What a difference a tire can make!

[Mentalic]

I have had nothing but bad luck running the very common block tread tires. It did not matter the brand, Goodyear, firestone, bridgstone, toyo all have given me problems. What I would see is one block would wear faster than any other block around it! After a while the tires begin to make a ton of noise, then eventually get out of round. This is not a ballance issue, its a quality issue.

Only brand of tires I will buy now is Michelin, and I try to stay away from models that are all block tread. Never had another problem with weird tire wear.

I remember seeing tire cutting machines when I was a kid. My dad worked at a Buick dealer back in the 60's before the insurance rules went bonkers and a kid could go in the shop. They even had the on the car tire balancer machine.

Theres money to be made with a tire cutter. Stick a sign out front that says "tires made round"!

[baddog671]

Originally Posted by jwxr7

Yeah, seems like FE should go up after changing that tire too. Less energy robbing vibration and noise.

Tractor trailers report better FE with worn down tires as opposed to new ones. Don't ask me to cite my sources on that one, its too late right now haha.

I guess I've been lucky on my tires, I've only replaced the fronts since I got it and the rears are still decent. It's been 3 or 4 years now...

[jwxr7]

Originally Posted by baddog671

Tractor trailers report better FE with worn down tires as opposed to new ones. Don't ask me to cite my sources on that one, its too late right now haha.

I could see why - a smoothly worn tire should roll nicely, but in my case the tire wasn't smooth anymore. All I meant was anytime vibration or sound comes from something like a tire it uses energy from somewhere to make that sound and vibration. Since I don't want those characteristics, it is a waste of energy.

[baddog671]

Agreed, I see what your saying. If you have access to a lift you can lift your car and visually see the imperfections in your tire's roll. Spin it real fast and then stand directly in front of it looking at the lowest point. My mustang's tires were "jack knifing", which you can see the tire going up and down at this lowest point.

[jwxr7]

That's not to say the tire I put on will get me better mpg either because it is a different brand with more tread than the one I removed. It does match the other front tire in brand and tread though. I noticed irregularities in both front tires before changing the noisy tire when running the drivetrain while up on my floor jack . I wasn't sure which one to change out at first but must have got the bad (or the worst) one first try. All I really know at this point is it improved the feel of the car immensly .

[jwxr7]

I 've been having crappy coasts lately and noticed my front ds wheel warmer than the rest. I noticed the inner pad friction material had seperated from the pad's steel backing plate and was jamming itself against the disc (same thing happened in the back drum brakes last year). I broke a bolt holding that caliper on taking it apart but luckily (thanks to minic6) had a whole spare steering knuckle. So long story short, changing pads on both sides I think I discovered the root of my strange tire wear. The ps ball joint on the lower control arm is real sloppy . Looks like a $100 part . Better do it soon before it decides to seperate.

[Greybrick]

Hopefully the California Energy Commission comparative study on low rolling resistance, LRR tires will be available by the end of the year.