outside tyre wear - speed rating?

[philepo]

Hi All,

My fronts are wearing on the shoulders. A tracking and alignment check shows no issues. But the tyres are a speed rating less than stipulated. Will a lower speed rating (and consequent reduced side wall stiffness) effect wear?

Cheers.

 

[moonloops]

under-inflation?
driving round corners too fast ?
Worn bushes anywhere?

could be lots of things I guess.

 

[philepo]

Its had sup checked at mot recently and just needed 1 ball joint. Don't drive fast. Tyres pumped up.

Just speed rating that is lower than it should be - culprit???????

 

[moonloops]

Its had sup checked at mot recently and just needed 1 ball joint. Don't drive fast. Tyres pumped up.

Just speed rating that is lower than it should be - culprit???????

I had shoulder wear on my last set and I had worn balljoints

I doubt speed rating will make much of a difference unless pressures were also out - I think I read on here there is a need for more/less PSI on different speed rated tyres??

 

[tagnut]

Its had sup checked at mot recently and just needed 1 ball joint. Don't drive fast. Tyres pumped up.

Just speed rating that is lower than it should be - culprit???????

Just how much more are they wearing? I would expect the shoulders to wear a little more on the front tyres as they take the most punishment (outside shoulder of outside tyre)

I don't think I've ever seen a set of tyres wear completely evenly.

Speed rating is a red herring and not relevant here.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Speed rating and load rating normally work side-by-side, the load rating ( if you go lower ) can void your insurance.

 

[tagnut]

Speed rating and load rating normally work side-by-side, the load rating ( if you go lower ) can void your insurance.

Agreed but OP said they don't drive particularly fast. Presumably if the speed rating is lowered (for example from V to H) this won't make much difference in wear at normal UK road speeds or will it?

 

[flango]

Agreed but OP said they don't drive particularly fast. Presumably if the speed rating is lowered (for example from V to H) this won't make much difference in wear at normal UK road speeds or will it?

Presumably V & H rated tyres are made from different compounds and have different internal strengths

 

[Andrew e500]

If the index rate less, sidewall wheel is softer and if the index rate greater, than the sidewall is harder. wear outside shoulder cause of your driving style, tyre pressure, hardness of the tyre sidewall and car suspension, front wheel alignment did not meet each other.

 

[The mallard]

Turn your steering to ful lock and look at the angle of the tyre to the road!

You may then agree that shoulder wear is to be expected as the outer shoulder is taking a lot of load with large steering inputs.

 

[rf065]

Any photos might help.
My fronts wear more on the shoulders than the centre, not excessively, but they do just the same. Rears are the opposite. Classic MB tyre wear unless the photos prove otherwise.

Russ

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Agreed but OP said they don't drive particularly fast. Presumably if the speed rating is lowered (for example from V to H) this won't make much difference in wear at normal UK road speeds or will it?

Ignore the speed rating, load rating is the concern.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Presumably V & H rated tyres are made from different compounds and have different internal strengths

V rating tends to move to XL ( extra load ) this correlates to the load rating again, not the speed rating. Most time XL has an extra ply in the sidewall.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Turn your steering to ful lock and look at the angle of the tyre to the road!

You may then agree that shoulder wear is to be expected as the outer shoulder is taking a lot of load with large steering inputs.

As extream as the angle looks, this is normally at very low speed/ full lock angle, so unlikely to generate tyre wear.

 

[philepo]

So with all other factrs being found to be ok, and me driving slow, then the load rating may be an issue regarding tyre shoulder wear?

I will check it and report back!

 

[wheels-inmotion]

So with all other factrs being found to be ok, and me driving slow, then the load rating may be an issue regarding tyre shoulder wear?

I will check it and report back!

I'm not sure about other factors since you only mention tracking, this is a linear angle that does not include other angles like camber or castor.

 

[philepo]

It had the full business at Gordons Tyres Leeds. All ok.

Maybe the heavier wear on the outside is normal? Its not bald, just more that the middle. They are also cheapish quikfit ones.

Cheers for the suggestions.

 

[philepo]

manual says H is ok so I think it is just lots of low speed manuvers that have done this