General tire question for you guys. As much as I like low profile sticky rubber big tires, I also don't like replacing them due to cost, etc.

So, how many miles can you go on the 18"? I know this question is dependent on driving style. Since I'm assuming most of us pay for our own cars and tires, and don't go Mario Andretti at every light or on every corner.

Can they go 40K miles? 30K miles?

The BMW 330 zhp has 225/40 front, 255/35 rear. A lot of rubber, and awesome traction, but if you can't rotate them, how often must you change them?

The Infiniti are 235/45, but you can rotate them right? So they should last longer too.

How long will they last?

How long have those of you w/ the 17" gone, without changing

Or should I just buy some 15" michelins and be boring?

Any feedback would be nice (especially those who have experience), thanks.

 

I've put about 13k miles on my summer Sport Pilots and worn off about 4/32 nds of an inch off the tread. If I can wear them down to 2/32 nds of an inch b4 replacing, and if my driving habits don't change, I'll get about 26k out of them.
The Pilots are sticky rubber and perform very well, so this ware isn't excessive for this tire.
I don't drive like Mario A. any more, but then again I like to make the G 'perform' once in a while, so I feel the tires will have done well, all things considered.

I've heard of some getting more out of their Pilots, but I feel they are driving very conservatively.
Others have gotten only a few thousand miles out of a set, but those miles must be very 'spirited'.......A la Mario A.

My 2 summers of experience.
GSM

 

Tire wear has less to do with rim size or profile and more to do with the compound of the tire... softer, stickier tires leave more rubber behind and firmer tires tend to last longer. Eagle F1 GS-D3's = soft. I expect about 15k from them. Michelin Pilot Sports = Harder, Expect about 25k. Bridgestone Turanza's = Hard. Expect 30k +

Obviously all this changes based on how you drive too but check out tirerack.com for reviews and ratings including treadwear.

Good luck!

 

Less if you drive aggressively. I wore out the OEM Turanza EL42's in 12k miles. Of course, autocross at least once a month is rather tough on tires.

 

The TL 42s are a touring tire which in my opnion is marginal for a G35. I would expect most people to be rid of them within a year.

If you have the g35x and expect to go in snow the tire sucks and is marginal for winter use. Take a look at how they are rated at tirerack.com. If their rating system is any indication, the tires do not do anything well and are not that great for snow.

When replacing the tire I plan to get a higher performance all season... such as the pilot.

 

That's not entirely true. To their credit, being a touring tire, the 42's do one thing well: highway cruising. They're comfortable and quite at highway speeds on a highway.

Great tire for an family car or commuter vehicle, but not for a sports sedan.