996 C4 tyre wear

[Rintoul]

Hi everyone, my first attempt at posting.
Having read various threads on the forum where some of you have quoted tyres lasting up to 24000 miles a set including tracks days, I think I must be using the wrong make!
I have a 2000 C4 with sports suspension(-10mm) and GT3body/ 18 inch wheels fitted with michelin pilot sports tyres (285 rears). These were new 10000 miles ago. The first set of rears only lasted 2700 miles!! [:'(](& No track day use!)
I replaced them and had the 4 wheel alignment checked and adjusted ( for the reason of the tyre wear but also mainly because the car felt very nervous [&:]& did not handle anywhere near as well as my previous C4 of the same specification but on pirellis).
Although my OPC thought that the car was only marginally out of adjustment the car was transfomed it is now as you would expect absolutely planted to the road wet or dry. I cannot over emphasise how brilliant it is.The second set of rears have now just failed the MOT at 7000 miles of wear. The fronts have 3+mm left. I,m not sure what the wear rate was on the pirellis but it was far better than this. Because of the suspension problems I can,t really be sure of the back to back difference between the pirellis and the michelins. Other than the michelins are proving to be far more expensive both to buy and in wear rate.
I am no driving god but I don't hang about & use the car for both motor way and spirited twisty stuff.
Have any of you any data/opinions on the matter.[] Thanks Iain

 

[Rotorhead]

Can't speak for the C4, but the C2 should, typically on road, average 6k to 12k for the rears and 15k to 20k+ for the fronts, .

Obviously track days can eat tyres so will distort averages.

I understood that the Pirelli Rossos were much better suited to the 996 (lower noise, nicer ride, improved handling) but had a shorter life than the Michelin Pilots.

 

[NIL98]

Never got anything like 25k out of my tyres. Still on the COntis, more like 10k from mine.
Neil

 

[Guest]

Are the tyres wearing evenly?
Are they bald in the middle or on one or both edges?

If they are wearing evenly, then I would say that there is no problem. You'll either have to be more sympathetic to the tyres, buy a harder compound or just live with it.
If they are not wearing evenly, then you need to look at tyre pressures first, then if the geometry is OK, perhaps driving style.

Otherwise, maybe you just need to put the PSM back on and stop doing donuts in the car park.[]

 

[garyandjanet]

We are on Pirealls (p zero`s) and have 3mm left after 7k miles.
The fronts you can get 24k miles out off.

The backs about 10k tops, unless you drive like a old man.

 

[Rintoul]

Hi, thanks for the response.
I am running at recommended pressures (36/42) and wear is even on fronts and slightly faster in the centre on the rears which could indicate too high pressure, but I would have thought it was about right in view of the fact that there are more straights than corners. Having noted the replys I am happy there is nothing abnormal about this rate of wear (last set). Very little town use so the tyres are being subjected to stress for 90% of their mileage. I will wear the fronts out another set of michelin rears and then look at a possible change but I would not wish to compromise on grip. Afterall FUN not economy is what the car is all about.
Iain