[bcroadster]

Just had my 14000 km service .Rear Tires were noted to be worn .I don't drive hard and think 14 k is way too early to change tires. Any one notice excessive wear on rear tires?

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by vancouvercash

Just had my 14000 km service .Rear Tires were noted to be worn .I don't drive hard and think 14 k is way too early to change tires. Any one notice excessive wear on rear tires?

If they are summer performance that is pretty good. I barely get 7-8k but I drive my cars very hard.

[MalibuBimmer]

Ugh. Bad news. But not unexpected. I've blown through 4 very expensive run flats numerous times with my big BMWs at about 10,000 miles.

While BMW touts the service is free, the cost of tires makes that benefit almost illusionary.

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

Ugh. Bad news. But not unexpected. I've blown through 4 very expensive run flats numerous times with my big BMWs at about 10,000 miles.

While BMW touts the service is free, the cost of tires makes that benefit almost illusionary.

I tend to find this to be true (tire replacement) pretty much on anything that has performance. You should see the Tesla Roadster rear tires after 4-5K...

[jordan.egan44]

They are quite skinny tyres for a car of this performance to run on. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like a lot of car for such slim tyres - one of the few downsides of having the car?

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by vancouvercash

Just had my 14000 km service .Rear Tires were noted to be worn .I don't drive hard and think 14 k is way too early to change tires. Any one notice excessive wear on rear tires?

Was your vehicle outfitted with run flats or the with the air filled Bridgestones made specially for the i8? If you have run flats and haven't changed them out yet, you may want to consider the latter. If your car was originally fitted with the latter tires, then their condition is rather befuddling.

Based on Epirali's comments below, I have experienced similar tread life with high performance tires such as: Pirelli P0 (disappointing tread life) and Yokohama Advan Sport(best ride for grand touring). However, I did manage to squeeze out an extra 3 to 4 thousand miles with the Bridgestone Potenzas and with the Michelin Pilot Super Sports (best overall experience). Out of the two, the Bridgestones didn't seem to offer the same performance as the Michelin's but appeared to have the longer tread life (plus more road noise) of the two.

So, if your vehicle was equipped with the Bridgestone air filled tires, they should've lasted a little longer, unless the compound and or thickness of this particular tire is vastly dissimilar to the Potenza. However, I do recall on a test drive of the Tesla sportster, the salesperson mentioning that the wear on the Yokohama fronts will occur within 7,000 miles due to the performance and design of the electric chassis.

Before jumping to conclusions, you may want to inquire with the service center as to whether the wear pattern of your rear tires were normal and if other aspects need to be inspected. For instance, if the tires were under-inflated or over-inflated. I, as an example, took delivery of a new vehicle a few years back only to find, after the first 2,000+ miles, varying psi inflation levels were done to each tire, ranging from 29 on the lowest one to 59 on the highest! Needless to say, I ended up replacing two sets of tires much sooner than anticipated due to some village idiot that prepped the new vehicle. Good thing there was wheel and tire insurance.

[bcroadster]

The tires fitted on my i8 are the air filled Bridgestones.Find it crazy to go through tires that quick. I got 50.000kms out of my stock 2014 m6 gran coup.

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by vancouvercash

The tires fitted on my i8 are the air filled Bridgestones.Find it crazy to go through tires that quick. I got 50.000kms out of my stock 2014 m6 gran coup.

Your comments prompted me to look into the tread depth of the Bridgestone Potenza that's equipped on the i8s. Apparently, the Bridgestone tires of late do not have the same level of tread life performance as in the past. In fact, its tread depth differs substantially for the i8 in comparison to the following list:

Tread depths
Bridgestone Potenza made for i8 - 8/32"
Regular Bridgestone Potenza - 10/32"
Pirelli P0 - 10/32"
Michelin Pilot Super Sport - 10/32"

I also did some further digging. The performance on tread wear for Potenza's aren't what they use to be. Perhaps there's been a change in the compound utilized for the this tire is made for specific performance (e.g., softer compound for a quieter ride and for grippier handling) rather than for tread life.

Overall, comparison tests show that the Bridgestone Potenzas do not seem to perform as well when pitted against the above listed tires. Thanks for the heads up. Now I have to figure out some options before the impending i8 tire change.

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by yw

Your comments prompted me to look into the tread depth of the Bridgestone Potenza that's equipped on the i8s. Apparently, the Bridgestone tires of late do not have the same level of tread life performance as in the past. In fact, its tread depth differs substantially for the i8 in comparison to the following list:

Tread depths
Bridgestone Potenza made for i8 - 8/32"
Regular Bridgestone Potenza - 10/32"
Pirelli P0 - 10/32"
Michelin Pilot Super Sport - 10/32"

I also did some further digging. The performance on tread wear for Potenza's aren't what they use to be. Perhaps there's been a change in the compound utilized for the this tire is made for specific performance (e.g., softer compound for a quieter ride and for grippier handling) rather than for tread life.

Overall, comparison tests show that the Bridgestone Potenzas do not seem to perform as well when pitted against the above listed tires. Thanks fort the heads up. Now I have to figure out some options before the impending i8 tire change.

I have looked for alternatives, including potentially "grippier" tires but have failed so far. If you find anything without changing wheels please post, I'll do same.

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by vancouvercash

Just had my 14000 km service .Rear Tires were noted to be worn .I don't drive hard and think 14 k is way too early to change tires. Any one notice excessive wear on rear tires?

Why did you take you car to service after just 14 000 km? There should not be service requirement so early? I'm now close to 27 000 km and still 6000 km left before the first service.

But, regarding the subject, 14 000 km is way too early for tire replacement. I'll give you detailed data next week from my measurements.

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by Epirali

I have looked for alternatives, including potentially "grippier" tires but have failed so far. If you find anything without changing wheels please post, I'll do same.

Will do.

Dreading the fact that the change will alter the dynamic characteristics of what the vehicle was designed for. But whom am I kidding, it's really a moot point since I practically keep it in sports mode all of the time.

[bcroadster]

Originally Posted by Pitkis

Why did you take you car to service after just 14 000 km? There should not be service requirement so early? I'm now close to 27 000 km and still 6000 km left before the first service.

But, regarding the subject, 14 000 km is way too early for tire replacement. I'll give you detailed data next week from my measurements.

It was for an oil change service, it prompts you to service every 14000 kms .27000 kms is high you must have been one of the first to take delivery .Any issues to report? How's the tread depth on your rear tires?

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by vancouvercash

Just had my 14000 km service .Rear Tires were noted to be worn .I don't drive hard and think 14 k is way too early to change tires. Any one notice excessive wear on rear tires?

Based on an article in Car & Driver, the i8 comes standard with narrow tires that are optimized more for low rolling resistance than for high traction. This option has 195/50 in front and 215/45 in the rear—on 7.0- and 7.5-inch-wide wheels. The second option comes with 215/45 and 245/40 Bridgestone Potenza S001s on slightly wider wheels greatly enhance the grip and even stickier tires.

Which set of tires came with your i8? If they're 195/50s front and 215/45 rears, then it's conceivable that the tread life may have been affected by the narrow tires.

[MalibuBimmer]

The tires are narrow compared to sports cars but not narrow in the real world considering everything that's out there.

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by vancouvercash

It was for an oil change service, it prompts you to service every 14000 kms .27000 kms is high you must have been one of the first to take delivery .Any issues to report? How's the tread depth on your rear tires?

Sorry, it took more than anticipated to get my both wheel sets on hand.

I did now some measurement.

Old tires, driven approx 13000 km: rear 4 mm, front 5 mm
Almost new tires, driven just a bit: rear 7,5 mm, front 6 mm.

Legal minimum tread depth in Finland is 1,6 mm. Recommended higher though. I'd still drive my tires until they are under 2,5 mm and go for replacement after that. Especially fronts seem to wear slowly.

[bcroadster]

Originally Posted by Pitkis

Sorry, it took more than anticipated to get my both wheel sets on hand.

I did now some measurement.

Old tires, driven approx 13000 km: rear 4 mm, front 5 mm
Almost new tires, driven just a bit: rear 7,5 mm, front 6 mm.

Legal minimum tread depth in Finland is 1,6 mm. Recommended higher though. I'd still drive my tires until they are under 2,5 mm and go for replacement after that. Especially fronts seem to wear slowly.

Thanks .I have The 215/45 and 245/40 Bridgestone Potenza S001s
My fronts Were 4mm and rears 1mm.What pressure do you keep yours at ?you have done well ,4mm at 1300 kms is decent.

[bcroadster]

Originally Posted by yw

Based on an article in Car & Driver, the i8 comes standard with narrow tires that are optimized more for low rolling resistance than for high traction. This option has 195/50 in front and 215/45 in the rear—on 7.0- and 7.5-inch-wide wheels. The second option comes with 215/45 and 245/40 Bridgestone Potenza S001s on slightly wider wheels greatly enhance the grip and even stickier tires.

Which set of tires came with your i8? If they're 195/50s front and 215/45 rears, then it's conceivable that the tread life may have been affected by the narrow tires.

thanks for info ! 215/45 and 245/40 Bridgestone Potenza S001s is fitted on mine .Have you found alternate tires yet? Mine seem to have been over inflated they were not at the 32 psi stated on the door .my rears were at 35 psi from dealer.

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by vancouvercash

thanks for info ! 215/45 and 245/40 Bridgestone Potenza S001s is fitted on mine .Have you found alternate tires yet? Mine seem to have been over inflated they were not at the 32 psi stated on the door .my rears were at 35 psi from dealer.

You're welcome. After going through a myriad of tire brands, I found the Michelin Pilot Super Sports (MPSS) to be the best in: handling, ride, and low road noise. In fact, the MPSS lasted significantly longer on my cars than the Goodyears, Pirelli P zero and the Yokohama Advan Sport. The challenge is finding the right set of wheels for the MPSSs that would work with the overall concept of the i8.

[Louv]

Originally Posted by vancouvercash

thanks for info ! 215/45 and 245/40 Bridgestone Potenza S001s is fitted on mine .Have you found alternate tires yet? Mine seem to have been over inflated they were not at the 32 psi stated on the door .my rears were at 35 psi from dealer.

The rears are supposed to be at 41psi if you intend to drive at more than 100mph. So I don't think 35psi is a problem.

(source: Page 164 of i8 Owner's Manual, part #01 40 2 960 891 - II/15)

[YWGT3]

No concerns over 35psi. Since the weight distribution of the i8 is 50/50, you should check to see if your dealer applied equal pressure to all four tires.

The Bay Area streets and freeways are full of potholes and laden with other rim damaging traps. To reduce chances of getting wheel damage, all four tires on my i8 are inflated to at least 36 psi.