Tire issues - help!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 117
Likes: 4
From: Arlington, VA
Tire issues - help!!!
Guys I need some help and pointers pretty badly
I have this 97 C4S since new and for the last couple of years it sits for every other 3 months, I unplug the battery, come back plug it back and it fires
End of August got back and it fired up and all great a few weeks later it felt like one tire was flat
checked and everything seemed fine my mechanic said probably the tire got square due to be sitting there
but tonight started to feel worse and worse at a stop light it smelled like burned rubber so I knew I
had a flat got to my closest gas station and the rear passenger side tire was completely shredded on
the inside I see the other rear tire and the inner side is also bald so what went wrong here?? I always
used Pirelli's but on my last set I decided to try the Toyo's, car is not modified just have a PSS9
So it's dark but I managed to take out the messed up tire and put the funny spare what is the pressure for the spare???
I was looking and couldn't find a definite answer. The manual is somewhere not in the car.
To make matters worse when I was tightening the spare tire I must've put too much torque on the lock lugnut
and I broke it and I'm a skinny guy ;-(( how do I go about getting this??? where??
Thanks in advance.
P.S. good to know there are nice people out there ready to help out, while doing the changing to the spare inflating
with compressor and stuff my battery went down some nice dude gave me a hot-shot.
I have this 97 C4S since new and for the last couple of years it sits for every other 3 months, I unplug the battery, come back plug it back and it fires
End of August got back and it fired up and all great a few weeks later it felt like one tire was flat
checked and everything seemed fine my mechanic said probably the tire got square due to be sitting there
but tonight started to feel worse and worse at a stop light it smelled like burned rubber so I knew I
had a flat got to my closest gas station and the rear passenger side tire was completely shredded on
the inside I see the other rear tire and the inner side is also bald so what went wrong here?? I always
used Pirelli's but on my last set I decided to try the Toyo's, car is not modified just have a PSS9
So it's dark but I managed to take out the messed up tire and put the funny spare what is the pressure for the spare???
I was looking and couldn't find a definite answer. The manual is somewhere not in the car.
To make matters worse when I was tightening the spare tire I must've put too much torque on the lock lugnut
and I broke it and I'm a skinny guy ;-(( how do I go about getting this??? where??
Thanks in advance.
P.S. good to know there are nice people out there ready to help out, while doing the changing to the spare inflating
with compressor and stuff my battery went down some nice dude gave me a hot-shot.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 33
From: Portland, OR
Youd didnt mention how old the tires are. I had a tire completely shred a while back on my Audi when I was new to cars. The tire was old and on its way out due to tread wear, and the thing literally exploded, exposing the wire mesh structure. I'm guessing you just had extremely old tires from the info provided.
As for the battery, that just sounds like an old battery that is running low on lifespan. These probably seem like simple answers and they are, but with the info provided they are most likely IMO.
As for the battery, that just sounds like an old battery that is running low on lifespan. These probably seem like simple answers and they are, but with the info provided they are most likely IMO.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 35
From: Semiahmoo/Blaine, Wa
Curious how many miles were on the tires. If over 10k miles, it doesn't sound surprising. Also, because of the rear tire width, it is tricky to properly inspect the inside part of the tread unless you virtually lay under the car to look.
Phoneyman also makes a good point: tires deteriorate with age due to things like ozone in the air, etc. Many recommend not running on tires more than 4 or 5 years old.
Phoneyman also makes a good point: tires deteriorate with age due to things like ozone in the air, etc. Many recommend not running on tires more than 4 or 5 years old.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 117
Likes: 4
From: Arlington, VA
tires are probably 2 years old around 5k ... before getting the shaky feeling I was doing a lot of late braking
is that lock for the lugnut unique to my car??? what is the pressure for the spare cannot find my manual
thanks
is that lock for the lugnut unique to my car??? what is the pressure for the spare cannot find my manual
thanks
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,514
Likes: 830
From: Massachusetts
I see the other rear tire and the inner side is also bald so what went wrong here?? I always
used Pirelli's but on my last set I decided to try the Toyo's, car is not modified just have a PSS9
used Pirelli's but on my last set I decided to try the Toyo's, car is not modified just have a PSS9
What type of alignment settings were done when the Pss9's were installed? Street or aggressive track settings?
If the car is going to sit for more than a few weeks, suggest putting max pressure (ie 50 psi) in the tires to prevent flat spots.
As for the lug nut, it's definitely a dealer item. I ALWYS use a torque wrench to the factory settings (94 ft/lbs "i think") to ensure I do not over torque the aluminum lug nuts.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,078
Likes: 166
From: colorado canyons
First, it sounds like you have an alignment issue leading to excessive wear on the inside of the tread.
What type of alignment settings were done when the Pss9's were installed? Street or aggressive track settings?
If the car is going to sit for more than a few weeks, suggest putting max pressure (ie 50 psi) in the tires to prevent flat spots.
As for the lug nut, it's definitely a dealer item. I ALWYS use a torque wrench to the factory settings (94 ft/lbs "i think") to ensure I do not over torque the aluminum lug nuts.
What type of alignment settings were done when the Pss9's were installed? Street or aggressive track settings?
If the car is going to sit for more than a few weeks, suggest putting max pressure (ie 50 psi) in the tires to prevent flat spots.
As for the lug nut, it's definitely a dealer item. I ALWYS use a torque wrench to the factory settings (94 ft/lbs "i think") to ensure I do not over torque the aluminum lug nuts.
Good point about increasing tire pressure when car is going to sit for awhile.
Trending Topics
Rennlist Stories
The Best Porsche Posts for Porsche Enthusiasts
Porsche Reveals Coupe Variant of the Electric Cayenne With a Fresh Look
Verdad Gallardo
10 Porsche Colors That Have More Personality Than Most People
Verdad Gallardo
Guntherwerks' Final Speedster Creation Is the Ultimate Porsche Restomod
Verdad Gallardo
10 Reasons I Hate Going to the Porsche Dealership (& the 1 Reason I Stay)
Joe Kucinski
Porsche Shakes Up The Nürburgring Lap Record Table Once Again
Verdad Gallardo
6 Ways the Porsche 911 GT3 S/C Redefines Performance
Joe Kucinski
10 Wildest Homologation Specials Porsche Ever Sold
Verdad Gallardo
Super Rare RUF BTR III Comes Out of Hibernation, Looking For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Porsche Opinions That Can Start a Fight
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 35
From: Semiahmoo/Blaine, Wa
I agree. Sounds like perhaps excessive negative camber and possibly too much rear toe causing scrubbing of inner tread. I had some negative camber on my last 997 (lowered about 3/4" on Damptronics), and actually got great mileage out of my tires (over 15k on rears). But I would think too much camber, especially if combined with bad toe-in, would significantly increase the wear rate.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 117
Likes: 4
From: Arlington, VA
Dealer guy was nice enough to untie my locked lugnuts with his master kit and gave me the # to order the key ... got a set of rears not from the dealer of course, I Know 2 years is about right but my car sits every other 3 months, my mechanic says since the car sits really low not a whole lot we can do. Is there???? Is it possible to flip them e.g. pull them out and put'em back when I see the inner are wearing off ???
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,859
Likes: 725
From: Massachusetts
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,514
Likes: 830
From: Massachusetts
Originally Posted by becker - 97'C4S
my mechanic says since the car sits really low not a whole lot we can do. Is there????
Last edited by 95_993; Oct 27, 2015 at 08:31 AM.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 2
From: Bawston
Originally Posted by Foxman
Can't speak for Andy but many of the newer tires like Bridgestone's RE 11's and the newer RE 71's as well as the Michelin super sports are omni directional so you can swap them from side to side now without remounting. 