Tyre wear

[CR55]

Hi,
Premature outer edge tyre wear on both front tyres,
20" Bridgestone RFT's,
Had similar issues on previous e93, e92, e90 and e82, therefore assuming if is a BMW set up / run flat issue,
Anyone any ideas or can they confirm if Changing to non RFT's would fair better ?
Stupid question, but I guess it would not be possible to switch front tyres with each other to balance the wear ?
Reason being the the remaining 75% of the tyre(s) has plenty of life left!!
Cheers

[Raj]

Doesn't sound right at all. Just sounds like a tracking issue as on all the BMWs I've owned and different set ups, suspension, etc I've never had outer tyre wear you are describing.

[CR55]

Is it worth chancing my arm under warranty ?
Is tracking likely to be covered ?

[535dboy]

No it is common

Also watch inner edges of the rears

[acideraser]

have same issue, thought usual for x5's wide tyres but guys here suggested to check tracking which was off (-11 and -13) on front wheels.
I put winter set on now so should be able to see in couple month if this cured the problem.

interesting enough, when they checked tyre wear during first service in april no excessive where on fronts was reported, only more on the left rear. This makes me think that bumpy roads and speed bumps around my area put tracking off later...

[Graeme]

I'm interested to know how many miles travelled before front tyre wear is described as premature?  Wheels on my E70 are 255/50/19 front and 285/45/19 rear, tyres are all runflats. My first set (Continentals) did 24000 before the rears wore the centre of the tread away.  The next set (Bridgestones) did 37000 before the fronts rounded off the outside, especially the near side wheel - caused by turning right too quickly at several roundabouts on my way to work!  I'd run the rears about 2-3psi lower than recommended on advice from the local tyre company as the car is empty - so the centre  didn't wear away too quickly, but the inside edges were more worn than the outsides.  Back on Continentals again - fronts about 2-3psi higher than recommended, again on advice, rears 2-3psi lower - but after 14000 miles so far signs of more centre wear than the outsides are appearing on the rears.

[leosayer]

When I bought my car it had the original tyres (18" run flats) and there was very even wear front and back. There was 5mm left at 21,000 miles before I replaced them.

I don't see how uneven wear could be a run flat issue. It's more than likely a combination of any of the following:
-Sports suspension alignment / tracking setting
-Mechanical problem
-Recommended tyres pressure for safety first, not tread wear
-Driving style
-Generally high speed or low speed driving
-Local factors eg speed bumps, roundabouts, mountain passes etc.

BMW recommend you don't swap the fronts wheel over in the manual.

I'd recommend confirming your suspsion is properly aligned and if it is then looking into the other factors.

You may just have to accept it is a by-product of such a fantastic handling, but heavy motor.

[acideraser]

I run Bridgestone RFT, 285-40-20 front, 315-35-20 rear
outer edges worn considerably more than inner ones, i've got around 22k on the clock. Wear was even in March. Rears will last another 10-15k  if not more.

[55NF]

I've always experienced uneven wear with BMW, the most noticeable being on 19" on my 335D.  Inner edges were gone after 9K, terrible. No alignment or KDS sorted it, it;s just a BMW issue.  Outer edges on the 40D are terrible also after 8K miles.    No problems with this on any other brand I've owned.     

[Graeme]

Re

I've always experienced uneven wear with BMW, the most noticeable being on 19" on my 335D.  Inner edges were gone after 9K, terrible. No alignment or KDS sorted it, it;s just a BMW issue.  Outer edges on the 40D are terrible also after 8K miles.    No problems with this on any other brand I've owned. 

I used to run Mercedes E 300D estates from 1986 to 2005.  All rounded the outside edges of the fronts off quickly, especially the left side, and the centres of the rears.  Its the heavy engine and turning right at roundabouts that throws weight onto the front left side, and doing most miles with little or no load on the rears  that causes uneven wear.  My E53 did the same and now the E70 follows suit.  Moral seems to be not to drive as hard around roundabouts!

[535dboy]

I never got more than 15k from a set

[acideraser]

[quote="acideraser"]
I run Bridgestone RFT, 285-40-20 front, 315-35-20 rear
outer edges worn considerably more than inner ones, i've got around 22k on the clock. Wear was even in March. Rears will last another 10-15k  if not more.
[/quote]

Update - now have 26k mileage, put new fronts, rears have approx 3mm depth, even wear.
Will be changing rears soon

I am sure with tracking twice a year all four would have hit 30k easily

[petert]

Just replaced all four tyres on my 2010 35d at 66000km - approx 41000 miles.  Still had tread life but the rears were more worn on the inner edges - as expected.  Front right was also unevenly worn.  Dealer recommended tracking be set up and I'll probably have it done in the next few days in case it has gone out of spec recently.  I was reasonably pleased to get that amount of life from the tyres (Dunlop dueller 255/50R19 Run Flats)
All in cost including fitting, balancing, valves, tax and old tyre disposal fee (Ontario...) worked out at £235 per tyre.  (Replaced like for like)
Peter T

[shadrack]

if its the oter edge could you not just pay £20-£30 and get both tyres removed and swapped over and maybe get the same again though personally I would be well happy at seeing 15k+ from a set of tyres

[petert]

Shadrack - not sure who your question is for - the OP or subsequent posters...
My left rear and right front had a couple of other issues which convinced me that now was a reasonable time to change all 4.  41000 miles isn't too shabby for tyre wear on a big car.  (Driving in Canada isn't what you'd call 'spirited')  )
Peter T