerb when it happened. The car is fitted with Pirelli Pzeros and I've noticed that on the 3 'good' wheels the tyres have a rubber bead that protrudes beyond the wheel rim, but the bead is barely noticeable on the damaged wheel. I cant believe that the tyres are actually different (the tyre carcass is produced in a mould) so I am wondering whether the tyre is not seated properly on the damaged wheel. Would be interested in feedback from other owners with same tyres.
Another thing I have noticed is that the car 'tramlines' very noticeably (motorcycle riders will know what I mean); that is when there is a step in the road surface and the tyre runs across it the steering pulls to one side. Anyone else notice this?

[Dazex]

I have noticed the tramlining but to be honest I'm not too sure what tyres mine is running.
I will check in the morning..

[Noel Ates]

Mine had P Zeros from the factory. No rim protection on the tyres at all, in fact the rims protrude beyond the tyre wall. In addition they only lasted 5 minutes compared to the Michelins that I'm running now.
The steering does tram line but not on new rubber, only becomes noticeable when the front tyres are worn down to say 3-4mm and below. The more worn the tyres, the more severe the "pull". Behaviour was the same with both the Pirellis and Michelins.
Car is a Sport with the optional sport suspension.

[andyj]

I had the Pirelli Pzero's from new, and agree that the offer no rim protection :(

I only manged to get 17k out of the front tyres, and then had to fit new Bridgestone RE050's. I swapped the rears (Pzero's) on to the front, and have managed to get another 4k out of them so far with about another 2k left on them. No great.

I'm hoping that the Bridgestone's are a harder wearing tyre, and should give me a fair few more miles per set!

[Koops]

Thanks for the replies guys. I spoke to the dealer that supplied the vehicle who checked with their workshop. Turns out that the car had a damaged tyre on delivery, spotted during PDI, so they replaced it. Seems like P Zeros are not all the same! On my Seat Leon FR I tried several makes of tyres (I put 60k miles on the car) and found I got the best life with low road noise and good handling from Continental Sport Contact 3. I like Michelin Energy tyres for low noise and mileage but doubt whether they do them in 'sporty' sizes.

[westcountry boy]

Absolutely agree on the tramlining - my se lux has bridgestone potenzas - tread getting low on the front and really noticing it now.

[Noel Ates]

Andy J, I'd be interested with your findings regarding the Bridgestones. I only acheived 22,000 on a full set of factory fit Pirelli's. I considered the Bridgestone and Continental options but chose to fit a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3's and quite happy to report a totsl of 24,000 out of the fronts alone with about 5mm remaining on the rear.

[Koops]

Checked the tyre pressures on my 1 week old Exeo today: 36psi on the front instead of 32. With the pressures corrected the steering feels much better with more feedback, and the 'tramlining' seems to have gone. (Actually I've only experienced the tramlining a few times so maybe it will still occur occasionally.)