nile13

There are two different Direzzas. The second one, StarSpec is a much better tire. Make sure you're buying the right Direzza.

As far as longevity, what you are seeing is about right. My first cab ate its rear Kumhos (crappy 711s, but still) on its maiden (to me) cross-country trip. I could not figure out why it slides all over the road by the time I did 4200 miles meandering from SF to DC. And I still had 450 miles to go to get home.

Matt Lane

Mike - you think 6K of life in street only use using summer tires is a normal lifespan?

I'd respectfully disagree, and focus on sorting out what is surely an alignment issue for the OP.

Best,

Matt

nile13

Matt, why would this be an alignment issue if the tires wore out evenly? it could be toe, but you can usually see uneven wear with too much toe in or out.

As I've mentioned, I've had tires wear out that fast on the back of my 993s. And my Miata Azenis often lasted 8K-10 miles without autocrossing even though it's a much lighter car with 50-50 weight distribution. Good soft tires don't last long.

RBP

If your interested the car is not a Speedster. It is a 550 Spyder, very few made. This was the famous car James Dean was killed in.

Think I shoud get the rear alignement checked. I have a slight rubber smell after driving but I noticed this even when the car warms up and just rolls down the driveway. After driving in this morning I noticed the rears are slightly warmer than the fronts.

NP993

It's puzzling to hear of people getting lots of miles out of the Sumi III's. I had the II's on my car and got 15K out of the rears; switched to III's and barely got 8K. Back to II's now and I'm closing in on 15K and they've still got plenty of life. Strange.

mongrelcat

I should correct this,,, it's actually about 5,500 less as I ran Hakka's all last Winter and forgot to deduct that amount.

So 19.5k miles with minimum 5/32nds remaining (rears.)

curve lover

Nothing against the above sedan (Altima?), but shots of your 550 with your 993 would be PURE WIN

My photo of 550 + 993 @ Dana Point, CA last Sunday:

MDamen

I have Sumi IIIs and good alignment and am getting about a year's worth of driving out of the rears, maybe 9 to 10,000 miles. Looking at the fronts, I am probably going through 3 sets of rear for each set of front.

NEK

550 love! And buried in a tire thread no less.

Matt Lane

Hi Mike, you may be right. If the "even" wear reported was factually and truly even, you can't argue with facts. That really is accelerated wear.

I wore out a set of rears in 3K miles myself, but I was dragging the tires across the pavement combined with too much camber, so for me it was an alignment issue.

Alignment redone, I was surprised to get 5K miles including 10 DE days out of my rears before before having a screw puncture. But I still had ~ 5/32, and these were fairly sticky tires (Dunlop Direzza Star Spec).

I will be interested to see how I make out on my replacement rears (same tire) and my new alignment. Spending a lot more time on track too...

Will report back.

Best,

Matt

RBP

I will check out the tires "star spec" but when I asked the tire dealer nothing came up except the DZ101.

Curve Lover, love your 550 (well I love all 550's) I have never had a car more fun than the 550. I have the 993 so that when I go out with the wife she will go in the car. She is not partial to the 550 but loves the 993. She was out in the 550 once and said it took her a week to get the smell of exhaust out of her hair. Also love the 904!

The 550 is not for everyone, no heat, no AC, no radio, no top. Just the sound of carbs and camshaft, what could be better? I love it.

I don't have a photo of both of them together seems I am using one or the other. Here is a pic of the rear end when I put it to bed last fall. Yes I did fix the oil leak. Leaks are a personal pet peve of mine, I hate leaks this one drove me nuts. The oil pump cover developed a hair line crack and would leak only after warming up. It was a process of elimination but I got it.

kjr914

+993


RPB, I think you just need to open a new thread here in 993 land: "My gorgeous 550" and post every pic you have!!!!

Awesome to see good enthusiasts who love these cars owning, working on and, most importantly, driving them!!! ...not just sitting in a large collection garage.

The Brewmeister

Porsche's first purpose built race car, driving in it's purest form.

Ed Hughes

I run R's fulltime on the 911, and I'm lucky if i get 3k out of the rears. Soft tires= low miles.

RBP

Thanks all,

At least now I know this is normal. I initially thought something was very wrong like axle out of alignment, but since both were worn evenly it just seemed odd. I have never had a car that ate tires every 6,000 miles.