Why do Pirelli tires wear out so fast?

Joined Oct 15, 2003

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1,008 Posts

Have you checked your tire pressure? Center wear is commonly caused by over inflation of the tire.

Joined Feb 3, 2004

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138 Posts

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 4, 2004

Tire pressure per owner's manual

Yes, the tire pressure was per owner's manual. I have seen many compliaints about this on other bulletin boards. It seems the wear is mainly in the center. My saab dealership had a bulletin about it.

Joined Oct 15, 2003

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1,008 Posts

I will have to check mine.

how many miles do you have?

Joined Mar 6, 2003

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625 Posts

Did you over pump your tyres?

That is the only way I know how you could get uneven wear in the middle.

Joined Feb 3, 2004

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138 Posts

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 4, 2004

I have been running 34 psi. I had to rotate at 10K miles. I actually should have rotated much earlier. I saw a post on another board at severe wear even at 4K miles.

Joined Jun 4, 2003

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72 Posts

swede said:

I have been running 34 psi. I had to rotate at 10K miles. I actually should have rotated much earlier. I saw a post on another board at severe wear even at 4K miles.

I've got 7500 miles on mine and the centre section is bald. It's not the tire pressue - at least, not if the specified pressures are right! It's just a poor tyre (tire).

Can anyone confirm whether for legal purposes the tread is measured in the centre of the tyre? I'm wondering of course whether I now need to replace these to stay legal.

Joined Apr 9, 2003

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532 Posts

swede said:

I have the 17" Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires that are wearing real fast in the center. I heard recently Pirelli is offering a replacement at reduced cost for these tires. Does anybody know any more details such as what tires are they replacing these with?

I still wouldn't put those rubber bands back on the car.
While initially the grip was outstanding, by 10K wet weather handling was atrocious; by 16K the car hops all over the road under mild acceleration.
They could give me a set; I wouldn't care.
I just ordered Potenza S-03's on Sunday.

Joined Feb 3, 2004

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138 Posts

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 5, 2004

I don't think these tires are typical

I think the deal was cars with less than 5/16" tread with less than 20K miles can get replacements for $ 86 apiece. Less money if worn at 15K or 10K. I think these tires are not typical of other Pirrelis. I think they may have had a defect. Any body else with the same tire problem?

Joined Feb 3, 2004

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138 Posts

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 5, 2004

I don't think these tires are typical

I think the deal was cars with less than 5/16" tread with less than 20K miles can get replacements for $ 86 apiece. Less money if worn at 15K or 10K. I think these tires are not typical of other Pirrelis. I think they may have had a defect. Any body else with the same tire problem?

Joined Oct 14, 2003

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257 Posts

Not me, but another guy at Santa Monica SAAB while I was there getting my oil changed. So I got the basics on the requirements for the deal but not the cost, if any. I say "if any" because he seemed very happy with the situation. We agreed that we loved the tires, and he made a point of praising their wet handling (I very much agree). He had about 15000 miles, but had never rotated the tires. I did that at 4000, and so far they are wearing very evenly at 5000.

One detail - this is for the 17" Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires with the 9-3 sport suspension only!

Joined Feb 2, 2004

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62 Posts

Premature Tire Wear

I am a New Saab owner and new member of the forum. Needless to say my factory Michelin pilots are not doing so well at 20,000.I was looking for real world data on other tires when I read about the center wear on the tires in the forum. I thought I would mention a news article I was reading in my local paper about pre-mature center wear on tires. This "ASE" certified technician attended some tire seminar and learned some interesting information. Larger SUV tires are notorious for center wear even at suggested factory tire pressures. Tire manufcturers had done studies and found that what once would be considered too much pressure was actually not enough. Todays new compounds and advanced radial design in tires are maximizing the grip and traction. The new radial designs and softer compounds are showing that the centrifical force of the spin can increase the center of the under-inflated tire to expand wearing it faster than the outsides. He even added the same can happen to the higher performance tires.

He added that he wasnt telling us this so everyone can go out and over-inflated their tires. He specifically said that automotive manufacturers often rate tire pressures for optimum driving. Whether it be ride quality, traction, or what ever it maybe there are often reasons they post specific pressures. He said if you start to notice a little uneven tire wear in the centers and you are positive that you have maintained the recommended pressures, try adding an extra pound or two of pressure over factory recommendations and keep an eye on the tread depths using a tread depth gauge (make sure to measure both the side tread depth as well as the center). After a thousand miles or so he said you should see some results. IF the sides and the center measurements even or come closer to another then you have your new answer. If the center and the side measurements are further apart then reduce the pressure back to factory.

I though it was a good article! You all may want to look into this on your tires....

Joined Dec 24, 2003

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21 Posts

Pirelli PZero Rosso's

I have only 13.000 km and considerable more wear in the middle as well... No under/over inflation though....
I was told it is the soft rubber for this high speed class tyre that is responsible, i.e. 'normal' wear! :nono;
Next set of tyres will be of a different brand, although I don't know yet which.
Tom

Joined Oct 4, 2003

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193 Posts

Joined Apr 9, 2008

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24 Posts

I have 42K on my Pirelli PZero's and I am just now ordering tires for it. I am showing cords in the front right so its time for change. I think I take the trophy on the most miles on these **** tires. Anyways, does anyone know if I can run a size or two wider on my Vector? I do not drive to radically other than playing nascar on the interstate. Let me know asap, I am ordering tomorrow!

Joined Feb 16, 2006

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1,732 Posts

P-Zero tire wear is very common. Why? Because these are considered "ultra high performance tires". In other words, the compound is very soft resulting is rapid tread wear. P-Zeros are common factory-issued tires typically found on Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, etc. and the intent is not long life, it's performance.

In my eyes, Saab made a terrible decision putting these tires on the Aero's because most people don't understand what this tire is about (again, summer-only, ultra high performance) and get upset when the tires wear out faster than any other tire they have owned. Don't bother replacing the current set with another set of P-Zero's because they will wear out just as quickly. For our cars, a decent set of all season performance tires (or better, a decent summer set and a good winter set) is more than enough; P-Zero's are overkill on the 9-3.

Joined Dec 9, 2007

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479 Posts

OE tires

The one aspect missed on these posts is that OE tires are usually inferior to the same exact tires purchased aftermarket.
It's the same concept the big-box US hardware stores use: they specify a price point they are willing to pay to keep costs down, and the manufacturer produces to that dollar figure. Often they're built less-well to meet this point.

Case in point is my prior Ford Escape, which came with Firestones Wilderness HT's. I got about 10,000 miles before they were garbage. Talked to the dealer about this, and they offered essentially a 25% reduction in price to purchase the same tires. Well, they were still junk, but lasted more than double the original mileage.

I have posted that while I didn't mind the OE Conti's that came on my car, they have around 10 - 12k miles on them and are down to the wear-bars. Ridiculous!
I am taking to the Conti rep tomorrow, but from what I understand I'd better not get my hopes up...

Joined Jun 29, 2003

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5,911 Posts

Something about the center of the tires on the 06' and up Aero are a problem.
I regularly check my tire pressure and never exceed the 35 psi on the door jam label but both sets of tires are worn out in the middle. Conti says they were overinflated. It appears Saab overinflated the recommended tire pressure:roll:

Joined Feb 18, 2007

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453 Posts

Fact of life is Rosso's wear the centre, Hard! Even with pressure at28psi. They stick when new but give them a few k's and some rain its like driving on ice.

Fact of life is Conti CSC2 will wear outer edge, Hard! Put pressure at 40 psi and toe in at 1.5mm this will cut edge wear 80%. Fact is evena bald CSC2 will out grip basically any tyre in wet or dry. They also remain quiet, no other tyre can claim that.

Sad fact is CSC2's have been superceeded by CSC3's. The 3's are good but wear about 30% quicker, get somewhat noisy and cost quite some more.

Credits given to So3's etc but they will all get very noisy less so with a different rear alignment setting.

Just my opinion but Ive driven on nearly every tyre on SS's and have formed quite an opinion

Why do Pirelli tires wear out so fast?

Joined Apr 28, 2008

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197 Posts

I bought my 9-3 in April with 22K on it - the tires LOOKED ok, but I got a flat not two weeks later and the stealership refused to replace the tires. Even performance tires should last at LEAST 30K - it's General Motors being cheap and putting the crappiest tires they can find on these cars.

I ended up spending over $600 on Kuhmo Solus tires and they are amazing - snow, rain, dry - never let me down.

Stay away from Pirelli unless you can get a good warranty on them (IMHO).

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