When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Was going to do a tire rotation on the front today.....removed one then the other to find both tires had tread showing exposed on the inside edges with only 7000 miles on them!
Now dealer wants $1,048.30 to replace, balance, and front end alighnment for these two front tires.
Can't believe they only lasted this long..never raced, just normal street driving lots in the mountains all paved roads...
What are most forum members getting on Michelin Pilot Super Sport ZP tires.....are fronts wearing out at the same rate as the rears?>
Any suggestions on getting a different tire that will or could last longer? If so, what are your recommendations and experiences.
Sounds like your alignment was not proper for street driving. I went 12k miles + 3 or 4 days of track work with perfectly even wear on all 4 corners. Probably could have hit 15-18k but replaced before last track season. Not anywhere near showing cords.
Last edited by BrunoTheMellow; 03-08-2017 at 08:49 PM.
Nonetheless, you shouldn't have threads showing at 7K. While the toe is a little strong on the C7, your car appears to be too strong, or out of alignment. I guess the dealership is blaming you and pro-rating the tires?
There should be a sticky for this. A month doesn't go by without someone getting a surprise with wiped out inside front tires from too much negative camber and possibly toe in. I got that surprise 3 Corvettes ago. Now I have the car aligned for street driving. It's important to check wear across the entire tread regularly.
There should be a sticky for this. A month doesn't go by without someone getting a surprise with wiped out inside front tires from too much negative camber and possibly toe in. I got that surprise 3 Corvettes ago. Now I have the car aligned for street driving. It's important to check wear across the entire tread regularly.
Very little wear in almot 10k miles on my DWS06s. Are all Z06s aligned for the track at the factory? Is an alignment check part of the PDI process?
Very little wear in almot 10k miles on my DWS06s. Are all Z06s aligned for the track at the factory? Is an alignment check part of the PDI process?
Checking the alignment by the dealer is not part of the PDI, but the real problem is that all Corvettes come with a very aggressive alignment from the factory.
I found this out the hard way on my '05, and those tires were toast quickly, wearing out on the inside fronts.
On my '09 Z06, I had them do a less aggressive alignment before taking delivery, and again on my '14. I got 45,000 on my rears, and 35,000 on my fronts for my '14. I'm needing new fronts at 65,000 +, so right on schedule, with absolutely even wear across the the tread.
I get an alignment every other oil change, which works out to every 15,000 miles.
I can't comment on the difference of the general miles expected between the PSS and the sport cups, but unless you are tracking your car, there is no need for the super-agressive alignment, IMO.
Ok guys, I really appreciate all your comments......the dealer blames alignment problem.....but they are NOT willing to do a thing for me other than order another front pair and charge me $1,048 to mount and balance them. The rears look ok so far.
Now my question is for the street....I need someone with alignment experience to tell me what to tell my alignment technician exactly what caster and camber to install in this Z06. So, any members who have expertise along these lines, please don't hesitate to post with your recommendations..
I am having a fit over a brand new showroom condition Z06 and in the first year of ownership with mild driving replacing two new front tires...both wearing exactly the same way in the same inside corner areas.
I called tire dealer in Atlanta and he said these tires were designed to last one tank of gas at the track! It is a race tire on a race car, and not really designed to be casually driven on the street like a Malibu.
Obviously no one wants to take any responsibility...so I guess I am blaming the factory cause that is the condition it was in when delivered to dealer.....and of course they are not going to put it on their alignment machine and examine or change existing protocols.
Am all ears...don't hesitate to give me the facts...so far all you have advised sure makes good sense...just don't want this to happen to me this soon again.
I would never have even considered to do another alignment every other oil change.....this is damn expensive operating this Z06!
To the OP, the dealer nor GM is going to pay for a pair of front tires for you. This is a learning lesson for you. Check your tire wear on a regular basis. My Z06 would have wiped out my original Cup2's in likely less than 5 or 6,000 miles with the alignment it came with out of the box. It was within specs. You basically want 0 camber with just a little toe on the street. Your dealership should know that.
Unless you wack something, your alignment shouldn't change once you get it realigned (after you put new tires on). Now park your car with the steering at full lock and look at the fronts every few weeks.
As the saying goes.. your going to pay if you want to play.
If that cost shocks you, just check to see how much the depreciation has cost you.
Tires are cheap.
Just point to make you feel better 😂
Since I'm going in for an oil change tomorrow and after reading this I figure I'll have the alignment checked. I don't see abnormally uneven wear after 6500 miles fortunately though. As to the rotation issue I don't see how that will help if both fronts wear early on the inside since after rotation the inside remains the inside on a side to side rotation.
I was a bit concerned when my dealer (a huge Vette dealer and service center) claimed the Michelin Pilot Super Sports are directional and cannot be rotated. No so from what I can gather. They are asymmetrical though meaning they just can't be reversed on the rim but they are not directional.
The thing is your alignment should match your driving style. The Z06 comes with aggressive alignment specs. If you drive it mildly you will wear the inside edges. Take out some front camber or drive it like you stole it.
Any chance you lowered the car on the stock bolts or anything? That'll change the alignment enough to get wear issues. Also, there are a lot of contributing factors like heat, heat cycles, road crowning, tire pressure, etc.
Back when C6 came out, continuing w/ Z06 same problem.
Stock GYs wore out insides regardless how gentle cars were driven.
IIRC C6s leaving BG may experience forces altering alignment, 'settling'?, resulting in premature tire wear.
For this reason one could take their C6 to dealer within a certain # of miles, 1K, and get alignment checked/corrected free.
I had this check done, tires still wore fast.
Is this alignment/correction service offered for C7?
As others said aggressive toe & camber for racing, not street, is at the heart of this matter.
Last skins dealer did 4W alignment using Pfadt Street Spec.
10K later, wear's virtually nonexistent.
Do Pfadt specs exist for C7?
If so use 'em, tires will last much longer -- as they should.
To the OP, the dealer nor GM is going to pay for a pair of front tires for you. This is a learning lesson for you. Check your tire wear on a regular basis. My Z06 would have wiped out my original Cup2's in likely less than 5 or 6,000 miles with the alignment it came with out of the box. It was within specs. You basically want 0 camber with just a little toe on the street. Your dealership should know that.
Unless you wack something, your alignment shouldn't change once you get it realigned (after you put new tires on). Now park your car with the steering at full lock and look at the fronts every few weeks.
Altho the above may sound a little assertive, it is correct. And if your alignment shop doesn't know what a "street performance" setting is for your car, you need to find another shop. Possibly one that's familiar with Corvettes or racing cars. (Why racing cars? Because they know the difference betw. what works on the track and the other cars that come to the shop---some that bring the race cars.)
As to the above re it shouldn't change alignment once you get it done, I tend to differ with that part of the opinion. I think there are enough road conditions and types of holes, tracks, curbs, dropoffs, etc. that checking your alignment at a shop should be a routine, maybe once a year. It all depends if you're willing to pay for tires early, or want the max life out of them.
I noticed last fall when I stored my car that I have some cupping on the inside edge of both fronts. The car has 12.5k on it. Going to dealer for safety inspection and seatbelt software recall next month. Will have an alignment done at that time.
03-08-2017, 08:40 PM
Not happy with Michelin Run-Flats on my 2016 Z06
