Center tread wear but not tires not over inflated

[ooshnoo]

Hey guys...

My rear tires that I got last July are already down to the wear bars after only 17000 miles and 11 months. Luckily TireRack is giving me 2 new ones at 50% off, but wanted to pick your brains about the center tread wear.

This is obviously caused by over inflation of the tires, but I always keep the rears at 38psi, even though BMW recommends 41 per the sticker on the door.

So if they're not over inflated, then what could have caused this? These are the Continental DWS06 tires.

Thanks!

[RED_Y_]

How do you check the pressure? The car readings or you have a decent digital pressure gauge?

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by RED_Y_

How do you check the pressure? The car readings or you have a decent digital pressure gauge?

I check pressure 3 ways…iDrive, old fashioned pressure gauge and an an inflator that has digital display of the pressure. They all said the same…38psi.

[RED_Y_]

This is strange, and you have 19" or 20" wheels?

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by RED_Y_

This is strange, and you have 19" or 20" wheels?

20" staggered

[RED_Y_]

Unless you have desert-like major temperature difference between day/night this is very hard to explain.

[Clifton]

Assume you are checking them cold, i.e., first thing in morning before you drive? Is your car garaged or outside when you check?

Other assumptions or items to check:

• OEM tire and Run Flat
• iDrive Tire pressure reset after setting cold pressure
• consistent wear across the center; no feathering or cross striped wear
• tread depth left and right of center are equal

Some variable with your setup is causing over inflation of the rear tires.

My iDrive reads differently than manual handheld gauges tested at each wheel. I don't trust iDrive, so I set it according to the handheld unit then use iDrive to keep an eye on them between the seasons and for rapid lost of pressure.

[madmax2k1]

I have the same issue with my X5 running 20" runflat tires; I don't believe it's related to tire pressure, since I tried different tire pressures and still end up with the same results.

My guess is that the suspension geometry is causing this.

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by Clifton

Assume you are checking them cold, i.e., first thing in morning before you drive? Is your car garaged or outside when you check?

Other assumptions or items to check:

• OEM tire and Run Flat
• iDrive Tire pressure reset after setting cold pressure
• consistent wear across the center; no feathering or cross striped wear
• tread depth left and right of center are equal

Some variable with your setup is causing over inflation of the rear tires.

My iDrive reads differently than manual handheld gauges tested at each wheel. I don't trust iDrive, so I set it according to the handheld unit then use iDrive to keep an eye on them between the seasons and for rapid lost of pressure.

These are non-run flat Continental DWS06 tires and I was checking them cold the other day when I noticed the wear.

The depth on the sides are equal and much better than the center.

I guess I'll see how my new tires work out and keep an eye on them better.

[P1]

How are your other tires doing? When is the last time your car saw an alignment? If you want to do it right, an alignment is not a bad idea when fitting new tires.

I had excessive wear on outer edge of my front tires. An alignment result showed what the issue was.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by P1

How are your other tires doing? When is the last time your car saw an alignment? If you want to do it right, an alignment is not a bad idea when fitting new tires.

I had excessive wear on outer edge of my front tires. An alignment result showed what the issue was.

That's what I would think as well, but I've never heard of an alignment issue causing center wear.

OP these tires are rated for 50k miles, but half of that if staggered as yours are. So you have gotten 17k out of the expected 25k mile life from the tire. Considering the weight, power, and performance-orientation of your vehicle I think that should be in line with expectations here. It's nice that TR is replacing them for 50% off.

[Clifton]

Originally Posted by ooshnoo

The depth on the sides are equal and much better than the center.

I'd still try lowering the air pressure just to rule out over inflation. The only other thing I can think of causing center wear is possible toe in/out, but I think that would show some sort of feathering and would not look like normal wear that is just accelerated.