Pilot Sports - 21,000 miles and worn more so in the center! Anyone know why?

[ACR Joe]

I have gotten great service from the OEM set of Pilot Sports. Just wondering if it could have been even better. The center tread of the rear tires measures just under 3/32" while the outside tread (both sides) measures just over 5/32". Call it about 2.5/32" difference.

I maintained a cold pressure of 29 psi as recommended. I'm wondering if a slightly reduced pressure would have balanced the wear pattern across the tires a bit better. This is definitely not an alignment or balance issue. Anyone have experience with running a lower pressure to remedy this condition?

I've also noticed that traction seems way down. Are these tires produced with a harder compound nearer the casing while the softer compound is found in the first 5/32 or so?

I plan to replace the tires tomorrow with same size Pilot Sports.

 

[SteveBCloud9]

21,000 miles? Has ANYONE here got that many miles out of their rear tires? If mine last 10,000, I'd be happy.

 

[Lee Dove]

More wear in the center then on the edges indicates over inflation..........

 

[garolittle]

I have 20,000 miles on my original Michelin XGTs but I have recently purchased four Pilot MX3's from Jon B. at Parts Rack.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

We have 15,200 miles on ours. I noticed the center wearing more as well earlier this summer. I am just above the wear bars in the center with a fair amount of tread towards the outside. For every day trips around town, I lowered the pressure to 25-26. Any road trips-back to 29. Autocross--36

Steve

 

[ACELLR8]

Since we are talking about tire presure, what is the recomended tire presure for the fronts and backs.
I read on the side of the front tire max= 44 lbs and rear tire max = 55 lbs.
I was wondering what tire presure to have in the tires for daily driving not track use?
Thanks,
Ed

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

I would suggest that there is probably nothing wrong with your situation at all.I know that common sense would say the car's tires are slightly overinflated, but it is quite common for high performance cars to wear out the center of the tires first ---- just ask any Porsche driver. Getting 20k is excellent, and at 3/32nds you still have a little more life. I had a respected tire guru explain it to me based on vehicle dynamics and the amount of torque vehicles like the Snake apply to the tire in applying the gobs of power down to the tarmac. In other words I didn't have the faintest idea what he was talking about, but I do know from being an old fart and around alot of independent rear suspension, high output vehicles , that this is not uncommon. Call Tire Rack or Zisser Tire and get a new set for your Christmas present.

PS - I am pretty impressed you got 20K out of the Sports, but it does seem that these tires are wearing alot better than the previous generation MXX3s'.

 

[motomike]

Joe -
I have found that these performance tires do tend to wear more in the center of the tread patch then the outer edges. I believe it's due to lower profile of these tires and the fact that they don't flex and buckle as much on corners. It may also have to do with tire pressure, too. I've had two sets of low profile performance Bridgestones on another car and the same center wear pattern occurred. I've gotten about 15K miles on the rears of each set of Bridgestones. I waiting to see how the Michelins hold up on the Viper.

later

 

[ACR Joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ACELLR8:
I was wondering what tire presure to have in the tires for daily driving not track use?
Thanks,
Ed<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The factory specifies 29 psi at all four corners on a 99 with Pilot Sports. I may lower this to 27 psi based upon information above, experimentation and gut feel!

 

[ACELLR8]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ACR Joe:
The factory specifies 29 psi at all four corners on a 99 with Pilot Sports. I may lower this to 27 psi based upon information above, experimentation and gut feel!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

THANKS ACR JOE!!

 

[ACR Joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan M 98 GTS NY:
Yeap you've heat cycled the crap out of those old stock rears. They are real hard now. You will be amazed at all the extra traction a new set of rubber on the rear will provide. You don't really feel this slow degradation of traction until you install some new rubber.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Alan - Heat cycling makes total sense. I went at it with a friend in his juiced Z28 the other night. I completely spun through 1st and 2nd and consequently, ran about dead even with him. I felt like I was on ice even though the temp. was ~ 70 deg. f. New meats today or tomorrow - whole new ball game. Thanks for the perspective.

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

Joe - The spec. of 29 lbs. front and rear means that is where you should run the tires when at normal operating temperature. If you are running 29 cold, you are probably getting to 32 when they get warmed on the street. Next time check them after you have run on the street for a while and set them at 29. My MXXX3's have worn very evenly using this method.

 

[zoomie]

I just had to replace my LR Pilot Sport 335/30 ZR 18, side wall puncture. I bought a tread depth gauge and pressure gauge. The RR tire shows 8/32, with the new LR showing 9/32 - after 6300 miles on my 99 GTS. I have been setting them at 29 PSI cold.
Based on comments above, going to try setting at 27 cold,
checking tread depth across the tires, and checking pressure
after warming. Thanks for the great info!

 

[JonB]

BE CAREFUL GUYS ! THE YEAR MATTERS !

Pilot sports 18" and Pilot Sports 17" and MXX-3 17" and XGT-Z 17" all have different recommended pressures. ESP important that thse of you who have upgraded from XGT-Zs NOT use the doorjamb or owners manual pressures on Sports!

Some 1999-2001 owner please read the doorjamb and report?

Lastly: The center "traction rib" of a properly inflated tire on a highway will carry more weight, even if aligned properly. This is the promary, load-bearing 'contact patch' of your tire on the highway. It is common to wear the center rib area more, and wear is WORSE if over-inflated even a small amount. This is alos a function of average trip length = avg tire heat. Longer avg trips heat tires more, and result in worn centers!

 

[KenH]

My '01 GTS with 18" Pilot Sports says 29PSI (Cold) on the door jam. Doesn't specify front/back, so assume it is the same. Manual states 29PSI Cold Front/back.

--- Ken
'01 GTS

 

[SteveBCloud9]

New pilots should show 9/32 as I have a guage also. I have to keep taking readings as if I didn't charge for "EXCESSIVE ABUSE" on the rears, I'd go broke very very quickly. After 4000 rental miles since the new tires and a trip to the track with 8 passes, they are at 8/32 and holding up very well. All my tires indicate a max of 51 psi, I keep them at 42. After 4000 miles they have worn evenly.

 

[Mark Young]

Yep, I just went through the same thing. I still had a little bit to go before the wear indicators but they were so slippery I might as well have been on ice.

Careful though! The new tires will be REALLY slick at first, until I guess whatever coating they put on them wears off. The ViperDays at Pahrump seems to have gotten rid of that for me though

 

[ACR Joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mako:
21,000mi!!!!!!! I need driving lessons! None of my performance cars have ever made it past about 15k mi and I do not break my tires loose often.

Do you always keep your foot out of the throttle?

Please tell me you never go to the road courses!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I drive quite aggressively, have been to a half dozen road racing and a few drag events (once made 19 smokey passes), and don't hesitate to light em' up when the mood strikes me. I hear what your saying though. I burned through rear tires on my ZR-1 in 10,000 miles. The OEM Pilot Sports must be a fairly hard compound, hence the slipping and sliding I've been experiencing.

The Pilot Sports I purchased from Tire Rack are stock sizes, but are specifically designed for the Viper and may use a softer compound. Time will tell!

 

[BWoodbury]

I ran my OEM MXX3's for 21,000 miles. Rears were completely bald. Stupid and unsafe! Much better traction now with newer rubber. I also noticed that the insides were more worn than the outsides. I plan to have it aligned soon...

 

[BWoodbury]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mako:
21,000mi!!!!!!! I need driving lessons! None of my performance cars have ever made it past about 15k mi and I do not break my tires loose often.

Do you always keep your foot out of the throttle?

Please tell me you never go to the road courses!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Mako,

My secret was having someone else put the first 15,000 miles on them.

I use plenty of right foot, but I have only been drag racing and autocrossing.