More Continental tire problems

[Mikejt1954]

For the second time in two years, my Continental Conti Sport Contact tires (OEM tire on my 2019 R) have worn out completely on just the very inside edge of both front tires, down to the steel belts. The current tires lasted 15,000 miles. The rest of the tread is fine, they would have lasted thousands more miles. This happened to the previous fronts also. I’ve had at least four alignments, all within factory specs. The best description I can give is the tires look as though they delaminated. The tires are being shipped to Continental in South Carolina, but they are already telling me there is no warranty covering them at all.
I don’t track the car, I don’t bounce off curbs, I don’t drive on bad roads. The only mod to the car is a Neuspeed front tie bar, that was a fairly easy install.
Anyone who has an idea I’m eagerly listening!!!!

 

[Salami]

Those pictures are not of a tire defect or covered under the manufacturer warranty.
Excessive toe along with camber wears out tires like that.

Worn suspension components can also greatly contribute.

How many miles are on the car and where are the alignment sheets?

 

[The Fed]

I only buy Michelin PS4S and had one tire with that type of damage, only worse. It looks like my alignment on my left-front wheel is a little off, but I never bother with alignments anymore unless there is damage to the suspension. You can buy two of my tires for the cost for alignment and checking the "advanced driving features". I'll assume you're careful about tire pressures. I check mine every couple of weeks and adjust them to the predicted temperatures. Since my car sits in a garage most of the time, I have a thermometer on the wall, so I don't get higher sun-induced starting pressures. I was surprised my tire shredded, but I usually change them out when they get to 4/,32". I let the last ones get down to 3/32, and that's when I had the problem. All I can suggest is, don't go lower than 4/32". These tires are the lowest profile I ever owned, and I noticed even taking turns mildly causes the front tires to roll over and round the edges. I also do not rotate them, since at least for me the tires wear evenly, thanks or no thanks to the mostly full-time AWD. You'll still get the rounded edges once they wear down anyway, and you'll have 4 rounded tires instead of two. A harder tire will probably hold up better, but you'll sacrifice handing and wet weather traction.

 

[kevinkar]

For the second time in two years, my Continental Conti Sport Contact tires (OEM tire on my 2019 R) have worn out completely on just the very inside edge of both front tires, down to the steel belts.

I don't think that's the tire's fault. They don't wear that way on their own. Even though your car is supposedly aligned within spec, it's obviously not. You might not track but do you go around corners aggressively all the time? Seems like spirited driving to me.

 

[igmgolfr]

Alignment issue, post up your last alignment print out. Just cause it's factory spec doesn't mean it's going to be best for tire wear.

 

[Mikejt1954]

Those pictures are not of a tire defect or covered under the manufacturer warranty.
Excessive toe along with camber wears out tires like that.

Worn suspension components can also greatly contribute.

How many miles are on the car and where are the alignment sheets?

55,000 miles. One year ago when this happened last time I had the alignment set perfectly. I haven’t done anything to the car. There is now way the suspension is worn. It’s not camber because the entire tread surface has tread. It’s just the very inside edge that’s worn. I’m getting another alignment this coming week and if it shows anything I’ll update. Thank you for your reply

 

[Mikejt1954]

I don't think that's the tire's fault. They don't wear that way on their own. Even though your car is supposedly aligned within spec, it's obviously not. You might not track but do you go around corners aggressively all the time? Seems like spirited driving to me.

I drive in traffic 90% of the time so there is no opportunity to drive aggressively. I’ve never had an alignment that should any corner to be far out of alignment. Thanks for your reply

 

[Mikejt1954]

For the second time in two years, my Continental Conti Sport Contact tires (OEM tire on my 2019 R) have worn out completely on just the very inside edge of both front tires, down to the steel belts. The current tires lasted 15,000 miles. The rest of the tread is fine, they would have lasted thousands more miles. This happened to the previous fronts also. I’ve had at least four alignments, all within factory specs. The best description I can give is the tires look as though they delaminated. The tires are being shipped to Continental in South Carolina, but they are already telling me there is no warranty covering them at all.
I don’t track the car, I don’t bounce off curbs, I don’t drive on bad roads. The only mod to the car is a Neuspeed front tie bar, that was a fairly easy install.
Anyone who has an idea I’m eagerly listening!!!!

Here is the alignment settings from one year ago. How would this destroy two new tires in 15,000. Not possible. I would be interested in anyone’s comments as to how this cause this wear. Maybe I’m missing something?

 

[krs]

Google what does inner tire wear mean.

That’s your to-do list of items to start checking. It’s not like anyone else that has posted hasn’t already mentioned things that it could be, which can cause that.

If it’s not your alignment, check whatever item is on one of the hundred lists out there, or find a better shop. If you really think there’s nothing worn at 55k, well clearly there is.

 

[igmgolfr]

Too much toe. Have them set it to 0 in the front and 0.03 to 0.05 in the rear.

 

[mike-y]

what tire pressures do you run? have you ever run a little low on air? although the front toe isn't extreme, if you ever ran the tires low on air, it would help scrub down that inside edge really quickly.

 

[OSC4R]

Green on the machine...mean's F all for tire wear...are you getting alignments on worn tires?

How often are you rotating them; what do the rears look like????? Are you running a max performance summer tire below 40-45 deg F outside temperature, does it sit out over night outside in near freezing temps? Are you getting them from the stealership?

but I have never had great luck from OE VW spec (VW has there own specific versions of tires difference in compounds, usually softer than the same named tire from tirerack, etc, so motortrend,etc has a better laptime for the stats on their articles....) and initial equipment summers tires lasting more than 20-25K tops, and all seasons lasting more the low 30Ks is unseen with me at least in my experience with the OE tires.

Looks like a fair amount of wheel weights in the one pic, would make me question who is doing work on the vehicle, the rim is bent, or the tires weren't mounted correctly. Most tires have a paint mark on the lightest point and/or the heaviest point, which should be mounted correct away from or around the valve stem depending on the mark. So much could be unpacked here, suspect possible multiple avenues of issues, without more information.

It's generally TOE that kills tires #1, then camber... combine any one or both with KrONIC, under inflation..... Usually as there is more toe and camber in the rear as seen in a "stock" alignment, you would see this starting there first, IMO and IMO from looking at the first two pics, possibly more than one problem is going on, here.

A good way to know if an alignment is causing wear is drive the car normally for 30 mins, get out, and take tire thread temps, outside, MID, and Inside....If you see more than a 10 deg F change over the surface of the tire, probably need to look at an alignment first. Get the measurements a over a couple days, go get a near zero toe F/R when you get a new set of whatever you want, and run the temp tests. Jack the ends of the car up...see if you have any play in the 12 to 6 clock direction (generally bearings), and any play 9 to 3 (possibly bushings, ball joints,tie rod ends....) on all 4 wheels. Inspect bushings and ball joints for play and visible wear, while your there.

Since you have had the same thing with two sets of identical the contis, which look like to me is there max performance summer PS4 ish competitor ...I would try something else. A fair amount of the forum and tire rack seems to like the firestone firehawk indy 500s if you want a performance summer, that doesn't break the bank and performs well for the price.

 

[Mikejt1954]

Green on the machine...mean's F all for tire wear...are you getting alignments on worn tires?

How often are you rotating them; what do the rears look like????? Are you running a max performance summer tire below 40-45 deg F outside temperature, does it sit out over night outside in near freezing temps? Are you getting them from the stealership?

but I have never had great luck from OE VW spec (VW has there own specific versions of tires difference in compounds, usually softer than the same named tire from tirerack, etc, so motortrend,etc has a better laptime for the stats on their articles....) and initial equipment summers tires lasting more than 20-25K tops, and all seasons lasting more the low 30Ks is unseen with me at least in my experience with the OE tires.

Looks like a fair amount of wheel weights in the one pic, would make me question who is doing work on the vehicle, the rim is bent, or the tires weren't mounted correctly. Most tires have a paint mark on the lightest point and/or the heaviest point, which should be mounted correct away from or around the valve stem depending on the mark. So much could be unpacked here, suspect possible multiple avenues of issues, without more information.

It's generally TOE that kills tires #1, then camber... combine any one or both with KrONIC, under inflation..... Usually as there is more toe and camber in the rear as seen in a "stock" alignment, you would see this starting there first, IMO and IMO from looking at the first two pics, possibly more than one problem is going on, here.

A good way to know if an alignment is causing wear is drive the car normally for 30 mins, get out, and take tire thread temps, outside, MID, and Inside....If you see more than a 10 deg F change over the surface of the tire, probably need to look at an alignment first. Get the measurements a over a couple days, go get a near zero toe F/R when you get a new set of whatever you want, and run the temp tests. Jack the ends of the car up...see if you have any play in the 12 to 6 clock direction (generally bearings), and any play 9 to 3 (possibly bushings, ball joints,tie rod ends....) on all 4 wheels. Inspect bushings and ball joints for play and visible wear, while your there.

Since you have had the same thing with two sets of identical the contis, which look like to me is there max performance summer PS4 ish competitor ...I would try something else. A fair amount of the forum and tire rack seems to like the firestone firehawk indy 500s if you want a performance summer, that doesn't break the bank and performs well for the price.

No to all your questions. Car always garaged. Rarely gets 40 in Charlotte. Rears are are fine. Suspension is fine. Wheels are Neuspeed are are fine. As o said, no track days, no bouncing off curbs. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Salami]

No to all your questions. Car always garaged. Rarely gets 40 in Charlotte. Rears are are fine. Suspension is fine. Wheels are Neuspeed are are fine. As o said, no track days, no bouncing off curbs. Thanks for the reply.

No to all questions? Does that mean the tires are never rotated?

 

[MrTSI]

I generally conquer that the wear pattern here points to a toe issue. The last time I experienced something like this on a McPherson strut car, the culprit ended up being the control arm bushings. At a glance, everything looked fine, the car tracked straight and the static alignment was in spec. Then I pulled the control arms and found the bushings to be very soft and beginning to tear, and the ball joint being rather easy to move. New control arms and ball joints cured it. The squishy bushings and loose ball joints were causing dynamic toe changes and eating the tires. This was on an old Nissan product, but the suspension was very similar and gave the same tire wear you are experiencing. Best of luck to you as you sort this out.