Do tyres go 'off' as they get more worn?

[raf_gti]

I knew I was going to have to replace my Bridgestone RE050s sometime this year, they are currently sitting between 3/4mm so in theory plenty of tread left but by 'eck, they aren't half driving like the worst tyre in the world....ever.

Steering feel has gone, tram-lining has dramatically increased and the car just feels different, I've had this in the past when buying a car with LingLongDingDongs fitted but this is the first time I've experienced it from a 'quality' brand.

[Gaygle]

When my RE050A's were getting low, the grip never diminished in the dry - it was always fantastic. However, the wet grip severely dropped off, and tramlining was present much much more than when they were new.

[KaraK]

I've experienced performance drop off right near the end of tyre life (T1-Rs) but we are talking nearly on the legal limit here. My last set of Toyo's seemed to really struggle in cold temps as they became worn.

[otolith]

I used to have a Civic Type-R with OEM RE040s on it, and the handling got noticeably wayward towards the end of the life of the front tyres - and I usually replace at 3mm.

[BrewsterBear]

I've been led to believe that the last 3mm on most performance tyres is of a harder compound to ensure they last until replaced.

[rhinochopig]

Do you drive hard? Repeated heat cycling kills a tyre.

[raf_gti]

rhinochopig said:

Do you drive hard? Repeated heat cycling kills a tyre.

Not especially, I favour a smooth progressive driving style so I wouldn't consider myself a tyre killer.

[CommanderJameson]

Pressures not what they could be?

[Rawwr]

That behaviour certainly sounds indicative of incorrect pressures. Have you tried playing around with the pressures outside of the manufacturers recommendations to see if it improves?

[minicab]

We have a Merc E-Class on big AMG 18" alloys running Pirellis, and they seriously drop off when they're wearing down.

Exactly as you say, tramlining being the most noticeable side effect.

All pressures are always maintained correctly.

[Alfanatic]

I put Bridgestone something-or-others on all four corners of my golf when it needed new tyres.

The fronts wore faster than the back (no surprise there) but the car's balance was noticeably better when the tyres were all new and front grip and feel definitely deteriorated with front wear. And I was too lazy to rotate the tyres.....

Bridgestone don't make whatever tyre it is in that size anymore, so replaced the fronts with Hankooks, rear Bridgestones still in good health, and the handling got even more dominated by the rear grip, so much so that now I won't even dare rotate them!

[raf_gti]

Rawwr said:

That behaviour certainly sounds indicative of incorrect pressures. Have you tried playing around with the pressures outside of the manufacturers recommendations to see if it improves?

Pressures are all fine, as is the geometry, I've played around with pressure +/- 3 psi in the past but I'm now back to the manufacturer and 'internet' recommended pressure.

New tyres are coming by this weekend so I should hopefully be a happy chappy again

[PhillipM]

Tyres age, the compounds get harder from the heat cycling, they don't warm up as quickly as the tread blocks are shorter, and some of the compound break down from UV exposure over time.
Most tyres get worse as they wear just from that.

That's why new tyres tend to make a car feel better and more comfortable even if they're not as good a tyre as the ones taken off.

[jon-]

PhillipM said:

Tyres age, the compounds get harder from the heat cycling, they don't warm up as quickly as the tread blocks are shorter, and some of the compound break down from UV exposure over time.
Most tyres get worse as they wear just from that.

That's why new tyres tend to make a car feel better and more comfortable even if they're not as good a tyre as the ones taken off.

Pretty much this. The only tyre I know to have a proper dual compound is the Goodyear Optigrip. If you check out this link, the blue represents a softer compound: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/how-a-tyre-is...

[GingerWizard]

I'm having the same issues, I am due a MOT end of the month and two new front 205/45/R17 REO50's.

They are very poor at the end of life, damp days are the worst, cannot pull away... at all!

[jonah35]

i cannot stress how important tyres are

i have fitted new tyres recently to a car and it is quieter, doesn't tramline, tracks dead straight, grips like a limpet and is less bumpy.

strongly recommend new tyres on performance cars

[IainT]

Swapping an old set of Goodyear Wranglers for new stopped the Jeep from being totally tail happy in the wet.

Tread was still fine but the compund had hardened with time - enough for the sidewalls to be showing signs of perishing on the surface.

[raf_gti]

I've just checked the manufacture date of the tyres which is late '06, this leads me to believe they are the tyres came out of the factory with and as such have lasted 27k, not a bad return really!

13k of those are mine in the last year.

[HellDiver]

jon- said:

Pretty much this. The only tyre I know to have a proper dual compound is the Goodyear Optigrip. If you check out this link, the blue represents a softer compound: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/how-a-tyre-is...

The sadly defunct Bridgestone Potenza RE720 did too. Bridgestone, bring back the RE720, or something similar, please.

[jon-]

HellDiver said:

jon- said:

Pretty much this. The only tyre I know to have a proper dual compound is the Goodyear Optigrip. If you check out this link, the blue represents a softer compound: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/how-a-tyre-is...

The sadly defunct Bridgestone Potenza RE720 did too. Bridgestone, bring back the RE720, or something similar, please.

I'm not sure if it's common knowledge yet, but Bridgestone ARE releasing a new 'extreme performance' tyre early next year in the UK, I'm very excited.

I've a set of S02s sitting in the warehouse, I still think of them as the best road tyre ever made.