Tread Depth

[Ringthane]

Once the stock tyres of my old 2010 XC60 got to 2mm (very quickly I might add), I put on a set of General Grabber UHP, which had a starting tread depth of 10mm.

Because I do so few miles in a year, I ended up replacing them at 4mm, because they were starting to degrade with age. Replaced them with Crossclimates, just before I got the new car.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Ringthane

Once the stock tyres of my old 2010 XC60 got to 2mm (very quickly I might add), I put on a set of General Grabber UHP, which had a starting tread depth of 10mm.

.....

I've found over the years that on Volvo XC models with non-sporty tyres (i.e. 235 60 R18) the tyres can last a considerable length of time. On my MY2017 FWD XC60 I got over 40k out of the factory rubber and I wasn't gentle with it. My dad's XC70 did 45k on the same size tyres and my own XC70 is tracking to do that on its Pirelli's.

However I've seen posts from R-Design owners with 19" and 20" wheels getting less than 20k from their lower profile tyres. I also recall Jeremy Clarkson moaning that his last Mk 1 XC90 needed £1000 of tyres every 12k.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by MaDProFF

Personally on thread depth, it has never really bothered me, but then I guess I do not check my tyres that often, as with TPMS you do not need to.

What?

How is TPMS going to tell you if you have a bubble, a nail in the tyre or of your tracking is out and you've worn the inside edge to the cords?

To assume all is well because the pressure hasn't dropped is not adequate maintenance of your tyres.

[MaDProFF]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

What?

How is TPMS going to tell you if you have a bubble, a nail in the tyre or of your tracking is out and you've worn the inside edge to the cords?

To assume all is well because the pressure hasn't dropped is not adequate maintenance of your tyres.

1/ If I hit a pot hole that I think that may have caused a bubble, I do tend to check rim and tyre.

2/ If there is a nail / screw in the tyre, it will go down TMPS will tell me, quite a few years ago in an RX8 I plugged a hole that had a wood screw in it with a bigger wood screw, cut it down, and silicon, as a short term fix on a new tyre to get me out of trouble, it never lost 1 psi till the end of the tyres life.

3/ Quite frankly cannot remember last time the wheels needed tracking, see 1, but generally the I walked pass car I often glance, and would soon notice tracking out.

Just you checking the pressure regulaly does not mean you will find a nail or screw in it anyhow, I tend to notice things like that when you just glance at them.

[ergonomist]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

I've seen posts from R-Design owners with 19" and 20" wheels getting less than 20k from their lower profile tyres.

I'm a 20" Inscription. Done just over 20k on my summer tyres and am at around 3mm - which would take me to about 24k at 2mm. I don't hammer the car round corners or brake furiously... I'm sort of OK with this level of wear. One thing that swapping wheels twice a year does is allow me to swap front to rear when a set goes back onto the car. Wear is pretty much the same across all four tyres - or is that just a function of AWD? Although it means I will have to change all four at the same time - that's fine with me because of the noise. I Feel Old - look for tyre noise threads - it seemed to be early Continental tyres on 20" rims for some reason (but please don't re-start the discussion!). Hence why we're now seeing a lot of acoustic tyres appearing in this size. And it was noise inside the vehicle - the noise rating on tyres is a measure of the sound outside the car as it passes by.

[MikeGMT]

Originally Posted by ergonomist

I'm a 20" Inscription. Done just over 20k on my summer tyres and am at around 3mm - which would take me to about 24k at 2mm. I don't hammer the car round corners or brake furiously... I'm sort of OK with this level of wear. Wear is pretty much the same across all four tyres - or is that just a function of AWD? Although it means I will have to change all four at the same time - that's fine with me because of the noise.

I too have 20" wheels. Just replaced the fronts at 2mm with 19500 mls.
Rears are at 7mm for the full width of the tyre. Your observation about AWD seems to be correct as my XC60 R-Design is FWD.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by ergonomist

One thing that swapping wheels twice a year does is allow me to swap front to rear when a set goes back onto the car. Wear is pretty much the same across all four tyres - or is that just a function of AWD?

In normal driving power is mostly sent to the front wheels so you'd expect them to wear more quickly. However, like you, I swap tyres twice per year and rotate them front and back to get the benefit of even wear across all eight tyres.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by MaDProFF

1/ If I hit a pot hole that I think that may have caused a bubble, I do tend to check rim and tyre.

2/ If there is a nail / screw in the tyre, it will go down TMPS will tell me, quite a few years ago in an RX8 I plugged a hole that had a wood screw in it with a bigger wood screw, cut it down, and silicon, as a short term fix on a new tyre to get me out of trouble, it never lost 1 psi till the end of the tyres life.

3/ Quite frankly cannot remember last time the wheels needed tracking, see 1, but generally the I walked pass car I often glance, and would soon notice tracking out.

Just you checking the pressure regulaly does not mean you will find a nail or screw in it anyhow, I tend to notice things like that when you just glance at them.

I think you and I just have very different approaches to tyre care. I wouldn’t repair a tyre by using a bigger screw......