Do 18” wear badly? & advice on new!!!

[Taylor]

Just a little advice needed; am running 18” Yokos with lowered suspension and although there is plenty of tread left in the middle of the tyres they are really really badly worn round the edge.

Just wondered if this was typical of 18” and if there is any reason for it – is it worth getting the tracking on the car checked or anything like that? Or am I just doomed to having tyres that wear out quickly with my setup!!!

Looks like I’ll need some new ones…..did a search on here and seen www.mytryes.co.uk look like a good option – any others to recommend?

Don’t have runflats at the moment but might be tempted although don’t want to spend too much at moment so probably go with a standard cheaper premium tyre; but advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks again

[nylo]

I don't think it's typical of 18s (I have the Works wheels, and have had fairly even wear so far). I'm by no means an expert on this, but the veyr fact that you say it's lowered will almost definitely have something to do with it, your tracking may be out.

I think it probably depends by how much it is lowered too- that will affect the amount of wear and where it is...

[Taylor]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

The car has the mini schnitzer lowering kit on it; so i believe that is 30mm. I love it with the big 18" alpinas i've got on but god they've worn badly!

Still, it's well worth it but hey!

[nylo]

Is that just the springs? I know lavs had Schnitzer springs on his previous Cooper, albeit with 17s and runflats, but I don't think I heard him complaining of uneven wear. You might want to PM him and see if you can get some info....

[G-Man]

Are you running the right PSI?

Cause if the tyres are under inflated they will wear out on the edges and over inflated they will wear in the middle.

[Taylor]

Not sure what they are now – haven’t checked them in a while so could be down to that!

Do you know what PSI I should be running with 18”?

Sticker on inside of my door doesn’t have pressures for 18” wheels…I believe the newer cars might have this info though?

Thanks

[Benmk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Taylor

Just a little advice needed; am running 18” Yokos with lowered suspension and although there is plenty of tread left in the middle of the tyres they are really really badly worn round the edge.

The car i had previously was lowered and it creates a negative camber (where the top of the wheels lean into the car) from the drop. Even if it is only 30mm and is still within the tracking tolerances it will still cause the tyre wear to be uneven. You are most likely to notice that the inside of the treads will wear more than the rest.

I have also noticed on a few MINI's that the outside edge likes to wear a little more.

With these factors combined it will account for more wear to the edges than the middle of the tyre.

Also bear in mind that the rear wheels dont turn so that with a negative camber they will just lean on the inside of the tread slightly harder cpmpared to the front that will be turning on the inside of the tread.

Hope that helps

Ben

[Step_7]

You can try www.blackcircles.co.uk for prices as well.

[Taylor]

Cheers for all the info, much appreciated.

As above - anyone know what PSI mini recommend for 18" tyres?

Thanks a lot

[Richard Crofts]

I am running 34 PSI on 18" Dare X4s with Toyo rubber. Seems to wear OK at the moment 6k miles so far.

My missus had Eagle F1s on her Corsa with 17's and they recommended 36-38!!!

[Daryl575]

hi, im running 18" wheels on my mini and they seem to be wearing fine. i have got around 32psi in the tyres and they tend not to wear to much. on the cooper s works wheels they recomended from 32-36 depending on the style of driving

[Drewski]

Mines is lowered 25-30mm on eibachs and i have 215/35/18 tyres and no uneven tyre wear. I run 33 front 31 rear

[aceman]

18's here as well. Lowered on Alta's 30mm. Run 38psi, rough as buggery, but it protects the rims from all the rough roads out here.
Tyre wear seems ok after about 10,000kms

[Damo]

I have Yoko 215/35 R18, with Eibach lowering springs. Fronts have just been changed after 20k and have even tyre wear (I run 34 front 32 rear).

Rears still have loads of life left but have worn more on the inside edge due to the camber at the rear.

Before I had the Yokos I had falken Fk451's. Fronts did 18k, where the rears did 36k (had to sets of fronts and 1 set of rears, again inside edge was the reason to change as got illegal. Change my wheels and tyres thought that time.

[adam_Randell]

i have 18s on my R56 MC and they are fine - wearing alot better than the original 15s. Done about 5k on them and cant really notice that much wear in them. however - handling is different especially in the wet!