tire question for those who own Sienna mini vans

[look 171]

The outer edges of our tires are worn out within 15-20k miles. Rotation and alignment is always done at every 10,000 miles and it is now completely bald along the outer edges. Alignment is done at our local Firestone (life time deal) and it was always within specs. I am thinking the van is so heavy that if we tap on the brakes along turn, the front tires will rotate on edge causing the ware. Anyone have that issue? This is our fourth set. The van had 89000 miles on it now. My wife is pretty hard on it around the turns.

[EarlyPorsche]

Usually out wear means low pressure. Where did you keep the air pressure?

[TGTIW]

Agreed, outer edges usually means low tire pressure. However, you mention the lifetime alignment deal with Firestone, are you sure they were actually doing the alignment each time?

[sammyg2]

On toyota's, I generally do not go by the factory recommended tire pressure.
In my experience doing that results in .........drum roll ....worn outside edge of front tires.

Did it on the wife's sienna years ago, did it on my old tundra.
I check the max tire rating and keep the pressure up near the max cold inflation.
That made a big difference.
YMMV ......
Legal disclaimer:
You do what you want, I'm not offering advice. I'm just sharing what has worked for me.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by look 171

The outer edges of our tires are worn out within 15-20k miles. Rotation and alignment is always done at every 10,000 miles and it is now completely bald along the outer edges.

I think we should expect you to be enough of a car guy to know that when you say "outer edges," you're not talking about underinflation.

Because underinflation causes the inner and outer edges to wear at a higher rate.

What you're talking about is the edges that face away from the vehicle, right?

Originally Posted by look 171

My wife is pretty hard on it around the turns.

That's what made me think this is about her brisk driving. Correct?

Get that woman some wider wheels, some big, fat, high-performance tires, stiffer shocks, larger diameter sway bars, and teach her left foot braking and smooth apexing.

[kaisen]

Toyota Siennas have significant body roll and dive, worse than any other modern minivan. They're meant to be plush mommy taxis, not corner carvers.

Like Sammy suggested, run the tires at the max pressure listed on the sidewall of the tire. Buy a tire with a square shoulder profile. And stop driving like that.

[look 171]

Thanks guys. The tires are worn on the outside edges. I was hoping it was something Toyota did and not my wife. For those who drive aggressive, you must do it in the van too, and I was hoping to compare notes.

Sammy, the tire guys over at Firestone told me the same thing and I was thinking it was BS because they like to inflate tires to the max so they ride like a rock. I will give it a try tomorrow.

[speedracing944]

What your wife needs is the Honda minivan.



Speedy

[speedracing944]

What your wife needs is the Honda minivan.



Speedy

[sammyg2]

There are several factors that lead to tire wear on the outside edge.
Body roll is one, flex in the suspension (inside tire loaded more), factory alignment settings, etc.

I can't prove it but it seems as if toyota sets their front suspension/alignment a little more aggressive that some other makes which eats front tires quicker.
My tundra handled great for a big ole heavy truck but the tires were gone after 20k. 18" tires were expensive too!
My furd F150 handles like a slug compared to the tundra but after 26k the tires are showing almost no signs of wear. It has 16" tires which are also allot cheaper than the tires on the tundra.

The sienna needed tire rotation fairly often and got maybe 30k out of a set of tires and that was pushing it.
She has a nissan murano now (yech) and it got 55k out of the first set of tires and i only relaced them because they had been patched a couple times and i was getting tired of the flats. They weren't worn down that far yet.

[Teutonics]

You don't say which year/model, but my wife has the 1st gen (2001). We had that problem with the first set of tires, but found out that Toyota used two different size/aspect ratio tires on that model. We switched to the wider (more square shouldered) and run the pressure at the higher factory recommended pressure (35psi). Haven't had the problem since, now at end of life on second set of larger tires. New tires are Michelins, which may or may not make a difference.

[look 171]

Its a 2007

[rick-l]

Any chance a suspension bushing disintegrated?

[racer]

Is it AWD? Came with Runflats?

Our 2005 AWD eats tires.. no more than 30K miles per set. from the runflats following suggsted inflation and rotation intervals. We are on our 3rd set of runflats.. Known "issue" on the Toyota forums.

[lynnmacer]

We had that problem with the first set of tires

[look 171]

Oh, I should stop yelling at my wife now that's happening to some of you guys too.

Racer, No AWD and no run flats, thank goodness.

Jeff

[look 171]

Originally Posted by speedracing944

What your wife needs is the Honda minivan.



Speedy

We looked at the Honda and that was what I wanted because the way it drove. The cockpit looked like my S2000, all black and sporty. The sales man kept talking "at" me about how well it handled compare to other vans. "Its like driving a sports car". I told him if I wanted a sports car, we would have gotten a sports car and not a van. He stopped that crap real fast right that. My van will lose to that Honda at the track but my wife will put up a good fight with our bald tires.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by look 171

My van will lose to that Honda at the track but my wife will put up a good fight with our bald tires.

I don't know... I bet your wife would've taken that sweeper without lifting.

[notmytarga]

We had a 2001 and now a 2007 Sienna. Our 2007 Sienna is now mine (to share over the summer with the second teenager) after a swap around of cars. I can pop my bike in the back, enjoy the AC my Targa doesn't have and haul stuff. It made more sense trading the sedan (TL) in. Both Siennas have gone through the tires pretty quick. 35K/set is as good as it gets.
The tires also wear out fast when on the rear axle - even more I think.
My recommendations:
Buy high mileage wearing tires (the first set of Firestones lasted only 17,000 miles.
Rotate every 3-5K. And halfway through a track day
Air pressure at 40 PSI - wear the center down more. Ride comfort is sacrificed but cost of fuel and tires improves.
Alignment if things change, otherwise with new tires.

Front brakes on Siennas are also a high wear item - I replaced my own and the rotors got all wavy, turned them 10K later, next time they will get replaced. Pads are only $20.

I started tracking fuel and services in an Android app (aCar) for the four cars I own and don't always drive. It alerts me to rotate tires, check air pressure, oil changes etc. My daughters know that they don't get reimbursed for gas without the data (even my wife respects the system because I make sure the maintenance happens) It has improved consistency of getting the tires served at significant cost savings. I don't like to replace one axle of tires because of uneven wear. The data collected make for some robust analysis of mileage and collective costs. Mileage vs Octane or even brand etc.