Tire wear

[barbeau82]

Alright, maybe this belongs in the pre-purchase section. With 4WD, how does it affect tire wear? I'm assuming since all 4 are taking on the job of traction, they don't wear as fast as 2WD.

[SBT]

Subaru's AWD does not wear tires any faster (or any slower) IMHO, than any other car. I've got nearly 35,000 on a set of Bridgestone RE92s and nearly that much on a set of RE750s and they both look like they'll run at least another 10,000. As with any vehicle three components affect tire wear:

 

1) Proper inflation

2) Proper alignment

3) Driving style

 

1 - With Subarus, it's important to keep the proper tire pressure bias front to rear (35F/33R) is the spec. Your center differential (and your clutch) will appreciate it and the axles will turn at their proper rotations with proper tire loading front to rear. Improper (unbalanced side to side) tire pressures will also cause your car to "wag". Check your tire pressures weekly (Saturday morning early works for me).

 

2 - I've had improper alignment kill a set of tires in the first 1000 miles. Check your alignment specs if you sense any pulling when you release the steering wheel or your tires (front or rear) are showing undue wear or cupping on the inside or outside edges (presumes proper tire inflation - No. 1 ^). Rule of thumb, do your wheel alignment directly AFTER you have installed new tires, not before. This way the car can be optimally aligned with even tire treads at all four corners.

 

3 - Hard driving (straight and turning) will wear tires quickly. No way around it, even if number 1 and 2 above are followed to the "T". Just the nature of the game. If you play, you pay. Only mitigator is to buy super "hard" rubber (i.e., long wearing compounds) but you'll probably give up much of the fun factor and eventually, you'll wear them down too.

 

Keep these three things in mind and do number 1 at least once a week, while monitoring numbers 2 and 3, and you'll be surprised at how well your tires last.

 

HTH... SBT

[Opie]

and don't forget #4 - Rotating the tires every 7,500 miles. This will help even out the wear between the front and rear tires making them last longer and keeping the AWD unit happy by ensuring the diameter of all the tires is similar.

[NutBucket]

So far I've found that harder tires aren't necessarily bad. Maybe its just my choices but when I first had 17's on my old Accord I bought Yokohama Parada Spec2's. They're treadwear rated 300 i think. When I wore those out I bought a set of Kumho Ecasta ASX's, an all-season treadwear rated 400. So far the Kumhos seem stickier than the Yokos, wet and dry. The car also has an upgraded suspension and such.

 

Too bad the RE92's aren't all that stick considering their 190 rating.

[Xenonk]

your alignment beats up the tires more so than just rolling the tires forward and backwards.

 

Keefe

[macconis]

Hey all,

Subietonic has some good points. I have followed this formula for many years on all my cars/trucks. It has paid off in longer wear. I don't believe I'm driving overly aggressively. I agree that is a huge factor. However, I'm getting less than 20k avg on these tires. Could it be that the soft suspension doesn't hold the tires to the road (mine are sometimes rough) causing more wear than if I had a stiffer suspension? Maybe it's just my crappy 3 mi. long dirt road. My Toyota 4x4 doesn't have these issues. It also has a much stiffer suspension.

[EL PAALO]

unpaved roads are hell on highway tires. premature and uneven wear are typical.

[Craig]

I bought a 05 Outback tires wore out 16K, the dealer replaced them. When the car was on packed snow it was like riding on marbles. Something is up with the suspension on these Outbacks. After 15K saw the same thing happening to the tires so I traded to a 06 Outback thinking that it would fix this issue. On the 06 after 16k the tires were wore out. The dealer replaced them and now that I am at 32K the new tires on the passenger right side rear is worn out. The Specialist wheel alignment pulled the frame forward on the 05. They say all is in specks on the 06. So they tell me that when you put weight on the back, 150+ pounds or more, it increases the toe-in 3/8th . This they tell me is why the tires are not lasting.