Tires

RiCharlie · 01-30-2011, 07:29 PM

Can someone tell me how to tell when its time to replace tires on this car? I have the stock Potenzas. Is there a wear indicator or something other than the obvious signs of wear on the sides?

.. Also how many miles do these stock tires generally get when driven reasonably and not really put through a lot of hard driving?
Thanks

SPOHN · 01-30-2011, 07:38 PM

Penny test. Take a penny and turn Lincoln head upside down and put it inside the thickest part of the tread. If you can see the top of his head then it's time to repalce the tires. But now there trying to say you need to see more than that.

Tread Test

sonic370 · 01-30-2011, 07:44 PM

I'll go first before the flames start........

maybe under normal driving anywhere between 18,000 to 20,000 miles.
others may say different. i'm at 16,500 on my 09. and trying for 23,000 to 25,000. I'm cheap. and i won't go back with the bridgestones to loud.

sonic370 · 01-30-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

Penny test. Take a penny and turn Lincoln head upside down and put it inside the thickest part of the tread. If you can see the top of his head then it's time to repalce the tires. But now there trying to say you need to see more than that.

Tread Test

EazyD · 01-30-2011, 07:54 PM

Does the penny test still apply to these low profile summer tires?

Red__Zed · 01-30-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EazyD

Does the penny test still apply to these low profile summer tires?

Yeah, pretty much. It's not really a good test. Just actually measure tread depth. If you deal with rain, replace at around 3/32's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic370

I'll go first before the flames start........

maybe under normal driving anywhere between 18,000 to 20,000 miles.
others may say different. i'm at 16,500 on my 09. and trying for 23,000 to 25,000. I'm cheap. and i won't go back with the bridgestones to loud.

That's a lot of mileage to get outta them. Must have some nice roads!

Matthew · 01-30-2011, 08:18 PM

I hit 18500 and mine where done.

PapoZalsa · 01-30-2011, 08:23 PM

I will say that by 15K you should have to replace your tires, especially if you do agressive driving. Some guys have not even reach 10K on the factory tires.

SPOHN · 01-30-2011, 09:26 PM

I just made 10k on my 350. But it was FI also with lots of abuse. That was on KDW's.

Guard Dad · 01-30-2011, 11:53 PM

The fact that they are low profile doesn't change the way they are measured which is the same as any other tire.

The penny test is still valid and just like any tire that is legal for sale in the USA these tires are equipped with wear-bars to show when the tire is due for replacement.

As a side note, as long as the tires are reasonably fresh, typically less that 2-3 years old (as the tires age the rubber stiffens reducing traction), dry traction is actually enhanced as the tread gets thinner due to better support of the tread blocks and because the thinner tread generates less performance degrading heat. Wet traction, on the other hand, benefits tremendously from a deep tread that allows for superior water drainage to reduce hydroplaning and improve tread drainage. Recent tests (sorry, I can't remember which car magazine) indicate that wet weather performance declines significantly in the second half of the tread life due to the shallower treads' limited ability to flush the road surface of water.

In your case you'll probably change tires before they wear out because they tend to get very noisy in the second half of the tread life.

kenchan · 01-31-2011, 08:17 AM

+1 Haha, ishibashi's idea of wear bar is very effective. Very loud.

Mt Tam I am · 01-31-2011, 11:12 AM

Question: In dry weather are slicks (or heavily worn) the best? i.e. more surface area in contact with the ground.

Skeeterbop · 01-31-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

Question: In dry weather are slicks (or heavily worn) the best? i.e. more surface area in contact with the ground.

In dry weather, yes. But unfortunately true slicks aren't DOT legal (at least I havent seen any) although you can get DoT approved R compound tires that are damn near slicks.I honestly wouldn't want heavily worn tires for any kind of aggressive driving.

Kirkster · 01-31-2011, 11:28 AM

Bunch of chickens....

Drive it until you see the shiny metal cords...

Skeeterbop · 01-31-2011, 11:35 AM

^^
I bought a used car once that had tires worn almost to that point. The literally looked like some one had taken a marker and drawn dark lines on it to make it appear like it had tread. Got stuck in the rain on my drive home, definitely the least fun I've ever had. It was like driving on ice for 4 miles at about 40mph (everyone with proper tires were doing 65 or so). I will never drive a car with what amounts to slicks in the rain again.

01-30-2011, 07:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
RiCharlie Track Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Johnston RI Posts: 857 Drives: 370 Touring Spt A/t Rep Power: 16	Tires Can someone tell me how to tell when its time to replace tires on this car? I have the stock Potenzas. Is there a wear indicator or something other than the obvious signs of wear on the sides? .. Also how many miles do these stock tires generally get when driven reasonably and not really put through a lot of hard driving? Thanks

01-30-2011, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	Penny test. Take a penny and turn Lincoln head upside down and put it inside the thickest part of the tread. If you can see the top of his head then it's time to repalce the tires. But now there trying to say you need to see more than that. Tread Test __________________

01-30-2011, 07:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
EazyD A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 1,211 Drives: 2010 6MT Sport pkg. Rep Power: 26	Does the penny test still apply to these low profile summer tires? __________________ Pearl White 2010 370Z Sport, Stillen CBE, tint, K&N drop-in filters, GT-R start button, Kenwood DNX-6980 with backup cam, LED bulbs, Raceseng shift knob.

01-30-2011, 08:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Matthew Track Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clemson, SC Posts: 519 Drives: Red Rocket Rep Power: 16	I hit 18500 and mine where done. __________________

01-30-2011, 08:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4500	I will say that by 15K you should have to replace your tires, especially if you do agressive driving. Some guys have not even reach 10K on the factory tires. __________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

01-30-2011, 07:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
sonic370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange Texas Posts: 1,574 Drives: 09 370Z Sports PGK Rep Power: 18	I'll go first before the flames start........ maybe under normal driving anywhere between 18,000 to 20,000 miles. others may say different. i'm at 16,500 on my 09. and trying for 23,000 to 25,000. I'm cheap. and i won't go back with the bridgestones to loud.

01-30-2011, 09:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	I just made 10k on my 350. But it was FI also with lots of abuse. That was on KDW's. __________________

01-30-2011, 11:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
Guard Dad Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Orange County, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7 Rep Power: 15	The fact that they are low profile doesn't change the way they are measured which is the same as any other tire. The penny test is still valid and just like any tire that is legal for sale in the USA these tires are equipped with wear-bars to show when the tire is due for replacement. As a side note, as long as the tires are reasonably fresh, typically less that 2-3 years old (as the tires age the rubber stiffens reducing traction), dry traction is actually enhanced as the tread gets thinner due to better support of the tread blocks and because the thinner tread generates less performance degrading heat. Wet traction, on the other hand, benefits tremendously from a deep tread that allows for superior water drainage to reduce hydroplaning and improve tread drainage. Recent tests (sorry, I can't remember which car magazine) indicate that wet weather performance declines significantly in the second half of the tread life due to the shallower treads' limited ability to flush the road surface of water. In your case you'll probably change tires before they wear out because they tend to get very noisy in the second half of the tread life.

01-31-2011, 08:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	+1 Haha, ishibashi's idea of wear bar is very effective. Very loud.

01-31-2011, 11:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3843	Question: In dry weather are slicks (or heavily worn) the best? i.e. more surface area in contact with the ground. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

01-31-2011, 11:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
Kirkster A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Peoples Republic of MD Posts: 1,792 Drives: Roadster of DOOM Rep Power: 19	Bunch of chickens.... Drive it until you see the shiny metal cords... __________________ Powertrain Warranty voided on 5/14/2011 Mod List:GTM Supercharger,SmartTop module, Oil Cooler, GT-R Start button, Nismo Exhaust, BC Racing ER Coilovers, Backup Camara For eastwest:

01-31-2011, 11:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Skeeterbop A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Fort Bliss, TX Age: 40 Posts: 1,440 Drives: 2011 GM 370 base SP Rep Power: 16	^^ I bought a used car once that had tires worn almost to that point. The literally looked like some one had taken a marker and drawn dark lines on it to make it appear like it had tread. Got stuck in the rain on my drive home, definitely the least fun I've ever had. It was like driving on ice for 4 miles at about 40mph (everyone with proper tires were doing 65 or so). I will never drive a car with what amounts to slicks in the rain again. __________________ Srenity: "Yeah no rest needed to spread the love when your 20 that's for sure...."

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