Wow - don't buy the Goodyear Asymmetrics!
 

About five months ago I replaced the stock Potenzas with a set of Goodyear Asymmetrics. The stockers lasted 9.8k and 9k respectively, and it was always the fronts that wore out - the shoulders would be down to dangerous levels, but the middle tread and rears were fine.

After a lot of research, and considering the fact that we get a ton of rain in Houston, I bought the Asymmetrics. Nice and sticky, great in the rain, and a treadwear rating of 280 (IIRC) vs. the RE050s at 140. Got a good deal, I'm content. Fast forward to now, I'm at Discount Tire (props to those guys BTW), and as they're balancing the tires I'm absently staring down at the tires...and noticing that the wear bars on the rear are way more noticeable than they should be... Upon closer inspection, wow! The rears are almost ready to be replaced at 7k miles! :eek:

The wear pattern is weird, it's the opposite of the Bridgestones - outside shoulders are fine, fronts are fine, but the middle of the rears is cupped - the middle is scooped out lower than the shoulders. 7k miles?!?

Now the news that takes it from are you sh*tting me?!? to merely annoying. They came with a 45k mile warranty, so with the warranty they're being replaced for $100 total. I figure I'll put these on, hopefully get closer to 10k out of them, then switch to Pilots...:7:

Let some air out of those rears. Or are you lighting them up regularly? :-)

If I remember right, you went with the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric right? Wonder if the GS-D3 are any better.

The asymmetric have 240 tread rating. The GS-D3 have 280.

The Pilot Sport's are 220 rating. Wonder how they'll do.

You actually went with 235/50 and 255/45 F/R right?

Yes sir, you are correct. I don't think I have them aired up too high (jerminator's question), recommended is 33 and it was only a few weeks ago that I went up to 35. You're not supposed to lower air pressure for wider tires, right? They're only one size larger, so that would seem weird...

And no, I don't light them up much, only about twice when experimenting with the Dynolicious app on my iPhone :D What I do a lot of is hard cornering and accelerating out of corners, but only enough to upset VDC vs. wild fishtails. Dunno - I don't mind spending money on tires, but 7k per set is a bit excessive...

damn. 7k miles out of the set?

You must have rats or something else living in your garage and eating your tires.

Treadwear ratings are only consistant within a brand.

Based on your wear on the Potenzas, you need an alignment with more camber. Have you considered that? You'll get improved handling as well as longer tire life :)

Interesting - thought camber adjustment wasn't possible on the Gs?

Assuming it is, any recommendations on degree? Front and/or rear?

Thanks!

Well, you'd have to get a camber kit :)

Do you have any pictures of your wear on the original tires or measurements?

Also, describe your driving habits please :)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75...011081636a.jpg

This includes about 85% freeway driving, which helps even out the tire wear.

I definately need more camber :)

No pics, but I can describe it:

1. Driving habits: As a general statement, I don't drive particularly crazy, but I enjoy the car. Fast into corners, harder than average braking, then on the throttle on the way out. A high-speed sweeper from time to time, but I'm usually on back roads (not the good kind), and not on the highway so most corners are 90 degrees at <30 mph. See the slip light when accelerating hard out of a corner (<50% of the time), but VDC is on.
2. Bridgestones: Front shoulders worn almost completely smooth, to the point that cornering in the wet became dangerous. At a guess, the middle tread of the fronts would have lasted another 5 or 6k miles. Rears were worn down evenly, probably could have gone another 3 or 4k on the rears. This was consistent on both sets.
3. Goodyears: Fronts look pristine, they're holding up really well. Shoulders of the rears also look good. The center tread (~5" across) looks like it's been scooped out - it's at least a couple of millimeters lower than the rest of tire, in a concave curve.

Sounds like your front is limiting your turning ability on the sweepers. I'd recommend increasing the front camber 0.5 degrees, and see how much that helps. If your outer edge is still wearing faster, then increase camber a tad bit more. Also, note how the car feels after the increase in camber and see if you like it or not. Increasing the front camber will increase front grip and will make it seem like your rear end is looser. Check the tires after a few thousand miles, and if BOTH shoulders on both tires are wearing faster than the middle, add a little bit of air. It's okay to go over factory spec, as long as you don't exceed the tire's max. Also, note the change in handling feel from the air, and if you don't like it, go back.

Sounds like the rear is wearing well, and there IS some factory camber on the rears, so let's leave the rear alignment alone for the time being. I would, however, suggest you bump up your rear tire size. This'll help you power out of the corners better without setting off VDC, and possibly equalize your tire life between the front and rear.


As for the goodyears, it sounds like over-inflation.

You might be jumping to an early conclusion.
 

I agree with jerminator. I can't imagine any other way the center of a tire would wear prematurely. Any chance your car was driven by someone else, who maybe switched off the VDC and floored it?

Anyway, it sounds like the front Goodyears are actually wearing better than the front Potenzas, and you get another chance to figure out the rears. Keep us tire shoppers posted, OK?

Well, okay...I guess you can take the conclusion however you'd like. I've described what happened, in detail, complete with a description of driving habits and info on tire pressure and wear patterns... You can choose your own conclusion, but mine is that with this driving pattern the Asymmetrics wear really fast in the center of the rears...

But you're right, the Goodyears get another chance. Will post again at the next milestone :cool:

They're not called Good-4-a-Year for nothing.

i noticed similar wear, on last year's rear winter tires, and they were aired to recommended pressures too, though they did see a lot of spinning.