Unacceptable Tyre Wear?

[PhildFR]

Hi I'm looking for a bit of advice here regarding the unacceptable ( in my opinion) tyre wear I have on my 59 plate Fl Leon Fr.

I've done 8k miles and the fronts need replacing! The outside third is on the limit 1.6-2mm middle third has about 2mm and inside has about 3-4mm. The tyres are Dunlop Sport Maxx GT and I noticed that they were wearing quickly after only the first couple of months after purchase but was told that the first couple of mm on these tyres would wear quickly but would then slow down. It hasn't!!!!

I suspect that the car isnt set up correctly? Do you think I'm right ?

I phoned the dealer to tell them the problem and was told that tyres and tracking allignment issues are not covered by warranty which i do understand.

However I had a 4 wheel laser allignment check done at a independent tyre place and they said everything was fine ( including tyre pressure) Would this still show being alligned correctly even if the toe in toe out and camber arrangment were not right?

If the allignment is ok why is it wearing so badly? or do I just accept that I've had a duff batch of tyres and just take the hit?

I had a 1.9 tdi Stylance before and used to get 16k on the fronts at this rate I could be changing my fronts every 6 months!!! ( I don't thrash it by the way)

How would you approach the dealer ? (bearing in my mind that I havent had my 1st service yet) was thinking they might be a bit more helpful if they want me to service the car there

Any thoughts or opinions welcome

Thanks in advance

 

[Sooty torques]

I phoned the dealer to tell them the problem and was told that tyres and tracking allignment issues are not covered by warranty which i do understand.

Really? May be it's true but i find that very hard to swallow on a new car that hasn't yet had it's first service... I'd be inclined to push a little harder...?

 

[AndyHazza]

That does sound a bit excessive for sure!

Are both wheels wearing in the same way?

It sounds like it may be down to having excessive toe in on the front tyres causing that wear.

Unfortunately the dealers are correct with there being no warranty on alignments, but something sounds off to me for it wear like that.

 

[PhildFR]

Both the front tyres wearing the at the same rate! The rear tyres are fine with about 5-6mm on both with universal wear. Unlike the fronts

 

[NinjaPirateUK]

I have a FL FR TDI on a 59 plate, with the Dunlop Sportmaxx GTs on and have found the same thing. I've covered 7.5k since January and the fronts are almost shagged. Same as yours really, about 2-3mm across the middle, a little bit more at the edges though. Never had an alignment done though...

I think I might just rotate the fronts onto the back and carry on. Although it seems like delaying the inevitable.

 

[Paulki]

Sounds unusual, most people including myself have problems with the tyres wearing on the inside edge; if yours are mainly wearing excessively on the outside edge and you've had the alignment checked, go back to the dealers with the alignment report and get them to check the car.

 

[Rubbish Boy]

Mine have gone after about 7k too, 09 FL FR Tdi. Right in the middle, left and right edges still have loads of meat on them (Pirelli PZero Rosso on mine).

I got the dealer to check it and they couldn't see any problems. Their reason was repeated hard acceleration which causes the tyre to bow out.

 

[PhildFR]

I saw a 59 plate in speed blue parked up outside a gym the other day with the same tyres and had a quick look at the wear on those pretty bad but not as bad as mine!!! Wasnt yours was it? lol

 

[h34ds]

If the middle is wearing before the outer isnt it over inflation?

If the outside edges are gone then tracking is definately out. get a 2nd check on tow out from another garage just for peace of mind. They may have said its ok but may not be?

I have never had a set of tyres on the front last more than 10k tbf so i wouldn't mind changing them.

I h8 the pirellis so i chew em up as fast as i can to get something else on

 

[Rubbish Boy]

If the middle is wearing before the outer isnt it over inflation?

My pressures are regularly checked and always at the recommended pressures (32 front, 29 rear), dealer also checked them when it when in and noted down on the service sheet that they were at 32 on the front and 29 on the rear.

So unless the recommended pressures are wrong it isn't being caused by over inflation. And to be honest they look squidgy enough as it is, they look flat some times, I don't think I would want to run them any softer.

 

[h34ds]

TBH i do run mine a lot higher than that, and they still look soft. I run maybe 5/6 psi higher and i think it is a lot better, I have always run higher than car manufacturer guidance, but i suppose that down to preference. I would try going a bit higher and give it a go see if you like it. Tyre wear may improve or maynot.

 

[IanG]

I've got the same Dunlop Sport Maxx on my Fl FR TDI as well and haven't suffered the same tyre wear as you have. I've done about 13k and they are coming up to needing replacing so I'm getting the fronts done next week. The wear across the tread is pretty even although it is a tad more in the middle. I'm just about down to the wear markers.

I'm not impressed with these Tyres and although the wear isn't great what you have experienced is shocking

 

[GainfulShrimp]

I found with my pre-FL FR that using 36psi gave more even wear and slightly better economy.

 

[NinjaPirateUK]

I saw a 59 plate in speed blue parked up outside a gym the other day with the same tyres and had a quick look at the wear on those pretty bad but not as bad as mine!!! Wasnt yours was it? lol

At the gym? Not mine for sure!

 

[jonny neate]

Got Dunlops on my 59 plate FR TDI ,7500 miles now on the wear bars in the centre loads on the edges. Have allways had 32psi in them,but did drop them down to 30 about 6 weeks ago ,but a bit late to make any difference.

Phoned a well respected tyre supplier for advice on some tyers that would give good wear and guess watt he recommended "Dunlops" when i told him that thats watt i got and how few miles they had done his words were "I find that hard to believe" So im unsure watt tyers to buy.



Jonny

 

[IanG]

I'm going to give Hankook S1 Evo's a go getting them fitted next week

 

[andycupra]

sounds like the tracking needs doing.
If tracking is out this will increase wear.

Whether 8k is poor wear, well this depends on how you drive, which we dont know.
Many people report changing tyres every 6k! - -mad.
8k is not great i grant you that, but if the tracking is out this will have increased wear.

 

[tt28]

Got FL FR 09 TSI with Dunlop Sport Maxx GT.

Done just under 7k and wear mainly on the inside, but nothing like what your quoting. Did have a laser alignment at 4k though.
inside front are at 4mm, everthing else still at around 6mm

 

[Hurdy]

I'd agree with most of these posts. Wear like that is unacceptable and needs addressing. A tracking and realignmenton a decent set-up should be able to give you a printout with before and after settings. Some even highlight the poor settings in red. I can see why tracking/alignment isn't covered by warranty as anyone can simply drive out with a brand new car and hit the first substantial pothole 100 yards down the road and knock the tracking out.

 

[dazjb69]

I'm going to give Hankook S1 Evo's a go getting them fitted next week

I've had these on the front of my cupra for 3 months now,proving to be a decent tyre, pretty good in the wet and not too bad since the map too! Will put them on the rear when p-zero's need replacing. Wear rate seems to be ok, last fronts wore down the middle tho and left a good bit of tread on the edges when they were replaced.