Fast Treadwear

[The Critic]

I know OE tires tend to wear out sooner than normal due to the heavy emphasis on fuel economy, which impacts treadlife.

Our Altima has a set of the Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02s. They are obviously built to Nissan specs, not Bridgestone's.

However, after only 3800 miles, I only have 8/32 left on all four tires. I would think the front tires would wear out more than the rears, but apparently not. According to TireRack, a new tire is 10/32.

So, is it possible for TireRack to be wrong, and that the tires actually start out at 10/32? Or do these tires really start out at 8/32? Does anyone else have experience with this particular tire?

Thanks.

 

[The Critic]

Maybe I am not alone:

http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/nissan-...next-steps.html
http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/2007-ni...-treadwear.html

 

[rshaw125]

That is bad. The Kumho KR21's on my Intrepid did not wear out quite that fast. But at least I got a pro-rated discount on another set.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Woah. That IS bad. I've got 4600 miles on the OEM Michelin Energy MXV4 S8 tires on my Camry and all still have 10/32". At this rate, you'll be down to the 'bars in no time.

Not unprecedented, though. My previous car was a 1-owner 2007 Corolla that I bought with 16,000 miles. Two of the original Bridgestone Insignia tires had about 6/32" on them, and the other two were close to 4/32". I might have been able to squeak a full 20,000 miles out of those tires, but I replaced them all soon after purchase anyway. Treadwear from those tires wasn't impressive at all.

 

[bepperb]

On a lot of tires, the 10/32 is the very deepest part usually the circumferential groove and not the lateral grooves.

 

[oilstudent24]

I have always wondered if the OEM tire on a new vehicle rolling off the assembly line has less starting tread than the same model of replacement tire to cut costs for the manufacturer. I guess the test the EPA runs for fuel efficiency could turn out better with a lighter tire over an entire fleet of vehicles.

 

[Hermann]

The Firestone Destination LE on my Tacoma started with 10/32", while all other non oem sizes of the same tire have 12/32". IT probably decreases the tire weight a pound or too. Their original weight is 23 lb. Very few 15" tires weigh that little. The next size up 225/70-15 is listed at 27 lbs on TireRack' spec listings. I think oilstudent24 has it right.

 

[Papa Bear]

The GY OEM tires that they replaced on my van after 30k miles had 8/32 minimum across the face (except the inner tread). They must have started at 11/32....

 

[BearZDefect]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
On a lot of tires, the 10/32 is the very deepest part usually the circumferential groove and not the lateral grooves.

I have noticed on newer Michelin tires I've looked at (Pilot Exalto and Primacy) that the shoulders look 'pre-worn'

Or, I should say, the shoulders are very much rounded, with their tread much shallower than the center.

Perhaps this is the case with newer Bridgestone tires too.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: oilstudent24
I have always wondered if the OEM tire on a new vehicle rolling off the assembly line has less starting tread than the same model of replacement tire to cut costs for the manufacturer. I guess the test the EPA runs for fuel efficiency could turn out better with a lighter tire over an entire fleet of vehicles.



You may be onto something, except thinner tread would reduce rolling resistance and save more fuel than a couple of pounds weight reduction would.

Originally Posted By: BearZDefect

I have noticed on newer Michelin tires I've looked at (Pilot Exalto and Primacy) that the shoulders look 'pre-worn'

Or, I should say, the shoulders are very much rounded, with their tread much shallower than the center.


Rounded shoulders reduce tramlining, the tendency to follow longitudinal features in the road.

 

[FZ1]

O.K. Be sure you take the car in for each tire rotation to keep the warranty intact. Then you will be eligible for a pro rata credit on the next set of tires.

 

[FZ1]

Hey,Critic. I just called Discount Tire and they said they could pro rate your OEM Turanza tires since they carry Bridgestone. It occurred to me that your car dealer may charge you for rotations, so check with Discount Tire re lifetime rotations for the most economical course. Hope this saves you some money. Good luck with it.

 

[BearZDefect]

Originally Posted By: XS650
...
Rounded shoulders reduce tramlining, the tendency to follow longitudinal features in the road.

Thanks for the explanation, XS650.

I know they have a good reason for doing it. But it does seem to be a relatively recent development, and tramlining is nothing new. Do you think rounded shoulders could also reduce rolling resistance?

 

[eljefino]

Does tire rack's treadwear figure match the one stamped on your sidewall? You could have a different flavor, either OE or "last years batch".

Go to the nissan dealer with your trusty tread depth gauge, for all we know the OE tires start at 9/32.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: BearZDefect
Originally Posted By: XS650
...
Rounded shoulders reduce tramlining, the tendency to follow longitudinal features in the road.

Thanks for the explanation, XS650.

I know they have a good reason for doing it. But it does seem to be a relatively recent development, and tramlining is nothing new. Do you think rounded shoulders could also reduce rolling resistance?


My first tires with rounded corners were advertised as reducing tramlining (they didn't call it tramlining). That was in 1965, Montgomery Wards top of the line tire (made by Firestone IIRC). They had a lifetime wear guarantee, the catch being that when you wore them out, the guarantee didn't apply to the replacement tires.

There are other tire design characteristics that also effect tramlining which is prolly why rounded corners aren't universal.

As far as rolling resistance goes, my guess is that any difference would be so small that it would be overshadowed by other design characteristics.

 

[PandaBear]

One of my coworker had the OE tire on his camry worn out at 15k, all 4 of them.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Michelin advertises a few of its tires with pretty rounded shoulders has having a "rounded European profile" or something like that. They claim that it adds progressiveness to a tire losing traction. That is, rather than having a tire suddenly break away during cornering, the tire with the more rounded profile will progressively lose cornering grip at the limit, and break away more slowly.

Eh, that's what I get out of it anyway.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
One of my coworker had the OE tire on his camry worn out at 15k, all 4 of them.

My E430 beats that 15k miles by 1k, all four of them worn down to 1/32" by 14k miles. My S2000 two rear tires beat the E430 by 2k miles, it worn down to less than 1/32" by the time I changed it in late summer early fall.

 

[oilstudent24]

The Critic

Quote:
So, is it possible for TireRack to be wrong, and that the tires actually start out at 10/32? Or do these tires really start out at 8/32?

I don't know your vehicles exact tire size and speed ratings, but go to Bridgestone's website and it will have the tread depth for their tires so you can compare with Tirerack.

 

[PandaBear]

My $ is on the tire your car came with start at 8/32 instead of 10/32 that the replacement sold in TireRack start at.