04 Cooper tyre wear

[disad-vantage-d]

The wife's Cooper has covered just over 20000 miles. Until recently have only periodically checked the pressures. Last few times both fronts have been very low. There does not appear to be any sign of puncture damage.

I had noticed that the outside edges of both tyres were becoming worn and expected to replace them soon. This was no surprise considering that the pressures had been low. However, last night the car was parked with quite a lot of lock and noticed that the inside edge of the driver's side (only) was severely worn for around 3/4". So much so that I could feel a noticeable ridge on the inside edge of the wear.

Anyone else experienced:

A) Excessive & regular loss of tyre pressure.

B) This very pronounced wear - and if so any idea why it should wear in
this manner.

Tyres are Dunlop SP9000 205/45/R17W

Also any suggestions re replacements?

[justlivyalife]

Haven't got noticeable loss of pressure on my Mum's R50 Cooper Auto, but both front tyres have worn considerably on the outer 'shoulders'. Unsure why this is but MINI wanted £200+appropriate labour to do four wheel laser alignment, so we reckon that it's cheaper to not worry about it for now - same tyres as you, which are about £85/90 a pop.

[baSkey]

my r53 cooper s the fronts lasted c 16.5k miles with the rears still going strong.

towards the end the tyres were hard to keep up to pressure (in winter) they wore unevenly as a result. also if you're anywhere near speed humps they really play havoc with the geometry. i'd personally get a four wheel alignment done but do it at an independent (mine was more like £75 on a fancy pants rig jobbie). if you're sticking with the 9000 (definitely the best MINI runflats) don't pay any more than £125 a tyre fitted with the VAT (i am sure BMW are much closer to £200 which is, quite clearly, a joke).

[disad-vantage-d]

Thanks for your replies. I have booked the car into the dealer on Thursday to get this looked at. I have looked at the tyres again and the front passenger side tyre is also looking like it's going the same way.

The strange thing about the way they've worn is that the wear is sudden not gradual in relation to the rest of the tread, you can feel a definate ridge where the tyre goes from 2-3mm of tread to absolutely none on the outside 1/2".

The dealer has stated that they can quote me for replacements and added that they are competetive on price. I've had a quick look on the 'net and have seen the Dunlops for around 110 fitted or an Avon for 88.

I'll see how they deal with the problem before giving them the trade, even if there prices are competetive.

[haggle]

reason the dealers alingment costs more is beacuse they use a KDS (kilo diagnostics machine) to do the alingment as it garanntees the mini will be set up right

because it has full multi link suspension its vital to have a KDS (as they have to weight the car down to the set ride height then, adjust hence kilo diganostics) i made the mistake of going to a local tyre place who did it as normal, and messed the car up royaly its expensive but worth it also

its worth fitting upper and lower strut braces to the mini, to elimitae the uneven tyre wear also takes out all the camber steer on motorways. i have the OMP upper and lower ones on mine and its transfomed the car also my insurance wasnt bothered see here

Edited by haggle on Tuesday 5th June 01:23

[baSkey]

haggle said:

reason the dealers alingment costs more is beacuse they use a KDS (kilo diagnostics machine) to do the alingment as it garanntees the mini will be set up right

because it has full multi link suspension its vital to have a KDS (as they have to weight the car down to the set ride height then, adjust hence kilo diganostics) i made the mistake of going to a local tyre place who did it as normal, and messed the car up royaly its expensive but worth it also

but a lot of places have those things. like the place near me. their independent and good! it's cool because you get a print out showing weights and all the geometry angles and stuff...

_____________________________

between £110 and £130 quid is about right for those tyres.

[disad-vantage-d]

Dealer has informed me that a 4 wheel alignment check is required (119 quid!!)
and two new tyres (330 quid!!)

States that the abnormal wear is due to normal road use - potholes etc.

My reply was that numerous other cars I have owned have been subjected to `normal road use' to higher mileages and have not suffered such problems.

Am currently in `negotiations' over the matter, but suspect that I may end up sourcing the tyres myself (209 quid the pair from etyres) and an alignment check - best quote so far 60 quid).

[baSkey]

disad-vantage-d said:

Dealer has informed me that a 4 wheel alignment check is required (119 quid!!)
and two new tyres (330 quid!!)

States that the abnormal wear is due to normal road use - potholes etc.

My reply was that numerous other cars I have owned have been subjected to `normal road use' to higher mileages and have not suffered such problems.

Am currently in `negotiations' over the matter, but suspect that I may end up sourcing the tyres myself (209 quid the pair from etyres) and an alignment check - best quote so far 60 quid).

really evil pot holes and speed bumps will throw it... lumpy roads shouldn't i wouldn't have said.

see i told you they'd take the piss over the price of tyres ! definitely get the tyres elsewhere. BUT retain the metal valve caps. i lost a pair and a scally child has nicked another...! plastic ones look way rubbisher!

it *may* be worth getting them to do the alignment.. but definitely *not the tyres*. no way jose. about the only benefit of the main dealer doing it is at least there less likely to damage your wheels but i'd take the risk. my local place are fine at fitting these tyres (although the missus has caned the wheels parking anyway!)

[gonzales]

baSkey said:

the only benefit of the main dealer doing it is at least there less likely to damage your wheels but i'd take the risk.

I got all four tyre replacements on my MCS in December after the two rears filed their MOT for abnormal wear on the inside edge. Got Kwik fit to do 'em as they were £440 fitted instead of near £900 for a dealer. All four of my alloys mashed. Make sure you ask the tyre fitters if they work with run flats often.

Abnormal wear on the inside rears is due to the stiffness of the chassis and cornering speed, or so I was told at the dealership.

[disad-vantage-d]

gonzales said:

baSkey said:

the only benefit of the main dealer doing it is at least there less likely to damage your wheels but i'd take the risk.

I got all four tyre replacements on my MCS in December after the two rears filed their MOT for abnormal wear on the inside edge. Got Kwik fit to do 'em as they were £440 fitted instead of near £900 for a dealer. All four of my alloys mashed. Make sure you ask the tyre fitters if they work with run flats often.

Abnormal wear on the inside rears is due to the stiffness of the chassis and cornering speed, or so I was told at the dealership.

I always dread tyre changing time as the alloys are totally mint and I'd like to keep them that way. I had a couple of wheels refurbished last year (not on the MINI) and they were capable of refitting the tyres without making a single mark. How come some of these tyre places make such a mess of your wheels?

[gonzales]

disad-vantage-d said:

How come some of these tyre places make such a mess of your wheels?

Because most places don't give a crap.

[baSkey]

disad-vantage-d said:

I always dread tyre changing time as the alloys are totally mint and I'd like to keep them that way. I had a couple of wheels refurbished last year (not on the MINI) and they were capable of refitting the tyres without making a single mark. How come some of these tyre places make such a mess of your wheels?

..not sure quite how rhetorical that question is ..(!?!).. but the sidewalls of the runflats are very very stiff (obviously i guess) and so they make it even more difficult for them to strecth them on... my local place is like a local kwikfit..but a million times better. it's the best of both worlds - they are local (so not kwikfit. yippee!) but large enougto mean they have lots of experience. my wheels were ccovered in that gunk stuff they use to get the tyres on (i was suspicious at first because that's often a sign of them trying to cover up wheel damage!!) but i think they were just using that to get them on without damage.. .it's a shame they didn't clean the wheels up but least they thought around the issue!

it's better if you can trust people.. but at the end of the day it is pretty much worth the risk... bmw charge so much for tyres you could get four tyres and four wheels refurbished for the same price even if everything went tits up..

[disad-vantage-d]

Just an update

Had two Dunlop run-flats fitted. Fortunately, the fitter did an excellent job and managed to leave the alloys completely unmarked.

Also, had a four wheel alignment check done, which required three adjustments.

It's been an expensive day, but hopefully the matter should be sorted now.

Still saved seventy five quid on what the dealer quoted me.