TDi tyre pressures and wear

[golfgtdude]

Hi all,

I am the proud owner for a GT TDi (the 140bhp variant).

Currently running the Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres as fitted from new and always change for the same as they seem to be a really good tyre.

My query is that of tyre wear on the fronts.

• I run the pressures as per manufacturers specs (32psi all round) for single occupant driving.
• Wear appears to be heaviest in the middle of the tyres whereas the outside edges are fine.

Usually I'd associate this type of wear with over inflation but as you can see I'm not doing that bit wrong?

Comments appreciated.

[Wazza_G]

If you're wearing the tyres out quiet quickly, like I did on my last car which was fitted with the same Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres as OEM fitment, (they're stupidly expensive to replace) why not try Hankook tyres (I think they're made by Michelin?), I found they wore really well pounding up & down the A3 between Guildford & Portsmouth.

But if you're really concerned about the wear, pop in to your regular tyre supplier for some advice.

[prolfe]

Centre wear does point to over inflation. Try running at 1 or 2 psi lower.

Or does your driving style mean that you only accelerate hard on straights and not pushing the car round corners.

Potenza's (RE050) are £104 a corner and came out in the top three for performance and wear on Which.co.uk

The brilliant Sport Contact 2's are £109 a corner.

Your P-Zero's are £113 a corner.

All from the excellent E-Tyres.

[elPaulio]

Hey there,

I have the same GT TDi 140 and has exactly the same problem with the P-Zero's!!
Went into the local dealers and query'd it with them and there solution was either I was burning it away from the lights constantly, which I wasn't Or just reduce the pressures by a couple of BAR, which I did.
When I got the P-Zero's replaced I got Dunlop Sports on from Kiwk-Fit (Not my choise, company car an all) And I've had no problems with them at the manufacturers recomended 2.1BAR. I'd say get rid of the Pirellis and get something else. My Dunlops lasted 15k whereas the P-Zeros only lasted 10k!!!

No-Brainer me thinks

Cheers

Paul

[golfgtdude]

Hey there,

I have the same GT TDi 140 and has exactly the same problem with the P-Zero's!!
Went into the local dealers and query'd it with them and there solution was either I was burning it away from the lights constantly, which I wasn't Or just reduce the pressures by a couple of BAR, which I did.
When I got the P-Zero's replaced I got Dunlop Sports on from Kiwk-Fit (Not my choise, company car an all) And I've had no problems with them at the manufacturers recomended 2.1BAR. I'd say get rid of the Pirellis and get something else. My Dunlops lasted 15k whereas the P-Zeros only lasted 10k!!!

No-Brainer me thinks

Cheers

Paul

Fair do's. They are pretty soft these tyres but offer very impressive levels of grip in all conditions. I think I fancy a change next time so may swap them for something different.

PS. As long as I continue to enjoy the torque of this diesel I will always have centre tyre wear issues

[elPaulio]

Yeah, I did fine the P-Zeros grippy, but to be honest, the Dunlops grip as well if not better. I think they are £260 a pair from Kwik-Fit so you should be able to get them for a fraction over £200 elsewhere I would say!!

And yeah, I'm with you on the Torque issue, all I can say is "Thank god for company cars!!"

[golfgtdude]

Yeah, I did fine the P-Zeros grippy, but to be honest, the Dunlops grip as well if not better. I think they are £260 a pair from Kwik-Fit so you should be able to get them for a fraction over £200 elsewhere I would say!!

And yeah, I'm with you on the Torque issue, all I can say is "Thank god for company cars!!"

hehe, I tell ya ever since i've install my performance chip I don't think these tyres are gonna last much longer now I tell ya, it seems to have too much power now!

[elPaulio]

hehe, I tell ya ever since i've install my performance chip I don't think these tyres are gonna last much longer now I tell ya, it seems to have too much power now!

::Gasps!!:

Wash your mouth out with soap and water right now!!!!

Too much power, there is no such thing

[prolfe]

My Sport Maxx tyres lasted about 15k, the Dunlop SP9090's about 12k.

I'm currently on the Potenzas which are very good.

I'll let you know about the wear when they give up.

Which.co.uk tested them for grip in the wet and dry, accelerating and then stopping. they then tested them over 5000 miles and measured the tyre wear. They also rated them for noise.

They tested 90 tyres in all.

In 225/45/17's the Michelin Pilot Sport PS 2's came top with a 73% score, my Bridgestone Potenzas came second with a 71% score.

Looking at the figures, the potenzas were the same in all categories except 'wet grip bend' which they were better and 'Eco rating' which they were one star less. So it seems that the 'eco rating' is loaded in points.

Incidentally the Sport Maxx tyres got a 68% and were not a best buy.

[adstalker]

I am currently running Bridgestone Potenzas and have the same problem with heaviest wear in the centre of the tyre. Saying that, I have currently done 12K and there is 4mm of tread left in the centre and 5mm on the outside. Grips good though.