Bridgestone Potenza RE050A wear
12-15-2009, 12:03 PM
#16
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Car was aligned 7,900 miles ago when these tires were mounted. Camber was dialed out to the limit at that time too. Service manager insists this is how these cars wear tires with lowered cars being even worse. I believe him having seen a number of other 997's with high mile rear tires.
Something's wrong with your car
Something's wrong with your car
Eat 'em up cowboy.
12-15-2009, 01:46 PM
#17
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
It appears as if you need an alignment. Wear is more prominent on the inside of the tire. You might also need shocks. Don't know from personal experience how long the OEMs are good for but on my Audi A6 the OEM shocks were toast in less thank 50K. Put on Bilsteins and all good for over 50K and a few track events to boot.
12-15-2009, 01:53 PM
#18
Instructor
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Libertyville, IL
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Last edited by CarGuy21; 12-15-2009 at 01:54 PM. Reason: pronoun usage
12-15-2009, 04:58 PM
#19
Race Director
As you all can see from my rear tire pictures that even at 10,000 miles my rears look awesome. I have my alignment dialed in and my rears should last 20,000+ miles.
People that drive normal to even sometimes spirited on the street that wear through rear tires in 7k miles have a serious alignment issue.
Before I had the GT3 Cup lower control arms I have used this set up for years and for the street it is about perfect, better turn in, very planted and great tire wear:
FRONT
-1 camber per side
.02 toe per side
REAR
-1.5 camber per side *NO MORE THAN THIS*
.12 toe per side
I now can get more camber up front with the GT3 arms so I have been running this for the last 3,000 miles and tire wear still seems great. Much better handling at the track
FRONT
-2 camber per side
.02 toe per side
REAR
-1.8 camber per side
.14 toe per side
People that drive normal to even sometimes spirited on the street that wear through rear tires in 7k miles have a serious alignment issue.
Before I had the GT3 Cup lower control arms I have used this set up for years and for the street it is about perfect, better turn in, very planted and great tire wear:
FRONT
-1 camber per side
.02 toe per side
REAR
-1.5 camber per side *NO MORE THAN THIS*
.12 toe per side
I now can get more camber up front with the GT3 arms so I have been running this for the last 3,000 miles and tire wear still seems great. Much better handling at the track
FRONT
-2 camber per side
.02 toe per side
REAR
-1.8 camber per side
.14 toe per side
Last edited by mdrums; 12-15-2009 at 11:16 PM.
12-15-2009, 05:07 PM
#20
Advanced
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Allignment is personal. Sounds like you have close to -2.0 camber in the rear ("maxed out" as you stated). Add some toe-in to that and there is the cause of your tire wear. It is also the reason your rear feels super planted. Choices, choices..
You could go with a different allignment in the rear, less camber less toe. You have to be carefull though, you want some toe-in and some negative camber otherwise your rear engined puppy will not be as planted in the rear as you may like. -1.5 and -0.15 on each side should work.
Personally not a fan of Bridgestones, I like the PS2s. Pricey but good. My allignment is set up for track/sreet with -2.1 and zero toe up front, -1.9 and -0.17 toe in the rear. Still understeers but far less than before. Almost GT3 like turn in and balance now.
Cheers
You could go with a different allignment in the rear, less camber less toe. You have to be carefull though, you want some toe-in and some negative camber otherwise your rear engined puppy will not be as planted in the rear as you may like. -1.5 and -0.15 on each side should work.
Personally not a fan of Bridgestones, I like the PS2s. Pricey but good. My allignment is set up for track/sreet with -2.1 and zero toe up front, -1.9 and -0.17 toe in the rear. Still understeers but far less than before. Almost GT3 like turn in and balance now.
Cheers
12-16-2009, 08:00 PM
#21
Three Wheelin'
I say dial in the car alignment for the best performance that makes you happy....tire expense is simply a cost of ownership. if that is going to phreak you out, you should get a different car. I'd rather have an awesome handling car and replace tires in 1/2 the time, than an OK handling porsche with great tire wear! In the scheme of things, tires are cheap, and you can't put a price on fun.
12-16-2009, 08:02 PM
#22
Race Director
I say dial in the car alignment for the best performance that makes you happy....tire expense is simply a cost of ownership. if that is going to phreak you out, you should get a different car. I'd rather have an awesome handling car and replace tires in 1/2 the time, than an OK handling porsche with great tire wear! In the scheme of things, tires are cheap, and you can't put a price on fun.
12-16-2009, 09:20 PM
#24
Race Director
I track on 18's....bigger than the stock 18's but yeah they'd work I do not see why not. It's the amount of toe that tears up the tires more than the camber.
On my 1st list of specs everything is with in Porsche's stock specs, just on the far said of them except the front camber...but -1 front camber will allow you very spirited street driving with out wearing the outside edge of the tire.
On my 1st list of specs everything is with in Porsche's stock specs, just on the far said of them except the front camber...but -1 front camber will allow you very spirited street driving with out wearing the outside edge of the tire.
12-16-2009, 11:34 PM
#25
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Norwalk,CT
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My RE050A's wore well and when I changed all tires, I had a full 4 wheel alignment at the dealer. Found factory alignment was off, or knocked out due to roads (pot holes etc).
Prior, I had the P-Zero Rosso's which were fine until near end. Get on concrete highyway and you better have earplugs. Damn things were very loud at EOL.
I also went from 295 to 305 on the rear with stock S wheels.
Once they were on and after a month of normal driving to get them worn in so I wouldn't get sqirm, these tires then performed really well. These are N0's BTW.
With the right pressure, I was able to toss the car around harder without breaking loose. Rain seems adverage or OK, not bad as I really do not try to drive it on wet roads.
I really liked the RE050A's.
Deanski
Prior, I had the P-Zero Rosso's which were fine until near end. Get on concrete highyway and you better have earplugs. Damn things were very loud at EOL.
I also went from 295 to 305 on the rear with stock S wheels.
Once they were on and after a month of normal driving to get them worn in so I wouldn't get sqirm, these tires then performed really well. These are N0's BTW.
With the right pressure, I was able to toss the car around harder without breaking loose. Rain seems adverage or OK, not bad as I really do not try to drive it on wet roads.
I really liked the RE050A's.
Deanski
12-16-2009, 11:50 PM
#26
Nordschleife Master
The current RE050A are N1 and they seem to be even better. I have these and so far I like them a lot.
12-17-2009, 01:17 AM
#28
Race Director
