[ds968]

I recall reading that the tread wear number on any given tire is not a standard measure observed and applied universally by all manufacturers using the exact same criteria, but rather a number which each manufacturer applies to its tires based on their own guidelines, and only very loosely comparable to other mfgs ratings. Consequently one cannot categorically state that a Yokohama 300 tread wear tire will last longer than a Michelin 200 tread wear tire, all else being equal ( same car, same driving conditions, etc.. )



Nonetheless, I suppose logically, no matter how loose the giudelines each mfg uses may be, a tire with a 700 treadwear is likely to outlast a 300 tread wear tire by a significant margin...again, all else being equal.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



I had my SUV's tires rotated and balanced today and upon measuring the remaining tread depth I was told they have about 50% life left.. to date, I have 35,000 miles on them. ( btw, the tread wear number is 500 )



On my MBZ, the tires tread wear number is even higher : 740 <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> , and the tire shop claimed I should expect to get 100,000 miles off those tires. What ?! Seriously ?! Remember, this is a shop in the business of selling tires, so I'd think that would be the last thing they would reveal to anyone <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



While at the shop waiting for the work I checked out a bunch of tires on display and noticed most were between the 500 to 750 tread wear figures, including a Pirelli P 4 which was 760 ! So is this the new norm ? The Michelin PS2 I have on the 968 are just 220 ! I get the fact that uncompromised handling and grip is the key reason for that low tread, so I can't expect a 700+ tire to stick and corner anyway near what a 200 tire does, but the differences seem so huge, it's bizarre.



What are your guys' thoughts on these numbers and their real significance ?

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[chudson]

Start here



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/t...?techid=48

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[aslet]

Overall they are fairly close and comparable. The times that the companys might be creative with their numbers are on performance low tread wear tires, when they need to have a certain treadwear minimum to stay in the class. So if you need a minimum of at least 140 treadwear, they might really be 120, but say 140 so they can stay in that class.



Overall not anything to worry about. Trust the treawear rating they give. Then again I would never buy a tire with 700 treadwear (I want performance) or a tire I could do 70000 miles on. They would dry rot before I got that many miles <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Most people do want a tire that will last that long and don't want or know about performance, so lots of regular consumer tires have treadwear that high (mine are 200). Depends on your use and knowledge...

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[ds968]

Agreed a far as the 968 is concerned; I do not care about longevity, or mpg , or much else other than performance and high speed safety when it comes to this car, but as far as the rest of the vehicles are concerned, it seems reasonable to go for the highest tread number you can get if you want to get the optimum ROI from your tires <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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