How do your tyres wear?
Discussion
Hi,
As some will know I have recently bought an E60 M5. Few teething problems and more questions than answers, hence my daily posting's on here!!
Today's question:-
How unevenly should my tyres wear out, especially the rear?
Car has been to BMW for an MOT and passed without a problem, but they've pointed out that the rear tyres have 0mm on the very inside edge, which covers around 1-2" of the width, of course not an MOT failure. The outside edge has 5mm on. Front tyres are fine with 8mm on both inside and outside edge.
I wonder if the geometry of the car is set so that the wheel camber is slightly this way and that's just the way the tyres wear? They have advised that in a few thousand miles the tyres will need replacing and then they can put it on their machine and check the alignment, for a price of £180 + VAT.
2 thoughts. 1, I don't want to spend £600 on tyres to wear them out the same way again but, 2, I don't want to pay £180 for the car's alignment to be checked and find out it's OK and they should wear that way.
Thanks :-)
As some will know I have recently bought an E60 M5. Few teething problems and more questions than answers, hence my daily posting's on here!!
Today's question:-
How unevenly should my tyres wear out, especially the rear?
Car has been to BMW for an MOT and passed without a problem, but they've pointed out that the rear tyres have 0mm on the very inside edge, which covers around 1-2" of the width, of course not an MOT failure. The outside edge has 5mm on. Front tyres are fine with 8mm on both inside and outside edge.
I wonder if the geometry of the car is set so that the wheel camber is slightly this way and that's just the way the tyres wear? They have advised that in a few thousand miles the tyres will need replacing and then they can put it on their machine and check the alignment, for a price of £180 + VAT.
2 thoughts. 1, I don't want to spend £600 on tyres to wear them out the same way again but, 2, I don't want to pay £180 for the car's alignment to be checked and find out it's OK and they should wear that way.
Thanks :-)
BMW M Camber will always tend to wear the tyres more quickly on the inside edges in common with many performance vehicles.
The castor angle of the front axle can wear the tyres on both edges more quickly than in the centre (even with the correct tyre pressures) as the steering applies additional camber into the direction of the steering turn.
Wear on the inside of tyres is not necessarily cause for concern, however worn suspension, or lowered suspension that has not been corrected for geometry afterwards, will amplify the wear - Sometimes to the point that a tyre can appear as good as new until you feel the inside edge and rip your hands to shreds on the wires hanging out of it.
The castor angle of the front axle can wear the tyres on both edges more quickly than in the centre (even with the correct tyre pressures) as the steering applies additional camber into the direction of the steering turn.
Wear on the inside of tyres is not necessarily cause for concern, however worn suspension, or lowered suspension that has not been corrected for geometry afterwards, will amplify the wear - Sometimes to the point that a tyre can appear as good as new until you feel the inside edge and rip your hands to shreds on the wires hanging out of it.
Hi Daz!
My rears have just been replaced.....very even wear, perhpaps one mm lower towards the centre compared with the outsides (as expected with such wide tyres).
You do need to get the geometry done.....mine was done by Elite (£110) and made a huge difference.
Getting the right tyres is hard enough without them scrubbing away too quickly!
Jazzer
My rears have just been replaced.....very even wear, perhpaps one mm lower towards the centre compared with the outsides (as expected with such wide tyres).
You do need to get the geometry done.....mine was done by Elite (£110) and made a huge difference.
Getting the right tyres is hard enough without them scrubbing away too quickly!
Jazzer
You don't have to use BMW for a proper alignment check. I've used a local place, charges £60-80. Just make sure they check & adjust castor angles (ie. not just a kwik-fit laser alignment job). Where I go he gets me to return for a re-check [at no extra charge] after 500 miles or so.
For anyone Herts/Essex/North London I use Mr Unique in Cheshunt, highly recommended.
Had the official report back from BMW.
Front
Inner 7mm, middle 7mm, outer 7mm
Rear
Inner 4mm, middle 5mm, outer 5mm.
That means the grooves in the tyre itself, so they are more than legal. However the very, very inside edge has 0mm which is a bit strange really and why it caused me concern.
Oh well, I'll put some PS2's on in a few thousand miles and get it all lined up properly, there's a place in Manchester called Awesome GTI, they're quite good.
Thanks all.
Front
Inner 7mm, middle 7mm, outer 7mm
Rear
Inner 4mm, middle 5mm, outer 5mm.
That means the grooves in the tyre itself, so they are more than legal. However the very, very inside edge has 0mm which is a bit strange really and why it caused me concern.
Oh well, I'll put some PS2's on in a few thousand miles and get it all lined up properly, there's a place in Manchester called Awesome GTI, they're quite good.
Thanks all.
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