Tires on street 911s - how long do they last?

How long do your tires last? I'm interested in hearing how many miles/KM you got from your tires plus what type and brand?

Right now my Dunlop SP9000 have done about 22500KM and look like they have plenty of thread left. Of course driving style matters a lot.

[JonT]

I've got Kuhmo Escta Supras with around 8k miles on them. They seem to be wearing quite well--I am quite a tame driver on city streets though (I've done 1 DE with them). Good experience so far and the price was excellent--4 tires installed for less than $450.

[banjomike]

Funny, my Dad has a 993, and I always tease him. I guess tires in the appropriate size are only available in really sticky compounds. Well the car has just over 20,000 miles and he's on his third set of tires!

banjomike

I've heard that 993s are really eating tires quickly. Perhaps it's more than just rumors?

[Jump2xs]

I can confirm that 993's have big a appetite for tires but of course it's a function of driving style.
I'm getting about 10k on the rear, and 15k on the fronts. My car just turned over 30k miles so I'm on my 3rd set of rears and second set of fronts, and it's almost time to give Tirerack a call.
I can't say regarding my 911T as it's a new aquisition.

[nostatic]

my Kumhos look fine in the front after 13K miles, but the rears seem pretty worn. I'm thinking I'll probably go with SO3s in the back, then replace the fronts when they're a bit more worn.

[JavaBrewer]

I've got 10K miles on BFG g-Force KDWs. The fronts have about 70% left, the rears have about 30% left. Mostly freeway driving. I cannot recommend these tires as I've never been able to get the fronts balanced correctly (3 different shops) Guessing I will go for Kuhmo's or pull trigger on something more expensive.

[Zeke]

I got over 40,000 mi. out of a set of Bridgestone Potenzas in the '80s when that was a premium tire. This on a '77 Targa. The car was always good on tires.

David, I think your tires are out-of-round. Jack the front up and place something very close to the tread, rotate tire and observe. If the tread goes in and out relative to your stationary object, there's your problem.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by nostatic
my Kumhos look fine in the front after 13K miles, but the rears seem pretty worn. I'm thinking I'll probably go with SO3s in the back, then replace the fronts when they're a bit more worn.

I'd think twice before I mismatched front and rear tires. Different traction compounds will give you different break away points.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by Zeke
David, I think your tires are out-of-round. Jack the front up and place something very close to the tread, rotate tire and observe. If the tread goes in and out relative to your stationary object, there's your problem.

Great advice Zeke, I'll take a look this weekend. I've been relying on the word from the alignment shops saying the tires and balance were fine. Bottom line is the steering wheel on my car vibrates worse than my 94 truck did. I'm always bummed coming back from work travel and getting into my Carrera again - every rental car tracks like its running on glass. Hate it that a 03 Chevy Malibu drives better than my car. It all started once I got the tires mounted. They replaced really really old BFG comp-TA's - car was smooth but loud with those tires.

[Superman]

The nimrods at the tire shop are not "Tire Balancing Technicians." They are "Tire Balancing Machine Operators." There's a difference. I once watched an old fart balance tires on the back of my PU (the wheels were not removed from the truck) using a floor jack, his judgement/experience and a pair of pliers. No other tools or instruments. They were PERFECT when he finished. Took ten minutes.

My tires last quite a while (Seattle rain keeps them cool). They're Michelin Pilots, but I think I may go with S03s next time.

[masraum]

I got about 15K miles out of my first set of Bridgestone RE 730's in the rear, I will get about double that from the fronts. My Dunlop SP9000's lasted a little longer, but they didn't stick as well.

[jhugh]

I've had my SO3's for about 6K miles. The rears are just about toast. I blame the C2 cams and my right foot. The fronts are fine.

[avendlerdp]

I got 25000 out of a set of AVS intermediates on my 70T. Liked them so much I bought two sets when I found out they where going to be discontinued. They are soft but 25k is still good for how I drive. (Fast).

Originally posted by Zeke

David, I think your tires are out-of-round. Jack the front up and place something very close to the tread, rotate tire and observe. If the tread goes in and out relative to your stationary object, there's your problem.

My brand new SP9000 were out of balance at the front. I had to have them shaved to get my car to drive properly. For this reason I'm not keen on going with Dunlops next time I need tires.

[masraum]

I liked my Dunlops, but I have heard lots of out of round reports about Dunlops. I really like my Bridgestones. The Dunlops were better in the rain, but not by much, and the Bridgestones are much better in the dry.

[stormcrow]

I drive with Champiro GT Radials and to date 35,000 with a good deal of tread left.

Steve

"A Porsche does more then just go fast in a straight line"

Masraum

Are you referring to your old Bridgestones? I've heard that the S03s aren't as good as the S02s.

The tire dealer who finally fixed my problems (my old "Shaking saga" if anybody remembers) told me that he always called Dunlops "dunhops" because they were often bad. Naturally he had a 911 with Bridgestone S03s (he sells Bridgestone).

[JoeF]

Mikkel,
Your rear tires will wear out well before your front tires. If you plan to keep the car along time and you find a set of tires you like, you might want to consider buying an additional set of rear tires and stash them in the back of your garage.
Tire manufacturers discontinue models often, and sometimes you wind up with worn out rear tires but perfectly good front tires, but when you go to replace the rears you can no longer get them and you have to replace all four. You shouldnt mix brands or model tires on a 911.
JoeF