Rear tire wear and AWD
05-10-2012, 02:07 AM
#1
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Rear tire wear and AWD
My 100% street C4S has Pzeros in the stock sizes. After just 4,500 miles, the fronts are still fine but the rears are almost bald! I knew the 993 wears out rear tires pretty fast, but shouldn't they last a little longer than this? Do the AWD cars wear them out faster?
The Sumitomo III's are about half the cost of a set of new Pirellis. I know a lot of you guys love the Sumi's for their low price and good performance. Have you noticed if they wear any better/worse than other tires?
The Sumitomo III's are about half the cost of a set of new Pirellis. I know a lot of you guys love the Sumi's for their low price and good performance. Have you noticed if they wear any better/worse than other tires?
05-10-2012, 02:41 AM
#2
Traded my PZeros for Sumi IIIs on my C4S, which is also 100% street.
After 10K miles, the Sumi's still have a fair amount of tread on the rears (probably another few thousand miles left on 'em), and the fronts look great. Will never go back to PZeros.
Tire Rack ran a special a while back and I got all 4 tires for about $650. And the tire is really, really good in the wet and the dry. For street use only, you'd be crazy not to change.
Unless you're filthy rich or own stock in Pirelli
After 10K miles, the Sumi's still have a fair amount of tread on the rears (probably another few thousand miles left on 'em), and the fronts look great. Will never go back to PZeros.
Tire Rack ran a special a while back and I got all 4 tires for about $650. And the tire is really, really good in the wet and the dry. For street use only, you'd be crazy not to change.
Unless you're filthy rich or own stock in Pirelli
05-10-2012, 06:03 AM
#4
Rennlist Member
Is the wear pattern even across the rears? Could you be running waaaaay more rear camber than you really need for street use?
When I first bought my car, the PO had Michelin Pilot Sports on it, they were junk after 4500 miles also. That was a result of a very aggressive alignment, with lots of camber at all four corners. I had a new, less aggressive alignment done-for street use primarily. I have Hankook Evo's on my C4S, and got 13K out of the first set of rears. They had fairly even wear, maybe 2-3mm difference inside to outside.
The fronts now have about 17K on them, and are showing some slight chopping on the inside edge. The car is still handling fine, and I'm sure the fronts will last till these latest rears are gone. I will then replace with the hankooks again, and get a refresh on the alignment.
If your interested in putting only "Porsche approved" tires on your car, then you can go the big $$ Pirelli or Michelin route. If your interested in a quality and affordable performance tire that will be 90%+ as good as anything else out there, then you have many great tire options.
Make sure you check the camber settings, the cars look cool as hell sporting lots of it...but it'll eat tires like mad if you drive the car regurarly.
Good Luck
When I first bought my car, the PO had Michelin Pilot Sports on it, they were junk after 4500 miles also. That was a result of a very aggressive alignment, with lots of camber at all four corners. I had a new, less aggressive alignment done-for street use primarily. I have Hankook Evo's on my C4S, and got 13K out of the first set of rears. They had fairly even wear, maybe 2-3mm difference inside to outside.
The fronts now have about 17K on them, and are showing some slight chopping on the inside edge. The car is still handling fine, and I'm sure the fronts will last till these latest rears are gone. I will then replace with the hankooks again, and get a refresh on the alignment.
If your interested in putting only "Porsche approved" tires on your car, then you can go the big $$ Pirelli or Michelin route. If your interested in a quality and affordable performance tire that will be 90%+ as good as anything else out there, then you have many great tire options.
Make sure you check the camber settings, the cars look cool as hell sporting lots of it...but it'll eat tires like mad if you drive the car regurarly.
Good Luck
05-10-2012, 07:50 AM
#6
You can get at least 50% more life out of the rears if you rotate the rear tires when there is about a 2/32" difference between the outside and inside tread depth. Don't rotate the wheels, but dismount and rotate the tires.
05-10-2012, 08:47 AM
#7
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Rear tires (Kumho SPT's) last about 12,000 miles on the Turbo. Make sure you have a quality alignment done by a shop that also understands (and has the proper tools) for Kinematic toe.
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05-10-2012, 10:14 AM
#9
Three Wheelin'
Completely agree with 911Dave.
I had Bridgestone S02's all round when i got may C4, the PO had the front camber set a little too aggressive but didn't tell me - this was the result after about 1000 miles, both tyres worn down the same............!
The rear Bridgestone SO2's lasted about 3500 with left and right changes, wearing both sides of the tyres..........
The rear Sumitomo's ride much better than the SO2's and look as if they will last at least 10,000 miles.
I had Bridgestone S02's all round when i got may C4, the PO had the front camber set a little too aggressive but didn't tell me - this was the result after about 1000 miles, both tyres worn down the same............!
The rear Bridgestone SO2's lasted about 3500 with left and right changes, wearing both sides of the tyres..........
The rear Sumitomo's ride much better than the SO2's and look as if they will last at least 10,000 miles.
Last edited by x50type; 06-22-2012 at 04:54 PM.
05-10-2012, 10:35 AM
#10
Rennlist Member
^^^^^ Looks a whole lot more like toe wear. Which it is, 9 times out of 10. Was very enlightening when I got my alignment rack with the first shop back in the '80s.
As far as my own 4S, I swapped the Hankooks at 10K about a year ago when a hint of inner edge wear was showing. Overall, they're worn about 50%. Can't speak to how they've evened out since I'm probably only driven the car 1K miles in the past year.
As far as my own 4S, I swapped the Hankooks at 10K about a year ago when a hint of inner edge wear was showing. Overall, they're worn about 50%. Can't speak to how they've evened out since I'm probably only driven the car 1K miles in the past year.
05-10-2012, 11:10 AM
#11
Agent Orange
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Rennlist Member
My money is also on rear toe. It's not easy to align the rear end without a special tool that most shops don't have. Make sure you ask the shop before dropping off the car.
05-10-2012, 12:51 PM
#12
Rennlist Member
I would use this opportunity to change to Sumi's or Hankooks. You will have a more compliant ride and lower road noise from the tires. I have Hankooks and they handle nicely and provide a great ride on the noisy concrete streets here in TX.
05-10-2012, 05:15 PM
#15
Three Wheelin'
When I picked up my C4S a month ago it had 70% or so remaining on the tires all around. I drove 850 miles or so home with it and the rears were junk. Took it for an alignment and mounted new tires all around. I have driven 1000 miles or so now and the tires still look new. I would suggest an alignment at a reputable shop. Im sure someone here can recommend one.