Kumho Ecsta KU31 tyre wear.

[AANDYY]

Morning all .
I've got Kumho Ecsta SPT KU31's on my car and are very pleased with them, apart from the tyre wear, which I think is premature.
Am I correct in thinking these tyres are a 'sport' tyre? which might increase the tyre wear as they are softer composition?

The tyres on the front are OK but the rears in the centre are down to about 3-4mm, the outer edges are OK, 14k miles done, tyre pressures always OK, 31 PSI.
Would reducing the pressure a few PSI 'spread' the wear?

Driving style is mainly sedately.

It's not easy to see in the pics but it's an indication.

 

[Deleted member 2227]

I rotate the tyres front to back as the fronts tend to wear the edges and the rears the middle. 14k and half worn seems quite good to me.

 

[verysideways]

Considering they're a "budget" tyre i'd say 14k miles was very good!

 

[Olivier]

HI Andy,
What pressure front and back do you have?

 

[Rich27]

Thats about exactly the same as what my 205/55/r16 Marshalls (re-branded) did, 14k miles is good.

 

[EDZ649]

If the centre of the tyre is worn more than the edges they are over inflated.

 

[AANDYY]

HI Andy,
What pressure front and back do you have?

If the centre of the tyre is worn more than the edges they are over inflated.

Front 29 PSI, rear 31 PSI checked weekly.

I shall be rotating them shortly. When they get close to the 1.6mm limit, I suppose that'll be about 20k miles which ain't to bad really for a 2 ton car. I understand the consensus is to change them at about 3 mm.

 

[EDZ649]

Have you had the rear shocks checked for wear? That can cause uneven tyre wear.

 

[AANDYY]

Have you had the rear shocks checked for wear? That can cause uneven tyre wear.

No, but how could a shock cause wear in the centre of the tyre?

 

[EDZ649]

When shocks start to wear the rear wheels bounce up and down more, almost like beating on a drum. This causes uneven wear and depending on the tyre pressuse it will wear in different places. Worth getting them checked even if just to eliminate it from the problem

 

[moosehead]

I always acheive around 20K miles (rears) from the KU31's on my C230 (2.5L V6 7G) with Sport pack. That said I always try and get as near as possible to the wear indicators before replacing them. The original Contis only did 15K. Fronts do 26-27K regardless of whether they are KU31's or Contis (not sure why?).

 

[Oily Rag]

Front 29 PSI, rear 31 PSI checked weekly.

I shall be rotating them shortly. When they get close to the 1.6mm limit, I suppose that'll be about 20k miles which ain't to bad really for a 2 ton car. I understand the consensus is to change them at about 3 mm.

Andy, do you really want part worn tyres, getting close to the legal minimum depth on the front of your car, doing the majority of breaking. I would err on the side of caution here mate and run them on the rear til the tread wear indicator pops up, and then put the fronts on the rear, and new ones on the front. Only my opinion, but I don't buy tyres by ones, I always change both sides of the axle or steering column. For future reference if you rotated your tyres more, you would extend their life.

 

[BaldGuy]

20k!!! That's two sets of rears for me.....

Front 29 PSI, rear 31 PSI checked weekly.

I shall be rotating them shortly. When they get close to the 1.6mm limit, I suppose that'll be about 20k miles which ain't to bad really for a 2 ton car. I understand the consensus is to change them at about 3 mm.

 

[corned]

Even wear around the entire circumference of the tyre (whether it is the middle or the edges) is nothing to do with shock absorbers. You can safely eliminate them from your enquiries.

If it was a patch, more like a flat spot, then yes that's the shocks for sure.

 

[stevieh]

If the centre of the tyre is worn more than the edges they are over inflated.

This is not always the cause. On wide low profile tyres, pressures can be spot on but a 'heavy right foot' will cause the middle of the tyre to wear more that the outer ribs on a RWD car.

Steve

 

[kth286]

Morning all .
I've got Kumho Ecsta SPT KU31's on my car and are very pleased with them, apart from the tyre wear, which I think is premature.
Am I correct in thinking these tyres are a 'sport' tyre? which might increase the tyre wear as they are softer composition?

The tyres on the front are OK but the rears in the centre are down to about 3-4mm, the outer edges are OK, 14k miles done, tyre pressures always OK, 31 PSI.
Would reducing the pressure a few PSI 'spread' the wear?

Driving style is mainly sedately.

It's not easy to see in the pics but it's an indication.

According to the Merc workshop manual the expected wear on rear is in the centre of tyre and on the front it is more on the edges for my 95 e320 coupe which has very similar suspension at rear to your car.

Merc suggest to swap front to rear etc at 5000 mile intervals to even out the wear.

 

[st4]

Bump!!!

I've just ordered 2x Kumho KU39's for the "shed".

Being a sport, its a staggered set up.

I currently have Primewell PZ900's which after 30k are getting close to their end of life. 3mm in sections, 2mm in others. Worryingly there are small cracks appearing so its really time for them to go.

I average above the combined figure in my car, so on that basis I would expect my tyres to last.

I did think re conti 3's for the back, as this is what I have on the front, but over £400 quid for 2 tyres inc fitting. Or £220 + another £20 for fitting these Kumhos which get good reviews.

Consider I have taken at least 1-2mm off the conti's on the "front" and you could see with life on the back, that would be nearer 2-3mm in only 5k miles, you can see why I am less than keen to fit them at the rear.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I've had these tyres 3 times now, first set lasted 40k miles.

My previous tyres (contis) wore badly in the centre of the rears and outer edges of the fronts, I put the fronts on the max and rears on the min according to the sticker inside the fuel filler flap and had the wheel alignment done.

Avoided riding over kerbs when parking.

 

[LTD]

KU31s on 8k at the rear of my S500 and loads of life left.

 

[st4]

40k miles, much more like it. I am looking forward to getting them...