I've got 25k on an '05 RS Wagon. I'm trying to decide if I need to replace the stock Potenza RE92's. The tread on the fronts is about 1/16th above the wear bars and the tread on the rears is about 1/8th above the wear bars. In theory, this means I don't need to replace them. However, the outtermost tread blocks on the inside and outside of the tire are just _gone_. It's a solid bar of rubber all the way around. And before you chide me for letting the air pressure drop, I've been running them at the max printed on the tire. The reason I'm worried about the tires is that with the solid band of rubber all the way around, there's no way for water to get out from underneat the tire. This theory is supported by the fact that I understeer like a hyena in the wet now and I've actually hydroplaned at 70mph on the freeway.

So... "acceptable" tread depth in the middle, solid bands of rubber on the edges, already at max air pressure...

Do I need new tires?

Hmm, if outsides are worn you had too much fun taking corners and it sounds like it is time for new tires.
Buy them soon and slow down in the mean time.

Krzys

For a tire to be legal, it has to be above the wear bars all the way across the tread. So yes, you need new tires.

Yep, if things are feeling slippery under normal driving, it's probably time for some new tires. If you cannot do that immediately, I'd suggest lowering the tire pressure a few psi front and rear. That'll allow the tires to be a bit more compliant and give you a bit more grip for safety. Also, you may want to take it a bit easier in the wet.

My OE Potenzas are getting to the same point as yours, and I'll be ordering new tires this week. After over-driving my tires in the wet in the past, I'm taking it pretty easy now and keeping myself out of aquaplaning and massive-understeer-in-wet situatuions.

...I've been running them at the max printed on the tire.

Do I need new tires?

Yes, you need new tires and you need to not overfill them with air. :lol:

Filling a tire to the maximum pressure on the sidewall is not cool -- the air inside the tire expands as it heats and increases your chance of a blowout, not to mention the big time wear you've got.

The maximum pressure on the sidewalls is pretty damn conservative, and the manufacturers compensate for that kind of thing. At autox you better be well over the printed maximum pressure.

There's still no need to to daily driving @ max psi. unless you really dig a steamroller ride and hydroplaning.

Whatever.

Actually, the maximum pressure rating on the tire is cold pressure and is stated as such on the tire. This means that overhead is left for the expansion of the gas due to heating. The general tire pressure guideline is that if you see increased wear in the center of the tire, you drop the pressure, if you see increased wear on the edges of the tire, you increase the pressure. With every car/tire combo I've driven, this rule of thumb led to even treadwear. With these POS Potenza's and the incredible amount of understeer this car ships with, I just couldn't even it out.

This is also the source of my confusion about replacing the tires. Previously, since I had been able to even out the treadwear, the entire tread hit the wear bars at the same time. It's only with this funky wear pattern that I'm confused.

Ty

There's still no need to to daily driving @ max psi. unless you really dig a steamroller ride and hydroplaning.

Whatever.

Actually, the ride is still fairly soft. Or maybe that's just a butt that's used to an 89 4Runner talking :P

Regarding hydroplaning, tires with less air pressure are more likely to hydroplane. The Tire Rack has a great article on it with cool pictures with neon green water. Check it out.

potenza re92 sucks in any condition!! u can get a better all season tire for cheaper or equal the price for a new potenza. i'm not saying that you are gonna buy re92. but yeah u need new tires. the wear limit on all passenger tires is 2/32nds of an inch.

Actually, the maximum pressure rating on the tire is cold pressure and is stated as such on the tire. This means that overhead is left for the expansion of the gas due to heating. The general tire pressure guideline is that if you see increased wear in the center of the tire, you drop the pressure, if you see increased wear on the edges of the tire, you increase the pressure. With every car/tire combo I've driven, this rule of thumb led to even treadwear. With these POS Potenza's and the incredible amount of understeer this car ships with, I just couldn't even it out.

This is also the source of my confusion about replacing the tires. Previously, since I had been able to even out the treadwear, the entire tread hit the wear bars at the same time. It's only with this funky wear pattern that I'm confused.

Ty

i'm finally replacing my RE92s as well, and noticed exactly the same wear pattern you did ... i run a fairly high pressure in my tires, but the insides and outsides are just completely gone. and now i don't go above 60-65mph when it rains because they're so prone to hydroplaning.

i was actually concerned that i may have some sort of toe/camber problem until i saw that you're experiencing the exact same thing on these tires. but i won't lie .. i've had the car sideways on dry and wet pavement a few times just for fun, so i'm not complaining about crappy tread life. i've had these things for 31,000 so far ;p

but safety is safety .. and the hydroplaning has to go. just ordered new wheels and tires today because of this.

....deeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwd....ya need REAL tires and a REAL alignment.

get rid of those junk re92's before ya wreck the car slome rainy night :rolleyes:

New tires and new alignment are in order.
Mike

i go until you see baldness.

this is kind of off subject, but will higher pressure help keep the sidewalls from flexing? (in the stock re-92). i usually run 35 psi and wasn't sure if that is a good pressure.

When I had my RE92s on, I was running 38 cold all the way around. It was the only way I could slow down the wear on the outside tread blocks. I was still rolling them over in corners though and the ride was crap, but it was better than running them softer.

Speaking as someone who just switched to Pirelli PZero Nero M&S, don't waste your time on the RE92s, you won't believe how much they suck compared to anything else.

don't waste your time on the RE92s, you won't believe how much they suck compared to anything else.

While RE92s aren't performance tires...they do have a couple good points. They wear well and if you pump them up to ~40-45 psi, they get awesome gas mileage.

I saw over 30 mpg on my WRX running well-inflated, well-worn RE92s on a road trip through Michigan (cruise set at 75-80 MPH).


But like Scotty said...OP needs new tires and a decent alignment. I don't know a dealer that checks alignment on new cars...and there's nothing like a 2 month boat ride, followed by a long train ride, followed by being strapped to a truck to screw up a car's alignment.

this is kind of off subject, but will higher pressure help keep the sidewalls from flexing? (in the stock re-92). i usually run 35 psi and wasn't sure if that is a good pressure.
35 is safe. If you want better performance, go 40-45.

I ran my RE92s at 42F/39R.

Everyones arguments aside, get new tires and try something different. The RE92's are way too much money for what they are. And putting the max air in street tires really isn't a good practice.

The OP has in fact gotten new tires, as he has stated above. He is also looking for someone willing to do an alignment to his specs, not the factory's. So far, the places that would do it have a several week waiting list.

You know, speaking about onesself in the third person is somewhat entertaining.