Tire Wear Out Because of Roundabouts?

[airstreamingypsy]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

[Bogie Shooter]

Slow down…..

[Aces4]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

No, but that analogy helps sell tires.:crap2:

[BrianL99]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/worn-front-tires-314403/index3.html

Troublesome Roundabout Tyre Wear in Milton Keynes Mobile Tyre Fitting (https://www.hometyre.co.uk/mobile-tyre-fitting/milton-keynes/blog/troublesome-roundabout-tyre-wear-in-milton-keynes/#:~:text=As%20the%20centre%20of%20mass,and%20wears %20down%20slightly%20less)!

[Keefelane66]

I rotate tires every 5,000 miles my last set rated for 60,000 miles, changed at 75,000 my son now has the car with 125,000 tires/tread still good

[MSchad]

Slow down…..
Totally agree along with alignment and tire rotation. Have over 40k on tires on two cars with 80% miles in the villages. Still have plenty of tread.

[airstreamingypsy]

Me again, the OP..... According to Google.... seems the Michelin Premiere LTX is the worst tire ever for wearing out prematurely. I'll take them back where I bought them and see if they will prorate the price toward new tires.

[villagetinker]

Me again, the OP..... According to Google.... seems the Michelin Premiere LTX is the worst tire ever for wearing out prematurely. I'll take them back where I bought them and see if they will prorate the price toward new tires.

I use Tire Rack for info on tires, wear, noise, traction, etc. they have never failed on their ratings. So when to get your rebate for the early failure of these tires, I would go to Wildwood Tire and ask them to install the tires you have chosen, unless they have a better recommendation. Our family has been using them since 2013, and are very pleased with their service.

[airstreamingypsy]

I use Tire Rack for info on tires, wear, noise, traction, etc. they have never failed on their ratings. So when to get your rebate for the early failure of these tires, I would go to Wildwood Tire and ask them to install the tires you have chosen, unless they have a better recommendation. Our family has been using them since 2013, and are very pleased with their service.

I bought the tires at Wildwood Tire. I like them too.

[dadspet]

Just had to replace tires on my 2019 Acura at 30,000/3yrs. Very disappointed. I only go around the circles counter clockwise so perhaps that's the problem. Replaced them with tires that have a much longer tread wear claim. I'll reply back in 4 to 5 yrs and let you know how it goes. In the mean time I'll be looking for circles to go around clockwise to balance the wear better > Don't blow your horn at me if you see me >:pray:I'm very sensitive.

[Two Bills]

Just had to replace tires on my 2019 Acura at 30,000/3yrs. Very disappointed. I only go around the circles counter clockwise so perhaps that's the problem. Replaced them with tires that have a much longer tread wear claim. I'll reply back in 4 to 5 yrs and let you know how it goes. In the mean time I'll be looking for circles to go around clockwise to balance the wear better > Don't blow your horn at me if you see me >:pray:I'm very sensitive.

Bring car to UK for a few months a year.
Not only good for your tires, but you will learn how to navigate roundabouts correctly, then you could hold roundabout navigation classes on TOTV! :icon_wink:

[mkjelenbaas]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?
This is a scam to sell more tires. - the Nissan dealership tried that one on me also - I rejected his theory and am still on original tires with plenty of tread left after 34,000 miles - don’t fall for it!!

[Worldseries27]

bring car to uk for a few months a year.
Not only good for your tires, but you will learn how to navigate roundabouts correctly, then you could hold roundabout navigation classes on totv! :icon_wink:
england drives on the left because their forefathers favored their right hand sword 🗡️ drawing to those they met on the road
wot! Wot!

[RICH1]

Thank you for bringing a smile to my face….. love the Roundabout analogy .. they are still laughing in the shop

[bobnyce]

Sounds like the first thing mentioned was "after she added air to my tires". Guess what, low air pressure is the worst thing for tire wear. I check my tires at least monthly and more when temperatures are changing from hot to cold and cold to hot! Try it, I am certain tires will last longer. Cannot rely on tire pressure unit in wheels.

[RICH1]

Sounds like the first thing mentioned was "after she added air to my tires". Guess what, low air pressure is the worst thing for tire wear. I check my tires at least monthly and more when temperatures are changing from hot to cold and cold to hot! Try it, I am certain tires will last longer. Cannot rely on tire pressure unit in wheels.
BOBNYCE , you are spot on ! Low tire pressure

[La lamy]

This is a scam to sell more tires. - the Nissan dealership tried that one on me also - I rejected his theory and am still on original tires with plenty of tread left after 34,000 miles - don’t fall for it!!

It's very easy to check your tire tread yourself. I'm glad you didn't get baited.

[3105boy]

Just had to replace tires on my 2019 Acura at 30,000/3yrs. Very disappointed. I only go around the circles counter clockwise so perhaps that's the problem. Replaced them with tires that have a much longer tread wear claim. I'll reply back in 4 to 5 yrs and let you know how it goes. In the mean time I'll be looking for circles to go around clockwise to balance the wear better > Don't blow your horn at me if you see me >:pray:I'm very sensitive.
Seriously, don’t you turn clockwise when entering and exiting a roundabout, thus equaling the tire wear? OP, check your alignment. Bad alignment eats tires and gas mileage.

[NoMo50]

Many factors can lead to premature tire wear, but I doubt the roundabouts played much of a role. Worn out suspension, front end alignment, wheel balance, failure to rotate, and improper inflation can all lead to early wear. A combination of those factors can multiply the wear. Have you checked the actual tread depth? What about the wear pattern? A tire worn more toward the edges as opposed to the center would indicate underinflation. A tech who knows hoe to "read" the wear pattern can tell you a lot about the underlying reasons.

[Miboater]

Also some tires have a softer rubber compound which is great for handling but terrible for wear.

[Nucky]

Slow down…..

What does it yellow light mean? Jim Ignatowski, Taxi!. Slooow Doown.

[Dkryan]

Tire wear on front tires is usually due to inflation issues. More flex and scrubbing with lower pressures. I have not had the wear issues since I learned the hard way.

[JWGifford]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?
Having owned several European sedans, I have an opinion based on my experience. The tires that Mercedes, BMW, etc. recommend for their vehicles are very “soft” tires that tend to wear out quicker than tires on other vehicles (such as an SUV). The tires are quiet, perform well, etc. but they dont seem to last very long or at least as long as I think they should. They also seem to be more expensive.

[Berwin]

Tell 'em you want a NASCAR service. Gas and right-side tires.

[BlueHeronFan]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

I lived and drove in West Virginia and the Pittsburgh areas with the constant curves and up and down hills. It absolutely factors in early tire and brake wear.
It's important to always check tire inflation. Low pressure wears the tires out faster.

[Bridget Staunton]

You should check your tires yourself to verify. Take a penny and if Lincoln’s head is visible there good

[airstreamingypsy]

Sounds like the first thing mentioned was "after she added air to my tires". Guess what, low air pressure is the worst thing for tire wear. I check my tires at least monthly and more when temperatures are changing from hot to cold and cold to hot! Try it, I am certain tires will last longer. Cannot rely on tire pressure unit in wheels.

I have a tire warning system, I suspect they were low because of the freezing weather, I don't usually run them low.

[Bay Kid]

My daughter wore out her rear tires 1st on her X7 BMW. I wonder why!

[VApeople]

Does this make any sense to anybody?

No, it makes no sense that a guy goes to an auto mechanic just to have air put into his tires.

[Larchap49]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

Yes roundabouts wear tires as do any corners. But if your low tire light came on it means you were driving on under inflated tires for awhile, also you have put about 25000 miles on your car sooooo those tires should have been rotated at least 4 times. Your problem is caused by lack of due diligence on your part. Check the air pressure monthly rotate every 6000 and your tire will last longer and wear evenly. Also don't forget to have the alignment checked. Happy motoring

[Larchap49]

I rotate tires every 5,000 miles my last set rated for 60,000 miles, changed at 75,000 my son now has the car with 125,000 tires/tread still good

Tread may be good but I'll bet they are past their expiration date, have dry rot and the rubber has hardened so they are very slippery in wet weather. It is time for him to replace the tires for his and his passengers safety.

[RiderOnTheStorm]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?


Do you verify that the tires were indeed worn to the extent Sumter Tire indicated?

[Larchap49]

Me again, the OP..... According to Google.... seems the Michelin Premiere LTX is the worst tire ever for wearing out prematurely. I'll take them back where I bought them and see if they will prorate the price toward new tires.

You stated it's front tire wear only, you drove them under inflated as the wear will indicate, and you didn't rotate. Not a tire defect and owner maintenance defect

[Sgt Ed]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody? I doubt the roundabouts are the reason for accelerated wear. Many years in the auto repair industry leads me to this statement. Check tire pressure, low press is most likely the guilty culpret. Next check the alinement.If worn on either side there is a problem. Maybe slow down. Doubt that is a problem in an ML. BTW, I would carry 5lbs more air than recommended. They recommend a bit lower to improve the ride quality Rotation, ALL the does is make you replace all the tires at once. If a tire wears abnormally fix the problem,dont put another tire on there to do the same.

[ron32162]

These Michelin XLT tires are known for wearing out because of the materials used to make these tires and have many complaints. Not because of roundabouts.

[ThirdOfFive]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?
Yes, roundabouts, which here anyway are all counterclockwise, can put uneven wear on tires (one side will be worn down more than the other--something you can easily check yourself) but the higher the speed in a roundabout the more stress you put on that side of the tire.

Agree with many of the other posts: regular rotation (5,000 mile interval) and proper air in the tires will help them wear evenly.

We've had our Rav4 serviced by Sumter Tire and Auto since we moved here. Honest folks who have NEVER tried to sell us something we don't need.

[HRDave]

Sounds like you need a front end alignment. Were the tires worn more on the inside? That would require a camber adjustment. Fairly common as the suspension bushings begin to age.

[MandoMan]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

I take roundabouts at about 20 mph, and I use a lot of them. Yes, that will definitely cause a lot more tire wear than driving on good straight roads. On the other hand, potholes are rare in The Villages, compared to roads outside The Villages, so that helps a bit. I lived for decades in the mountains of Pennsylvania, and driving on twisty mountain roads was very hard on front tires. Rotating them helped. An SUV tends to be top heavy and have a lot of lean, so roundabouts will have even more of an effect on your tire wear.

[Number 10 GI]

You state that your vehicle has 120,000 miles on it, how many times have you had an alignment done on it? I don't buy the idea that occasional driving through round abouts would cause that much wear. You should have a recommended service schedule in your owners manual, have you read it and followed the recommendations? With proper mechanical maintenance most modern cars can last as much as 300,000 miles, some brands even more.

[lcarullo]

I bought a new Lincoln MKX with the same Michelin Premier tires. I only got 24000 miles on them before I had to replace the entire set. We are only here in The Villages 5-6 months/yr. so while round abouts don’t help it’s not the total problem. I then replaced them with Michelin Latitude and they were still on the car when I traded it in with 65K.

[Daxdog]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?


Cold weather makes air contract, lowers pressure.

[Road Apple]

Contact a Mercedes dealer. They will tell you that 16-20,000 miles is expected on Mercedes tires. I was shocked to learn that. That’s for runflats. With regular tires, you’ll need a spare. Does your model have room for a spare?
That said, a Jeep dealer noticed the front tire wear on my wife’s Cherokee. Said it’s from TV roundabouts.
Who to believe??

[vintageogauge]

This is a scam to sell more tires. - the Nissan dealership tried that one on me also - I rejected his theory and am still on original tires with plenty of tread left after 34,000 miles - don’t fall for it!!

The theory may be wrong but how can it be a scam to sell more tires, his tires were worn and that's why he needs new ones and is going to the Michelin dealer after reading that they wear prematurely. There is no scam involved, the young lady was giving here thoughts as to why they wore down, she didn't wrongly state that they were worn or he wouldn't be going back to Michelin. Another thing, remaining tread doesn't mean they are safe to drive on especially in this climate. My wife's car had 41,000 miles at the 5 year mark and I got rid of them for her safety, still plenty of tread left on them.

[Worldseries27]

my daughter wore out her rear tires 1st on her x7 bmw. I wonder why!
wheelies

[PugMom]

I have a tire warning system, I suspect they were low because of the freezing weather, I don't usually run them low.

i'm curious, do you routinely rotate, like when you go for an oil change? that solved a prob i had years ago on a different car

[Professor]

Low tire pressure will accelerate tire wear, just like on your golf cart....

[kcrazorbackfan]

Just when you think you’ve heard it all…..

[maistocars]

JMO, but you may want to get a better-rated/constructed tire. That tire starts at 8.5/32 tread depth, which is one of the lowest I've seen. I just bought tires that had an 11/32 tread. You need to replace tires at 3/32. While 14k miles driven is not a lot, if the tire is not aq good tire, that number of miles will wear the tire down to 3 or 4/32 pretty quick.

[Fastskiguy]

Also some tires have a softer rubber compound which is great for handling but terrible for wear.

I was going to suggest this also, sticky high performance tires for your high performance suv. Unfortunately they don't last long and cost a fortune.

Why? Because racecar!!

Joe

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Many factors can lead to premature tire wear: failure to rotate

Really? So if you rotate your tires they don't wear out? Must be magic!
I never rotated tires on cars owned between 1980 and 2020, 40 years. . .
and I did 20K + miles per year. . .

The only result from rotation is even wear between front and back. . .
If you don't rotate, you don't buy 4 tires at once. . .

There is a wear ratio between front and back. . they wear out at different rates. you can't change that factor.
CoachK's all wheel drive got hit by lightning while parked in a tstorm. Blew out the sensors to keep the front and back tires rotating at the same RPMs. . . rear wheels wore out significantly faster, like 2x and got 35K on a 60K tire. . also Michelin LTX.

Front wheel drive cars also have about a 3x wear factor on the front than the back. . . If you don't rotate, the rear tires easily get 1.5 x the rated mileage life for just getting towed along.

[Nucky]

What a beautiful story. You have to be kidding. If the sidewall’s were goofed up because of the brutal heat of the summer that would be believable but roundabouts wearing tires down that quickly, that’s the leading joke of 2023 so far.

[JMintzer]

Really? So if you rotate your tires they don't wear out? Must be magic!
I never rotated tires on cars owned between 1980 and 2020, 40 years. . .
and I did 20K + miles per year. . .

The only result from rotation is even wear between front and back. . .
If you don't rotate, you don't buy 4 tires at once. . .

There is a wear ratio between front and back. . they wear out at different rates. you can't change that factor.
CoachK's all wheel drive got hit by lightning while parked in a tstorm. Blew out the sensors to keep the front and back tires rotating at the same RPMs. . . rear wheels wore out significantly faster, like 2x and got 35K on a 60K tire. . also Michelin LTX.

Front wheel drive cars also have about a 3x wear factor on the front than the back. . . If you don't rotate, the rear tires easily get 1.5 x the rated mileage life for just getting towed along.

You ignored the word "premature" the the poster you responded to mentioned tire rotation...

[Chamo]

All I can say is rotate your tires every oil change. Keep the tire pressure where it is supposed to be. Florida roads get very hot it does heat up the rubber on the tires quicker and they don’t make tires last like they used to. But don’t fall for their scams about needing new tires so quickly

[bark4me]

You're front tires do all the turning thus causing more wear on the outer edges. You clearly need to slow down while going through the RABs or take the roads without the RABs

[Notsocrates]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

It's the pressure.
Wear at inside and edges = too low
Wear at the center = too high

(Wear at the outside edges mostly = squealung around those roundabouts at 50 mph.)

[Buckeye 1945]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?
Abnormal tire wear is usually caused by alignment issues, tire balance or tire inflation issues, and unless you are going into the roundabouts at 60mph normal roundabout use will not result in abnormal tire wear. Someone wants to sell you tires!!!!

[NoMo50]

Really? So if you rotate your tires they don't wear out? Must be magic!

Never said that, obviously. And you ignore the word "premature." Tire rotation was mentioned as one of many factors that can lead to premature front tire wear. If you elect to not rotate your tires, that is fine with me. But, rest assured that doing so will guarantee that your front tires wear out much sooner than the rears. Rotation is simply a means of distributing the wear, and helping all four tires to wear more evenly.

On my Ford F-150, I replaced the Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT tires at 55,000 miles. Those tires were "rated" for 50,000 miles. They were not completely worn out, but it was time for a change. I religiously rotated those tires every 5,000 miles...each time the vehicle went in for an oil change.

You should also remember that most, if not all, tire manufacturers require tires to be rotated at specified intervals (usually every 5,000 miles or so), or the tire warranty is voided. Also, all vehicle manufacturers recommend tire rotation as part of regular service. Again, certain warranty claims can be negated by failing to follow basic service requirements.

In my opinion, failing to rotate vehicle tires on a regular basis is unwise and potentially unsafe. Then again, I am often amused at the antics of the "hold my beer and watch this" crowd!

[MrFlorida]

Soft rubber compounds are great for handling, but wear quickly. Low tire pressure also plays a factor. Your car probably has both.

[Karmanng]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

Never heard such a thing I have them here in Az roundabouts

[jmsturm]

First thought. Front end alignment needs to be checked.

[Gatorgreen]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

I had a similar type of tire wear on a chevy pickup. Cause was pulling into a parking space with the tires turned hard right or left and bumping into the cement curbing which knocked the alignment out causing excessive tire wear.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Sounds like a sales pitch to me. If this was a problem, I think that it would have been discussed on this forum multiple times. I've never heard anyone mention it in the almost eleven years that I've been here.

Many years ago up north I brought my car in for an oil change. The guy writing out the bill told me that my tires needed to be replaced. I told him that they only had about 20,000 on them and he said that that was all they were supposed to be good for. I found my paperwork and found that they had a 40,000 mile guarantee. The guy then tells me that they won't pass inspection. (All cars must have a yearly safety inspection in Massachusetts). I paid for the oil change and left.
Several months later the car passed the inspection. I asked the inspector how the tires are and he said they were fine with plenty of life left.

It's not just tire business. There are unscrupulous people in every business.

[LarryD]

I have not had any issue with our cars tire wear. Tire pressure, regular rotation (about 5,00 mi.) and alignment checks make a huge difference.

[lawgolfer]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?
The Mercedes ML is a heavy vehicle, 6400 + pounds, with a high percentage of that weight in the front. It was available as both 2 wheel and all-wheel drive. If yours is a 2 wheel drive, the front tires will wear faster when compared to the all-wheel model.

Regular balancing, rotation, and the occasional check of the alignment are essential to getting good milage out of a set of tires. At 100K miles, your shock absorbers and bushings may need replacing, certainly the shocks. Proper inflation is essential and having low pressure in the front tires is certain to result in premature wear and an early replacement.

Finally, the Michelin Premier LTX has some unusual features. It was designed to provide a comfortable ride with good performance in the rain and short stopping distances, all while providing 60K mile of service. These things are difficult to combine in a single tire and it is likely that strict adherence to proper inflation, rotation etc is more important than with more ordinary designs.

Finally, the Premier LTX has an unusual and interesting feature in its tread design. As the tire wears, the primary grooves become wider and additional grooves open up. In this manner, the LTX maintains its performance in the rain and in stopping distance instead of suffering lesser performance. In fact, verified tests have shown that the LTX's performance is better as it wears and these additional grooves open. Thus, there is at least a chance, though unlikely, that the person who inspected your tires did not know the features of the LTX and misinterpreted what she observed as excessive wear.

Most likely, the tires did wear prematurely due to improper inflation, lack of rotation etc. The good news is that the LTX has a 60K mileage guarantee and you should get some help when buying new tires.

[Decadeofdave]

There is a wear rating code associated with each tire. They are just like the speed rating code letter. You can pick out high mileage tires on line - and then shop locally.

[jimmy o]

I have a 2009 Mercedes ML SUV. When it had 105,000 miles on it I bought it new Michelin Premiere LTX tires. Not run flats, regular tires. It now has 129,000 miles on it. Yesterday I stopped at Sumter tire, because I had a low tire warning signal. A nice lady there aired up all my tires, then shocked me by saying the front tires were worn down to something that told her I needed new tires. I said there's hardly any miles on these tires, then she asked if I go around the roundabouts a lot. My other car, for years is an F-350 crew cab 4x4..... it gets new Michelins around every 100,000 miles. Needing new tires in 24,000 miles makes no sense to me, and if the roundabouts cause it, what about the back tires, they go around them too. Does this make any sense to anybody?

You said she needed to add air to your tires. There is the real problem, low air equals need to buy tires early. I know we don’t want to, but tires should be checked and inflated to correct pressure monthly. Yes monthly. We don’t want to do it but alas, that is what is procedure. I’m pretty good at checking them, but sometimes I let it slip too. It’s amazing after just 6 or 7weeks my tires can be as much as 5 lbs low. In practice I usually add 1 or 2 lbs every month or two depending on weather. Amount of miles driven seems to have little to do with it..