Wet tire performance

[Q45tech]

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/v...9.pdf

Shows 4/32" wear depth is much safer than 2/32" current standard for replacement!

[johngalt]

Interesting article. Based upon it, my rear tires needed replacing probably about 2months ago

[Q45tech]

Notice that they ground the tires down therefore the stiuation of natural wear and heat and ozone probably make the situation worse than we realize especially on hard tires that last over 20,000 miles.

One of the serious diasadvantages of M+S ALL SEASON hard tires: while they may have half the tread after one year is the tread USEFUL under wet conditions.

Brings back those glorious days of the 160 [treadwear] Michelin Sports and AVS Intermediates when you were lucky to get 15,000 mile life but boy did they handle and stop.

[johngalt]

I have to say that the Kumho Ecsta KH11s that were on my car when I bought it have proven to be pretty decent tires, especially considering the price of them. They are a bit noisy, but on my 4K pound beast they handle magically, even in situations where I tested the limit (and quite possibly exceeded it).

The only real disadvantage to those tires is that their load rating is 94W, which, at recommended inflation levels doesn't leave a lot of room for baggage / heavy passengers.

Fortunately, I rarely travel with more than one person in the car (that being me of course).

[Q45tech]

I had those tires on my Q for 6,000 miles and gave them away and went back to Michelin..........they destroyed themselves internally [belt shift and constant rebalancing.

One of the techs has them on his Q and is reasonably pleased.........half the tire for half the price...........is fine if you never have an emergency or your standards are not very high.

They are not good stoppers in the rain but better than some.

I try to chose the best 15" wet tires I can Exalto A/S in 215/65/15 currently only $93

[szh]

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/v...9.pdf

Shows 4/32" wear depth is much safer than 2/32" current standard for replacement!

Yes, indeed! Totally agreed. Although I do wish they had used some tire other than the Goodyear RSA for these test ... those tires are among the most pathetic sold today. I simply do not know why so many car mftrs are using them for OEM tires.

I always try to replace whenever any section of the tread gets to 3/32 ... which usually means that most of the tire is between 3/32 to 4/32 based on some slight [un]evenness of wear across the tread. I check the tires for tread depth in more than one spot - both across and along the tread.

The few times I have been a bit sloppy about this has burned me, so I am more careful now. Here in Northern California, you can stretch the limits a bit, since it hardly ever rains past April, but better to be careful, I would say.

Z