Hi all,
Bit of a dilema. A while back I noticed that my front right tyre seemed to have worn more than the left and made a note to keep my eye on it. (Plenty of life left on it).
However, twice today, the car has momentarily scrabbled for grip at the front. Now you're probably going to say exactly what my Dad said in as much that "it's greasy and wet outside". But I know my car and what you can get away with and I certainly wasn't pushing it. I've checked the tyre again and whilst nowhere near illegal, (it looks fine until you look at it in relation to the other one) I've decided to replace it.
Here is my dilema. The front left looks brand new. I really don't want to replace both but if I have to I will. The new front left tyre will be the same as the front right that's on as the tyre place only do Firestones.
Question - if I want optimum grip and safety, do I need to replace both or can I get away with just the one? I don't want to be a cheapskate when it comes to tyres but if I don't need to, I don't want to replace both.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
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My advice would be to get Pirelli P7's when the other tyres need replacing. The P7's transformed my Passat's handling and grip compared to the original Dunlop's.
To answer your question I would just replace the one tyre if the other is OK, but please take your dad's advice re. wet and greasy roads.
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Is there a spare tyre? If so, put the good one to the spare and buy two new ones. Received wisdom is that it is best to have the new tyres on the back, regardless of front or rear wheel drive.
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Only a spacesaver sadly. That's hairy enough at the best of times!
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Don't get me wrong - I'm careful - both times it's scrabbled for grip, it could have been Mum driving I was going so slow ;-) But it isn't a wet or greasy road causing the problem. It may be exacerbating it but not causing it.
Re the Pirellis, I'm not just saying this, but I don't think the car could have more grip as it did (up until now!). It shocks me how much it holds so I'm reluctant to change.
That being said, it's never had Pirellis on and my Fiesta did. That gripped very well too so I may change them all when they all wear some more.
Thanks for your help.
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Adam As long as your tyres have at least 3mm tread they dont need replacing. I think your father is quite correct re greasy roads. Technically if temperatures are 7C or below cold weather tyres should be used but in the UK very few people bother with a second set of rubber. I am sure you have read the recent threads on winter tyres. I do not know your tyre size or speed rating so please bear in mind that the Pirelli P7 is only available in V rating and above. When you are in need I can give you some guide prices and as you come from my native northwest I know of some good independents in the Manchester area....
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Tyrexpert,
My tyres are 195 55 R15's. I've never really been bothered by speed ratings before so I don't know what they are. I seem to recall there's an 85H on there somewhere. Would this mean they're H rated?
I think I will replace them alln (brandwise) when the time comes so that would be most kind of you.
Thanks again,
Adam
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I seem to recall there's an 85H on there somewhere. Would this mean they're H rated?
Yep.
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Cheers Dave.
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try....www.avontyres.com/us/en/safety/info-fitment-safety...i
tem4
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Steve
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Thanks Dave and Steve.
Everything you've ever wanted to know about tyres!
Having had a bit of a think, I'll sleep on it too. But I'm thinking it may be best to put two new fronts on simply because I do ask a bit of the tyres and I'd rather they both be perfectly equal.
Like I said - I'll sleep on it. I may not want to spend so much dosh in the morning!
Thanks again,
Adam
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Adam,
Stick a set of winter tyres on steel wheels.
That was just to rile TVM as he thinks they´re pointless for English drivers....
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Assuming you don't take it oval racing, why would one side wear so much more quickly than the other? Have you checked that everything else is ok? Shocks?
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Adamski,
I agree with tyrexpert. As long as your tyres have at least 3mm tread they dont need replacing.
A young lad like you should be spending his spare cash on bling, not unnecessary tyre changes. New tyres won't help to pull the birds, but bling might!
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L\'escargot.
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As suggested, before replacing any tyres, you should get other possibilities checked out first such as tracking, alignment and shock absorbers.
Otherwise a few thousand miles down the road you could be faced with the same dilemma.
The only other suggestion I can make is to swap the front tyres over which will/should help to equalise the wear.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Thanks for the replies again.
I just presumed it was tracking causing the problems and would get it sorted when I get the new tyre. I've decided against replacing both I think and will just do the one and rectify whatever's caused it to wear faster.
Snaily - you mean a nice set of Firestones doesn't impress the ladies?
Tyreexpert, would it be possible to get that list of recommended tyre places off you please?
Thanks again everyone,
Adam
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One tyre wearing and scrabbling for grip could indicate a shocker problem as already mentioned.
I would look at getting that sorted before replaceing the tyre, bearing in mind if one shock has gone the other won't be far behind.
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Shocks never even occured to me. I noticed the other day that the car had done 75,000 meaning I've done 25k in it! Where does the time go?
I'll get it looked at at the weekend.
Cheers,
Adam
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Do you know anyone who is on the ball with cars or a trustworthy mechanic? If you go to a fast-fit place and say 'I'm worried my shock absorbers might be worn' guess what? They will be worn and will all need replacing.
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I know a trusty mechanic but I only like bothering them when I know what a problem is and can say "The so and so's knackered. Can you fix it please?"
They do it as favours really so if it isn't the shocks, there's no point bothering them.
Is there anything I can do to test them? Like bounce the car up and down or something?
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Re scrabbling for grip - if your roads are anything like ours the surface is like an oil slick. We've had no appreciable rain for a couple of weeks and the surfaces are very slippy. The first time I saw the ESP light on my Audi was yesterday and I was doing nothing out of the ordinary - I have now reduced the amount of gas I give it when starting off.
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Re scrabbling for grip - if your roads are anything like ours the surface is like an oil slick. We've had no appreciable rain for a couple of weeks and the surfaces are very slippy.
I can't imagine in which country the roads are that you describe. Our road hasn't been dry for weeks. Yesterday it poured down for most of the day.
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L\'escargot.
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The roads are damp round here (W Yorks), but not due to rain as it hasn't rained much here for a couple of weeks. I'm working on a land reclamation job which stops during heavy rain and there has only been one stoppage during the whole of December - the lagoon used to collect rainwater pumped from the pits on site before draining away was nearly empty when I visited site this morning.
I suspect the road dampness is from the cold overnight temperatures, the daytime sun isn't strong enough to evaporate the dampness at this time of year. This surface damp mixed with oil and diesel which falls from vehicles is making the surface very slippery. We could do with a day of heavy rain to wash the roads.
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you are spot on daveyjp i live in w yorks as well and this week the roads have been more treacherous than i can ever remember,i lost all drive in my transit on a normal road this week as the conditions are so bad,one second driving normally the next the wheels lost all traction.
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Is there anything I can do to test them? Like bounce the car up and down or something?
This is the time-honoured method for supposedly testing shocks, but will only pick up completely knackered units which should be evident just from driving the car. All you can really do is check them for leaks. Shocks will gradually lose their efficiency with mileage without you noticing. How many miles has the car done and how old is it?
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Just a thought, but is the uneven tyre wear across the front, combined with strange handling in slippery conditions, perhaps a sign that all is not well with tracking/suspension?
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No it's not even. The front right went on at the same time as teh front left and has worn significantly faster.
I've just been out in it on a closed, private road to try and further diagnose the problem and I'm almost certain it isn't a tyre problem but something more sinister. It's around 5 years old with 75k on the clock.
Dad's going to take a look at it at the weekend.
Thanks again for all the continued replies,
Adam
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Unless it's had a very hard life I'd be surprised if the shocks were so knackered to cause bad tyre wear at 75k miles. It sounds like something's out of alignment, hopefully just tracking. Maybe it's been over speed humps too quickly or been kerbed badly in the past.
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I can guarantee it's never kerbed a...well...kerb in it's life. But in frustration it may have gone over the odd speed bump a little quicker than the council would have liked. Having said that, I'd be surprised if that's knackered the shocks.
I'll see what Dad says on Saturday.
Thanks again,
Adam
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Just a quick update. Having only realised over a couple of days, I realised that it may not be a problem anymore.
Dad and I had a good look at the tyre and it doesn't look as bad as I made out. (I will be replacing it soon though).
Then, a day after this, it rained. Hard. And from then on, it's not lost grip once. I pushed it a little hard just to make sure and it stuck to the road as it usually does. So, I'm guessing it really was a greasy road problem. Sorry for being so sceptical.
Thanks for everyone's help. As always, very much appreciated.
Cheers,
Adam
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You're learning what I eventually learnt - Dad's know best!! No matter what you think it could be, it will ALWAYS be what he suggested when you first mentioned it to him!
C'est la vie I suppose.
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>>You're learning what I eventually learnt - Dad's know best!!<<
Ssshhhh!! He might hear you!
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