Treadwear - what is it?

[jberks]

When I bought the E270, the dealer fitted new rear tyres but left the front ones on as they had over 4mm left. Now, 10,000 motorway miles later, the service sheet says I have around 4-5k left on the rear. Sure enough, the rears are looking worn but the front ones are pretty much as I bought them.

I know the 270 has a lot of torque and I do enjoy using it, but even so.
The front ones are bridgestone and say treadwear 140 temp A traction A.
The rears are contis and say treadwear 280 temp A and traction AA. Does this mean that the rears are simply too soft for motorway use?

 

[television]

This wear pattern would show that you corner in a sensible way, so no problem with front. the rears are going to make 15k, sounds normal, though with motorway miles one would have hoped for a little more but our cars do have so many things in the rear, and under the seats, mix the extra weight with the torque you enjoy and must be normal. At least if the tyres are soft you do get the grip and that is only good in a rear wheel drive car that is very heavy, well that's what I think.

malcolm

 

[DavidBlake]

Hi,
This is an american tyre quality system that is not mandatory here but is carried by many tyres.
Treadwear 140 means that the tyre lasts 1.4 times as long as the reference tyre, 280 means 2.8 times etc. The higher the number the more hardwearing it is.
Temperature is an indication of how much the tyres performance deteriorates with increasing temperature, A is good, C is bad.
Traction is similar, A to C.
Given that these are american standards anything with less than A-A is rubbish.

Hope this helps

 

[jberks]

Thanks.
I guess lies, damn lies and statistics as my 140's are outlasting the 280's!!
I got over 20k out of the vredesteins on the E240 and they still looked good for another 20k, All motorway mileage but thats what I'm still doing. (I used to get 10-12k around town). All that said, the fronts are original which means that the backs were also Bridgestones from the factory and as they were replaced by the dealer when I bought the car maybe I'll have to accept that motorway E270CDIs eat rear tyres at twice the rate of the fronts. If so, I can only imagine what 320CDIs do to them, let alone the new 320!

Actually anyone know if new 45 profile tyres start life with less tread than the taller 55 profiles? Perhaps I started with less tread and thats what's throwing me.

 

[television]

It is my understanding that all new tyres come with 8mm of tread.

malcolm

 

[angus falconer]

maybe I'll have to accept that motorway E270CDIs eat rear tyres at twice the rate of the fronts. If so, I can only imagine what 320CDIs do to them, let alone the new 320!

Yes, think torque is a big issue here. Most people assume that tyres wear most when there is visible and audible wheelspin and assume that at other times tyre wear is negligable. Apparently, though, tyres wear badly at the point just before wheel spin when there is a huge strain on them. I rarely get the traction control flashing on mine but I DO use all 310 lb/ft of torque pretty often - and the rears only last 10-12k.

 

[Blobcat]

If so, I can only imagine what 320CDIs do to them, let alone the new 320!

Well my E320cdi is pretty good on tyres, I drive mainly on the A483 through mid-Wales normally <50% on M-Ways. I have stayed with Continetal EcoContacts (no longer available) and have had the following mileages;
1st - 28,175 miles
2nd - 19,773 miles
3rd - 25,849
4th - 11,905 so far and wearing very well

Interesting to note that the 1st set were W rated the rest have been V rated. W being standard for the estate model and have a higher load rating. These were not the original fitment as mine came with AMG wheels which I changed for standard AG 16" wheels.
If I can find some more for the next change I will be staying with the Conti's.