Well kiddies, I decided to actually go check my tires instead of just assuming that they were fine. Six months didnt seem like an extrordinarily long amount of time before needing to even look at them. However, both my rear tires were extremely worn down; basically bald on the passenger side in the center. Sides still had pleanty of tread, it was the center where there was none. So off to the local tire store and I now weigh about $250 less, but i am sure that my car will be FINE! Well, I felt dumb but I'm glad that the car will not have any more trouble.

Later,
Rade

 

Too much air will cause your center to wear out faster. How often do you check your tire pressures? I check mine about 2 times a month.

 

Never heard of wearing in the center only. when was the last time you got your car aligned? just a thought

 

yeah, strange wear pattern for sure with this car.

What type and size did you replace with?

 

Should have just flipped them...would've only cost $20 or so. Too late now.

 

Flipping wouldn't help at all, since all it accomplishes is evening out shoulder wear side-to-side, while RadeRadak's problem was wear in the center of the tire. Likewise, alignments (lots of toe) can cause excessive shoulder wear, but not excessive wear in the center of the tire. gdonahue's got it right -- it sounds like you're running too much pressure...

Steve

 

Oooops, read that wrong...my bad.

 

One thing too about tire pressure is in the reading of it cold vs. warm. These S-02s and other more performance oriented tires (hell...maybe auto tires in genera ) tend to increase air pressure by 2+ psi just from warming up!

So, if you're wanting to run 32psi but you're checking a cold tire, it should read 30psi (as a general rule). And as the tire warms, it will increase air pressure to 32psi. But if it were cold and you fill to 32psi, you'll scootch up to 34psi + once tires warm up. And then you'll find more center wear than you desired .



- Dave

 

didn't the user manual suggest 32psi cold tire pressure?

i usually runs 34psi

RadeRadak, how much psi you were running?

 

i had the same problem once, the rear end was tracking wrong so it was basically fighting in the middle of my tire. wore straight through a set of S03's, but made it 10k miles. Check alignment if its not the tire pressure.