[MB220D300D]

I posted this recently in the Wheel/Rim Tire thread, but think not as many people read that as the general posts (like me). I've re-worded just a few things for better explanation.

Any theories as to why the rears would have worn so quickly?
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(Added from orig post)
Can anyone recommend any other Michelins?
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I put 4 new 225/60R16 of these on in Spring of 2010 at 204K mi after buying the car (tires not bought at dealer, FYI). Supposed to be 65,000 mi tires. I also had the dealer do all-wheel alignment. They said this is probably the last time to do a good alignment with the worn parts in front. So, I had the front suspension all replaced around 209-210K mi, and re-aligned, but dealer said the rear suspension still looks good enough/okay as far as suspension parts are concerned. All tires have worn pretty evenly, but the rears have just worn faster. Now on Sep 2012, at 219K mi - diff of just 15K.

I just noticed this earlier this week. The rear's have worn down to almost nothing. I've kept the pressures at the recommended values in the manual/gas cap, like 28F/32R...I've checked them each month. I should have been looking at the tread more often, but wasn't expecting them to wear down so quickly.

Using the US Lincoln penny test:

-- right rear is the worst - next to the rim of the penny is the "In God..." motto, and most of the letters' height is visible.
-- left rear - about half the motto is visible.
-- both fronts - tread is even with where the hair meets the forehead...can't really see the hair much.

So, I can see getting another 10-15K on the fronts, but why would the rears wear so quickly ?

Also, any other Michelin recommendations? I've read around here, but not a lot of "Michelin" hits.

The only Michelins the tire place has are : PRIMACY MXV4 RRBL 98H and 98V (Both Touring-type), and PILOT SPT AS+ 98W (Ultra-Hi Perf Sport).

The Symmetry's are Pax Type.

Which type should be used with the 140's? Of course, mine is "lighter" than the 420/500/600 models.

Thx - Dave H.


(ps: bomb10177 had already made some good comments, even suggesting I've been spinning the tires too much...with my 6-cyl...I had to tell him those are just the standard rumors about the 6's)

 

[UnshavenChauffeur]

Have you been rotating your Michelins? Mine came with a recommendation to rotate every 8,000 to 10,000 kilometres ...

 

[MB220D300D]

I knew someone was going to ask that. No, they've not been rotated yet. But after a closer look at the mileage's, they only have about 14,000 mi on them, the last 2,000 coming in the last 4 weeks when my youngest son borrowed it, driving it to/from work for that time, and the previous 12,000 put on between April 2011 and August 2012. The pressures now are 27 / 30, right on the recommended values. I find it hard to believe rotating would have prevented this, at this low mileage. Even if they'd worn evenly, then the fronts would have less tread than they have now, and they're already worn too much. Again, these are 65,000 mi warranted tires.

Upon a closer look at the tires, the fronts' outsides are worn a little more than the rest, and the rears' insides are worn a little more than the rest. Therefore there is some misalignment. After taking all this into consideration, they should still have a lot more tread remaining. I'll post some pix later this weekend.

 

[MB220D300D]

Any other suggestions? After I decide what tires to get, I will put them on and have the dealership check all of the bushings in the back end before they do an alignment.

Dave H

 

[lcmlee]

Maybe you got a bad set of tires? If they are warranteed for 65,000 miles and it's worn in just 15,000 miles...couldn't you trade it for a new set?

Also, the 65,000 miles warrentee on what kind of car? On a W140? If it's suppose to last 65,000 miles on a W140 then it's simply you that is the fault. Running the tires harder than it should...even on a straight six...are you putting the car in low gear and gunning it? If it's not you then the tire is faulty...return them and get a new set. If it happens again...call them a liar and buy some other brand.

 

[W140 Heavy]

the answer in the question?

you stated something about your youngest son...my dear old dad's car had the same problem about 30 years ago...for some reason the rear tires just didn't seem to last. Maybe just maybe...junior is into pushing dad's car a little harder than dad would.

 

[Sinned420]

The tires have not been rotated for 15,000 miles, plus your son might have been driving like any young person would and maybe even do burnouts (god forbid).

The tire place I go to recommends rotation every 5-6000 miles. So technically you should have rotated the tires twice already. Rotations do make a difference, I am now sitting at ~9000 miles, I should've rotated the tires 3000 miles ago but I just couldn't fit it into my schedule. I noticed the rears are a little bit more worn down then the front, when I was rotating them regularly, I couldn't tell. It is more noticeable when looking at the edge of the tires.

You probably won't be able to take them in for warranty if they know you haven't rotated/balanced them for over 15,000 miles. Even then, they could also blame it on your alignment.