Taycan Problem - potential catastrophic tire failure

[Vim Schrotnock]

My Michelin PS4 were shot all round at 18k. Rears down to the chords.

I don't drive like a lunatic. Majority was commuting - not in Range mode.

I had chassis set to 'Sport' the whole time (except when the car adjusted it) and ride height set to 'medium'.

21 RWD / PB+ / air suspension.

On the new tyres, I am driving in 'Normal' to see if that alters anything.

Was the wear on the rears at the inner shoulder? I'm wondering if this has anything to do with 4 wheel steering, or some combination of 4WS and/or lowered ride height.

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[Gru]

I sincerely doubt the 4 WS / lowered ride height could have such influence.
I could have kept my 20" Michelin PS4 after more than 35k mi.
I now have 21¨ GY : i'll see if it makes a difference

 

[Fish Fingers]

Was the wear on the rears at the inner shoulder? I'm wondering if this has anything to do with 4 wheel steering, or some combination of 4WS and/or lowered ride height.

Yes... It was the same wear that everyone else reported. Inner side/shoulder particularly on the rears.
My car doesnt have 4WS.

 

[submatrix]

This is very interesting data. I wonder if the 'inner shoulder wear' on the rear tires is due to driving in 'lowered' mode? I did that on a regular basis, and had an actual separation of the sidewall from the tread on both rear tires without significant wear on the tread. For everyone who's seen this - are you driving a lot in lowered (range) mode?

FWIW at my last dealership appointment, they measured 3mm on the inner part of my rear tires which is below their spec, and recommended replacing. I'm holding out for now to try and squeeze more life out of them. Fronts are fine.

I'm on a RWD with steel suspension, so no lowering possible. ~25k miles. 90% of my driving in Normal mode, 5% in Sport, 5% in Range (for road trips). I drive pretty conservatively.

Edit: I'm on the stock 20" Continental ProContact all seasons.

 

[Vim Schrotnock]

I'm reposting the pics of my Goodyears that had the severe failure. Note there was virtually no unusual wear on the inner tread. The tires were both still in spec if you just measured the tread depths. I was driving in 'lowered' mode most of the time, and do have 4ws. This is definitely a serious issue, just not sure about the cause.

 

[Scandinavian]

I'm reposting the pics of my Conti's that had the severe failure. Note there was virtually no unusual wear on the inner tread. The tires were both still in spec if you just measured the tread depths. I was driving in 'lowered' mode most of the time, and do have 4ws. This is definitely a serious issue, just not sure about the cause.

That looks like a manufacturing or design defect?? Did you do track days on this tyre?

 

[submatrix]

I'm reposting the pics of my Conti's that had the severe failure. Note there was virtually no unusual wear on the inner tread. The tires were both still in spec if you just measured the tread depths. I was driving in 'lowered' mode most of the time, and do have 4ws. This is definitely a serious issue, just not sure about the cause.

Those are Goodyears, no?

 

[Fish Fingers]

Yes... It was the same wear that everyone else reported. Inner side/shoulder particularly on the rears.
My car doesnt have 4WS.

I know I am answering my own post here, but these were the tyre reports for these tyres (noting the tread depth readings).

 

[Vim Schrotnock]

That looks like a manufacturing or design defect?? Did you do track days on this tyre?

Thought I corrected the post, but they are Goodyears. And no - never tracked or even really stressed the tires. I race the car pictured, and get plenty of G force on the track. No way I'm going to push this 5000 lb+ car around the track - I'd go through a set of tires in an hour.

 

[Murph7355]

I have RWS on mine.

So....we have cars with and without RWS suffering. So it's not that.

We have Michelins and Goodyears suffering. So doesn't seem like it's the make of tyre.

Ride height....low seems to have been used plenty by those suffering.

FWIW at my last dealership appointment, they measured 3mm on the inner part of my rear tires which is below their spec, and recommended replacing. I'm holding out for now to try and squeeze more life out of them. Fronts are fine.

I'm on a RWD with steel suspension, so no lowering possible. ~25k miles. 90% of my driving in Normal mode, 5% in Sport, 5% in Range (for road trips). I drive pretty conservatively.

Edit: I'm on the stock 20" Continental ProContact all seasons.

Have you checked the shoulder where Vim's photo shows wear?

It will be interesting to see what you find....but would potentially indicate that the adjustable ride height could be a factor.

The difference between ride heights has been posted up on here before (one example - (24) Chart: Taycan Cross Turismo ground clearance heights -- with and without Offroad Design Package | TaycanForum -- Porsche Taycan Owners, News, Discussions, Forums ). 22mm drop seems like it could be significant?

 

[Murph7355]

I'd also wondered whether the tyres were too wide for the rims, stretching them too far and potentially making them ride on the sidewall a little....but I don't believe they are?

I have 305s on GTS RS wheels...which I think are 11in wide? I believe that's the widest tyre recommended for that rim width??

 

[Vercingetorix]

It’s just an illusion.

 

[submatrix]

I have RWS on mine.

So....we have cars with and without RWS suffering. So it's not that.

We have Michelins and Goodyears suffering. So doesn't seem like it's the make of tyre.

Ride height....low seems to have been used plenty by those suffering.


Have you checked the shoulder where Vim's photo shows wear?

It will be interesting to see what you find....but would potentially indicate that the adjustable ride height could be a factor.

The difference between ride heights has been posted up on here before (one example - (24) Chart: Taycan Cross Turismo ground clearance heights -- with and without Offroad Design Package | TaycanForum -- Porsche Taycan Owners, News, Discussions, Forums ). 22mm drop seems like it could be significant?

Yeah, mine is not nearly in that bad of a shape. Also, I don't have air suspension so my car is not capable of adjusting the ride height.

 

[Fish Fingers]

Just trying to look into this a little further.....

On the other thread about it, the OP @DerekS said he was told it was the compound on the inner tread.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/check-your-tires.8611/post-202307

I remembered tyres were also being discussed on a BMW forum some time back and whether BMW * marked tyres were actually any different.

Someone posted this pic (from Tyre Reviews) showing the different compound between the * tyres and standard.

Interesting that the BMW * marked tyres are highlighting the wear on the shoulder in green.

I am no expert on these things(!) just trying to find some definitive answers, as generally I nurse my tyres quite well and my knackered Taycan tyres at 16k was a shock.

Could it be something to do with the NFO tyres?

 

[Murph7355]

....
Could it be something to do with the NFO tyres?

I have non-NF0 on the rear now (Hankook Ion Evos...but diff. size to the ones just Porsche approved) so will see what happens with those....I suspect it will take a while to find out though (likely 12mths at least).

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