Mini Cooper S - Excessive tyre wear
Discussion
Just wondered if anyone could shed any light on this or have had a similar experience!!!
Basically the car had new rear tyres on 24th Dec 09 and is in a mini dealership today because I noticed that both the new rear tyres looked quite worn. I am told that the near side one is on the limit and the offside one about 2mm!! The car has done about 3000 motorway miles since the new tyres were replaced. It has had an £80/hour diagonis to look at this and look at a couple of other niggly problems. I am told that it needs 2 new tyres £320 and a fancy balancing test that costs £250 in order to find out what the problem is. So its going to cost £570 to find out that the car has something seriously wrong with it and probably £1,000's more to sort them out. I can't help thinking that if the car has something that wrong with it - it would either look very bent (which it doesn't) or be undriveable (which it isn't!!).
The tyres that have worn were not bought from mini and were therefore no the Hologomated (spelling!!!) ones that BMW specially ask Pirelli to make for them and the ones that the service guy keeps harping on to me about!!! but there were Pirelli run flats that were fitted.
Any help/comments appreciated
Basically the car had new rear tyres on 24th Dec 09 and is in a mini dealership today because I noticed that both the new rear tyres looked quite worn. I am told that the near side one is on the limit and the offside one about 2mm!! The car has done about 3000 motorway miles since the new tyres were replaced. It has had an £80/hour diagonis to look at this and look at a couple of other niggly problems. I am told that it needs 2 new tyres £320 and a fancy balancing test that costs £250 in order to find out what the problem is. So its going to cost £570 to find out that the car has something seriously wrong with it and probably £1,000's more to sort them out. I can't help thinking that if the car has something that wrong with it - it would either look very bent (which it doesn't) or be undriveable (which it isn't!!).
The tyres that have worn were not bought from mini and were therefore no the Hologomated (spelling!!!) ones that BMW specially ask Pirelli to make for them and the ones that the service guy keeps harping on to me about!!! but there were Pirelli run flats that were fitted.
Any help/comments appreciated
That sounds pretty strange to me - what tyres were they?
For comparison purposes, many users have ditched the Pirellis, myself included, as they're a poor tyre. I now have Continental SportContact 3 SSRs (run flats) which have done approx 10,000 miles and so are down to 7mm. They are 205/45/R17 and cost £478 for four, including fitting, from Leatherhead Motor Company.
As for your balance test, it sounds like it's four wheel alignment? I would not get the work done at the dealer, but try to find a good local place that can align and replace the tyres - this will surely be much cheaper.
Don't be afraid to go outside of the dealer network for this kind of work - the MINI is no more complex than a whole host of other cars that independents will see day to day.
For comparison purposes, many users have ditched the Pirellis, myself included, as they're a poor tyre. I now have Continental SportContact 3 SSRs (run flats) which have done approx 10,000 miles and so are down to 7mm. They are 205/45/R17 and cost £478 for four, including fitting, from Leatherhead Motor Company.
As for your balance test, it sounds like it's four wheel alignment? I would not get the work done at the dealer, but try to find a good local place that can align and replace the tyres - this will surely be much cheaper.
Don't be afraid to go outside of the dealer network for this kind of work - the MINI is no more complex than a whole host of other cars that independents will see day to day.
Firstly before you change the tyres you need a four wheel alignment check, the alignment does not have to be out much for it to knacker the tyres. Where are you located? There are a couple of guys in the South who are recommended on here for the check, it will cost around £120. Then once that is sorted change the tyres at a good specialist, NOT mini!! If changing four at once consider non runflats which transform the handling and ride quality. Let me know if you require any more info or garage details.
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