Stock Dumlop tires----I need help!

[shumax]

Just took the car in to have an alignment done---the insides of the front tires were chewed up a bit---looked like saw teeth.


Guy comes out after doing it and says that the left front was the only one that was out of alignment. Huh? I asked for the printout and sure enough, he's right. I asked how BOTH front tires could have wear if only one side was out. I was told that because the one side was out, it would "pull" the otherside it's way constantly---basically scuffing the insides of both tires. Toe out was the issue here.


Well, I need 4 new tires now which really pisses me off. However, I am worried that the problem isn't fixed----basically, I am not sure I buy into the fact that if one sides out that it can "pull" the other side along.

The car has never hit anything hard at all---not even pot holes. The car has 25k on it, the stock rims/tires have 15k. My snow tires ran the other 10k. Guess what? Those snow tires show none of the wear that the Dunlop's did. That makes me think it's the tires (Dunlops). Anyone have any input?

I did go ahead and buy 4 Falken Ziex 512's that will go on the car Saturday. I just want to be sure that this guy was right before I shred $440 worth of new tires.

HELP!

 

[ChuEy826]

That sucks.. would it be covered under warranty at all? I kinda like the stock tires.. little bit thin, but still alright. They're pretty strong too.. I completely messed up my front right suspension setup.. bent a lot of things, and the tire took the biggest hit. The rim was a bit scuffed and the tire was fine... Perhaps you just got a defective one. Anyways, it dosen't hurt to go to the local stealership and cause a little riot.. try to get them to pay.

 

[maple_leaf]

My stock Dunlop tires are done after 28 000 kilometers....no more Dunlops for me!
I also found that they don't grip the pavement as well as most tires I've used in the past.

 

[shumax]

Well, my biggest concern is that this tech's theory is correct----that if one side is out of alignment and "pulls" the other side along---that it could cause the problems I am having. I always thought both sides had to be out to cause problems; however, his theory does make some sense----one side pulling to the left causes the other to scuff along. It's solidified by the fact that my snow tires look fine about 10k---makes me think it's the crappy Dunlops.


I just don't want to sink $440 into new tires and deal with it in a year again. That would ******* piss me off more than I already am.

 

[Togan]

i got dunlop stock tires too, im wondering if the dealer changes them for free once tey wear out.. or do they rip every penny off of u...

 

[uclap5]

uh, the dealer doesnt cover tire wear.

 

[GNO]

The inner edge of my Dunlops wore down to the wires in the front. I replaced them and had the alignment done. The alignment wasn't very far off, the tech gave me print outs of the before and after measurements. . . with cool illustrations, too. I put the new tires (Kuhmo) in the rear and put the second pair of Dunlops in the front. Just before I put on my winter tires, the 2nd pair of Dunlops wore down to the wires. My winter tires did not wear this bad. Although, driving style takes its toll as well and I don't corner as hard with the winter tires, so I'm going to chalk it up to my driving.

 

[IchBinEinMP5]

Did you guys happen to rotate the tires every oil change or at least every other? I have had the stock tires on for only 3000kms, but my winters were on for 6000 with no problems. I intend to rotate the Dunlops religously, so I can post later if there is any problem. So far the tires are really pretty good, should have been sized 205/50-16, but when these wear out that is what I am mounting, albeit a FM901.

If it was out of alignment so much that you would compensate, did you go in and have it checked?

 

[MACEY]

Frankly I have had no alignment issues but in my opinion these oem tires suck royal. They have no grip in the rain although they are ok in the dry albeit as someone said thin. I will change as soon as possible and just put these on for mild winters.

Marcus

 

[shumax]

Well, the car is at a local shop that is an authorized Dunlop dealer. They are going to see what they can do about a warranty claim. I'm about half satisfied with that. I almost don't want the tires again---even if they pro rate mine and give me new ones. Unless they fixed what's wrong with these tires, why would I want them again---even if they are pro rated? Then again, spending $440 on new Falken Ziex 512's is a hit on my pocket book.

I'll let you folks know what I hear tomorrow.

Curt

 

[nate0123]

I know some shops won't charge just to check alignment, you really ought to at least have it checked

 

[shumax]

I know some shops won't charge just to check alignment, you really ought to at least have it checked

Not to be rude, but you need to read the entire post.....




I already had it aligned when I first took it in.

 

[nate0123]

(hand)

I blame the (beer)

 

[nate0123]

ok after re-reading your post, I do believe that one tire being toed out would cause both to get chewed up... basically when your steering wheel was centered your wheels looked like this \ | (exaggerated of course)
to drive down the road in a straight line you would split that angle's difference between the two, otherwise you'd start to veer to the left... so you'd turn the steering wheel to the right slightly to compensate... thus looking like \ / (again exaggerated)
see?

 

[tttP5]

doesn't that mean you only need 2 new tires if the front ones are messed up?

i'm still running stock tires at 30000miles... is this long?

 

[shumax]

doesn't that mean you only need 2 new tires if the front ones are messed up?

i'm still running stock tires at 30000miles... is this long?

Well, yes; but no at the same time. You see, I put the two good ones on the front and then drove 800 miles. When I got 10 miles into my trip, I knew something was wrong because the car was shaking a bit and making that odd noise in the rear---the rear tires had been in the front. THe ones now in the front, had been in the rear. So, after the trip, all 4 tires were chewed up.


It gets better. I took it to a Dunlop dealer who said that the car was still out of alignment---even after I JUST had it done at another spot. They aligned it for free, but said they wouldn't warranty the tires. They went on to say that the tires would start to wear in to the new alignment settings. As such, the thumping and vibes would go away since the car was no longer riding on the chewed part of the tire. I am giving it another 2,000-3,000 miles. If it doesn't go away, I am buying new tires and saying **** it to Dunlop.

What pisses me off is that the first place that did the alignment wouldn't give me my money back---despite my having another shops prinout showing it was out. They said that this shop was wrong. I hate when you have too many parties involved---finger pointing is all that results

Oh well.

Curt

 

[shinzen]

The stock dunlops are crap- They wear way to fast (either that or I am way to aggressive of a driver- I basically had to replace them after only 12k- and that was with rotation. I have two left with some thread, but I am never buying a set of dunlops again- as was mentioned, the wet traction was just scary- But I love my new kumhos(which sell for less than the stockers)

 

[shumax]

The stock dunlops are crap- They wear way to fast (either that or I am way to aggressive of a driver- I basically had to replace them after only 12k- and that was with rotation. I have two left with some thread, but I am never buying a set of dunlops again- as was mentioned, the wet traction was just scary- But I love my new kumhos(which sell for less than the stockers)

What model of Kumhos and how many miles do you have on them so far?

 

[shinzen]

I picked up the ecsta 712's for about $80/ea, mounted and balanced. I only have about 2 weeks of driving on them so far, but I picked them up on recommendations of friends of mine. From what I have been told you MUST rotate them on schedule, but those same friends have gotten about 30k out of one set- I hope for that myself, but I am going to be autocrossing on them, so I kind of doubt it.

 

[Micah]

I picked up the ecsta 712's for about $80/ea, mounted and balanced. I only have about 2 weeks of driving on them so far, but I picked them up on recommendations of friends of mine. From what I have been told you MUST rotate them on schedule, but those same friends have gotten about 30k out of one set- I hope for that myself, but I am going to be autocrossing on them, so I kind of doubt it.

Yeah, sounds like you drive a little hard - I still have the stockers and I've gotten 29700 on them. Still have enough tread for driving, but I have noticed that they don't have quite the same grip they used to. I just rotated them, so I'm going to try to wait another few thousand miles.

How do you like the Kumho Ecsta 712's??? They will likely be my next tire - though I am also considering the all season version "ASX".