I am running 215/45/17 Conti extreme contacts and just measured the tread depths on the tires. I am seeing a consistent tread wear pattern of 7/32nds in the center and 5/32nds (sometimes a tad less) away from the center (both laterally and medially).

Is that from underinflating the tires? I generally run 32-34 psi depending on how often I check the air. A friend who used to sell tires said to bump it up to 36 or so and it should be okay. Any thoughts?

I have about 16,000 miles on these tires and my friend also said that the tires are designed to last a lot longer in the 2nd half of the tread. If that is so I am quite pleased with the milage that I should get out of these tires when I read many who run through them in less than 20,000 miles.

Also just a thought... What about over inflating the tires by a couple PSI (38 psi?) to try and even the tread where out?

 

More wear on the outsides than the center is typically caused by underinflation. I try to run 35 lbs, and mine seem to wear evenly and ride comfortably. You *could* run them at 38 or so for a while to try to wear down the centers faster, but I don't know that that would be any better an idea than just adding a couple more pounds and letting them wear evenly from here on out. Might as well keep the tread you've got. Besides, the ride at 38 lbs would be noticeably harder, something a MINI doesn't need.

 

The suggested pressure for R56 205/45-17 is 36-38 psi. I suspect that 38 wouldn't be much of an over inflation for your tires.

 

My door sticker says 205/45r17 recommended tire pressure is 36-41. I'm running 38 and the car rides great. I was told that for every size up you go, you should add 2 lbs. to the recommended tire pressure. If you're runnin 32-34 then that's way too low, hence the outside wear. Put 38 in and let the tire wear evenly the rest of the way.

 

Since you have less tread front and back on the both edges then you are a bit under inflated at times enough to wear the extra 2/10ths.

Try a bit more pressure front and rear to 37 psi. Also check your tire gauge against at least two other gauges of known accuracy. some gauges read low and yours might be a bit low some 2 psi.

Digital gauges are OK and good longacre gauges are OK.

If you carry more people or heavy loads then increase pressure to 38 psi but if you drive only with one person then about 35 psi is fine usually.

As weather gets colder psi will drop so if you check your tires warm by the early morning they can be 3 psi less. So check pressures first thing in the morning.

 

I want to thank each one of you for you words on tire wear and traction. I learned somethings I did't know. My background is motorcycles, so this is a new learning experince.