Will apologize ahead for the long post.Frustrated Engineer...
Bought a 2010 Mk6 GTI in May of 2017 For a Daily Driver. ~30+ miles a day. Stock wheels. Came with 225R40R18 Bridgestone Potenzas (UTQG=480) on it. Changed to General Altimax Arctic 12's for winter after 5206 miles. Potenzas awful in even the hint of winter. Tires fairly evenly worn down to 7.5/32, tho. Lots of spirited driving having fun with "new" car. (Never had a GTI before.)
Fast forward to March, when I replaced tires. Arctics had 3680 miles on them. Approx 8-9/32 on them when I got them (used - I didn't write down the wear.) ($500 with 17" rims. Such a deal) When I took them off - front tires only had 4.5/32 on them. Rears had 7.5/32. Couldn't believe the wear on the fronts. Chalked it up to lots of salt and slushy/soapy winter roads with more 45 degree days than I liked. (I'm in southern Wisconsin.)
Replaced Potenzas with new General G-Max AS-05's (UTQG=500) after a bunch of research. Really nice tires. Handle WAY better than the Potenzas. Especially in snow and icy slush.
After the wear on the winter tires, I began taking more care in my driving; but it is still spirited. I have fun with the car; but I generally don't mash the pedal every time I accelerate, or spin the tires on start off. I also make an effort to maximize my fuel mileage. I get 29-30 mpg every week. Not bad for 40-55mph driving. I play a game with myself to try & get at least 30mpg cumulated as indicated on the dash every time I go out.
However...
I measured the wear after 7580 miles & 7 months on the brand new tires this weekend. 8/32 on the rear, and 4/32 on the fronts. (10/32 new) WTF? That's 3/16 of an inch in 7580 miles on the fronts. Makes NO sense. Works out to only getting 10,100 miles on the fronts down to the 2/32 mark. About 9.5 months or so.
Car tracks in a straight line - hands off the wheel. No vibration at any speed. Tire wear is pretty even across the width of the tire - no cupping or flat spots, either. A bit more wear in the center (I run 40psi); but almost not measurable. Roads around here are pretty bad. City driving. Some potholes, ruff uneven pavement, mostly construction EVERYWHERE.
I am completely stumped. Especially because of the lack of wear on the Potenzas, when I drove a lot more spirited than I do now. My mechanic says it can't be alignment or suspension - must be me. I just can't wrap my head around the issue being my driving, unless I did track days or drag racing. Which I don't. Trying to figure out what to do before I buy new tires. I can't afford to replace tires every 8 months. Never had this happen to any other car I've owned.
Is this normal? Or extreme wear for a stock GTI? Are the Generals just really bad tires for a GTI? I've never owned a GTI before, so I have no comparison.
So any Wise Words of Wisdom?
Bought a 2010 Mk6 GTI in May of 2017 For a Daily Driver. ~30+ miles a day. Stock wheels. Came with 225R40R18 Bridgestone Potenzas (UTQG=480) on it. Changed to General Altimax Arctic 12's for winter after 5206 miles. Potenzas awful in even the hint of winter. Tires fairly evenly worn down to 7.5/32, tho. Lots of spirited driving having fun with "new" car. (Never had a GTI before.)
Fast forward to March, when I replaced tires. Arctics had 3680 miles on them. Approx 8-9/32 on them when I got them (used - I didn't write down the wear.) ($500 with 17" rims. Such a deal) When I took them off - front tires only had 4.5/32 on them. Rears had 7.5/32. Couldn't believe the wear on the fronts. Chalked it up to lots of salt and slushy/soapy winter roads with more 45 degree days than I liked. (I'm in southern Wisconsin.)
Replaced Potenzas with new General G-Max AS-05's (UTQG=500) after a bunch of research. Really nice tires. Handle WAY better than the Potenzas. Especially in snow and icy slush.
After the wear on the winter tires, I began taking more care in my driving; but it is still spirited. I have fun with the car; but I generally don't mash the pedal every time I accelerate, or spin the tires on start off. I also make an effort to maximize my fuel mileage. I get 29-30 mpg every week. Not bad for 40-55mph driving. I play a game with myself to try & get at least 30mpg cumulated as indicated on the dash every time I go out.
However...
I measured the wear after 7580 miles & 7 months on the brand new tires this weekend. 8/32 on the rear, and 4/32 on the fronts. (10/32 new) WTF? That's 3/16 of an inch in 7580 miles on the fronts. Makes NO sense. Works out to only getting 10,100 miles on the fronts down to the 2/32 mark. About 9.5 months or so.
Car tracks in a straight line - hands off the wheel. No vibration at any speed. Tire wear is pretty even across the width of the tire - no cupping or flat spots, either. A bit more wear in the center (I run 40psi); but almost not measurable. Roads around here are pretty bad. City driving. Some potholes, ruff uneven pavement, mostly construction EVERYWHERE.
I am completely stumped. Especially because of the lack of wear on the Potenzas, when I drove a lot more spirited than I do now. My mechanic says it can't be alignment or suspension - must be me. I just can't wrap my head around the issue being my driving, unless I did track days or drag racing. Which I don't. Trying to figure out what to do before I buy new tires. I can't afford to replace tires every 8 months. Never had this happen to any other car I've owned.
Is this normal? Or extreme wear for a stock GTI? Are the Generals just really bad tires for a GTI? I've never owned a GTI before, so I have no comparison.
So any Wise Words of Wisdom?