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      07-25-2018, 01:36 PM   #1
OldenburgerM3
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Why are my front OEM tires wearing like this?

Howdy all,
My wife's new-to-us X3 has been with us for a few thousand miles and I've noticed wahwahwah sounds from the front. My investigation leads towards a tire wear-pattern making that noise, the tires are balanced, and they were brand new when we got the car. I'm also one of those people who constantly ensures correct tire pressure as per door table. It's like a washing machine in the spin cycle noticeable at speeds above 35mph or so.

The outboard edge on both front OEM P-Zero 20" tires is uneven, wavy if you will, where the leading edges of the treadblocks are a bit torn up and higher than the treadblock. The rears are fine.

I've contacted Pirelli and they say take it to the dealer and if there's a manufacturing defect that they'd honor their warranty. My wife's not a race-car driver. This is a 2015 x3 xdrive35i with OEM wheels and OEM tires on 20s.

Any ideas? In some pictures you can see the dirt-pattern highlight the unevenness a bit.
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      07-26-2018, 12:35 PM   #2
nyalpine90
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probably the front tires are not properly balance.
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      07-26-2018, 12:54 PM   #3
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I was gonna say unbalanced tires will do that. When’s the last time they have been rotated?
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      07-27-2018, 01:28 AM   #4
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The tracking (wheel alignment) needs checking first. That is most probably the problem. It is not a good idea to rotate them at this stage.
Being that they are 20" wheels, the tracking needs to be spot on.
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      07-27-2018, 11:09 AM   #5
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Hmmmm. Thanks. They were balanced last week and unable to rotate as this is a staggered OEM setup.
I'd hate to have the alignment checked and find nothing, but I might have to go that route. If that's not it, however, then I have an argument for Pirelli maybe.
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      07-27-2018, 11:13 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldenburgerM3 View Post
Hmmmm. Thanks. They were balanced last week and unable to rotate as this is a staggered OEM setup.
I'd hate to have the alignment checked and find nothing, but I might have to go that route. If that's not it, however, then I have an argument for Pirelli maybe.
You must have alignment check before doing anything else. I had similar wear (not so bad) as you have and IT WAS the alignment.
Best of luck with Pirelli.....I do not think you have any chance of success.
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      07-27-2018, 11:20 AM   #7
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Improper alignment
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      07-27-2018, 11:23 AM   #8
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I have 20" P Zeros, staggered,-no problems whatsoever.

Very probably bad alignment.

That amount of bad alignment is unusual! Car in crash- without dealer telling you?

I would take vehicle to independent shop.
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      07-27-2018, 11:28 AM   #9
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20in rims with RFT on rough roads will knock out an alignment faster than you can say alignment. Those tires are providing zero cushioning they're basically solid bricks. Getting rid of the RFT's on my 19s was the best decision I've ever made. Smoother ride, better braking, better corning. Feels like a proper BMW now, not a land yacht.
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      07-27-2018, 01:46 PM   #10
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Looks like the beginnings of what is called cupping. Could be alignment, balance, or worn suspension parts. You can have balance and alignment issues and actually not always feel them - especially alignment. Be certain of tire pressures as well.
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      07-27-2018, 06:42 PM   #11
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Pretty classic sign of improper toe alignment.
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      07-28-2018, 09:15 AM   #12
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thanks everybody. I'll look into that and try to remember to post any findings.
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      08-03-2018, 02:09 PM   #13
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Guys, these tires are asymmetric but not directional, so I can swap left/right right/left and get maybe different/better road noises, while I investigate the alignment.
Nothing wrong with a side-swap, right?
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      08-03-2018, 02:39 PM   #14
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Yes, the tires would be mounted for "inside and outside" not "left and right," so you can swap sides. If they're non-staggered, you can switch front to back, at the same time. (Don't know what the 20" OEM setup was)
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      08-15-2018, 04:36 PM   #15
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Shocks, suspension bushings, and tire balance are the prime suspects.
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      08-15-2018, 04:44 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by najnad View Post
Shocks, suspension bushings, and tire balance are the prime suspects.
May be, but he must check alignment first as a top priority, as stated by others previously.
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      08-16-2018, 07:43 AM   #17
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A good alignment on a stationary rack means nothing if the struts and bushings are worn.
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      08-16-2018, 08:18 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Riick View Post
A good alignment on a stationary rack means nothing if the struts and bushings are worn.
Yes, but you still need to check the alignment first. Anyway during the alignment checking process, the rest will be checked and it will be obvious if there is wear in any other components.
This has been the case with all vehicles I have owned since 1963.
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      08-24-2018, 08:48 AM   #19
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update: haven't gotten around to alignment yet. The car's coming up on a regular oil change etc under extended maintenance plan from previous owner and I'll throw that alignment in. In the meantime I've swapped the tires and they're rotating the other way now and it's actually much better. The suspect road noise is now below the threshold of annoying! Could be a temporary fix, I'll report back.

Edit, Update: Pretty much as expected: it was better temporarily. I'll report back with alignment data.

Last edited by OldenburgerM3; 08-31-2018 at 10:57 AM..
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      08-24-2018, 09:04 AM   #20
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Deleted! Misunderstood what was said after reading again.

Last edited by Peter_R; 08-27-2018 at 06:07 PM..
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      08-24-2018, 09:24 AM   #21
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There's zero issues mounting a directional tire backwards. There has been many, many tests performed on controlled tracks that show no negative side effects of running a directional tire the wrong way. No performance loss in dry or wet due to the tread facing the wrong way. From a technical standpoint a tire doesn't care what direction it spins.

Tires are directional simply for aesthetics just like brake rotors have directional cooling holes. Cooling holes in brake rotors don't actually do anything to help brake performance, they actually lessen it, it's simply for aesthetics. Cross drilled/slotted brake rotors do not do anything to help you stop better, they actually make your stopping distance worse.
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      08-24-2018, 09:51 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Riick View Post
There's zero issues mounting a directional tire backwards. There has been many, many tests performed on controlled tracks that show no negative side effects of running a directional tire the wrong way. No performance loss in dry or wet due to the tread facing the wrong way. From a technical standpoint a tire doesn't care what direction it spins.

Tires are directional simply for aesthetics just like brake rotors have directional cooling holes. Cooling holes in brake rotors don't actually do anything to help brake performance, they actually lessen it, it's simply for aesthetics. Cross drilled/slotted brake rotors do not do anything to help you stop better, they actually make your stopping distance worse.
Yes. Most people know all this, as I do. I was posting hurriedly and did not include the insurance company implications. If you have an accident and you make a claim and an assessor gets involved in the technicalities, and it is attributed to braking/stopping sliding, the company will NOT pay out. Why...because the driver is operating outside the so called design criteria. No matter what statements are made on forums, and in tests.

Last edited by Peter_R; 08-24-2018 at 11:16 AM..
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