Poor tire wear

I have a set of Sumitomo HTR H4 tires on my 2003 Elantra. The tire is rated
at 60k, but I only have about 33k on them and they're almost gone. I expect
to replace them around 38k. The car came with Michelins which were rated at
50k and I actually got 45k+ from them before getting the HTR H4's. I'm
wondering why the Sumi's are doing so poorly? I've had them rotated every
5k. Alignment seems fine - no pulling when driving and no feathering on the
tread. The tires are wearing pretty evenly except for the center having a
little more tread then the outside (probably due to periods of
under-inflation). Fortunately they will be prorated when I replace them so
I will recover some of the investment, but I'm wondering if I should be
looking at a different tire/brand? Any thoughts?

 

I can report EXACTLY the same thing on my son's '02 Elantra.

First of all, I have to assume you got your Sumi's from Sears. I haven't
figured this out yet, but on the Sumi web site, the HTR H4 is considered a
50,000-mile tire. Yet Sears sells it as a 60,000-mile tire. Either way,
like yours, his tires are shot at 31,000 miles.

But you know, I may get him another set anyway. Overall. except for the
mileage thing, these have been REALLY good tires for his car. They have
been quiet, handled well, gotten through a horrible Milwaukee winter
(actually two) without a hiccup. And his stopping distances were cut
significantly compared to his previous tires.

Regarding the mileage problem, my Sears Auto Center has already agreed to
give a credit of the exact percentage of tread left (just under 50%) of the
purchase price for these tires. I am going to wait until the next time
Sears has a "Buy 3, Get 1 Free" deal, and the salesman has indicated that
any credit goes on top of any sale.

Now I will have to re-buy road hazard and that. But for the performance of
these tires, and the price, I thought the reduced mileage was worth it. If
that is the tire's only weakness (and it seems to be), I can live with that.

 

I can report EXACTLY the same thing on my son's '02 Elantra.

Thanks for confirming that mine is not an isolated case. Yes, I did get the
tires from Sears. I would agree that in all other respects they've been
great. I need to find out how much credit I'll get when they prorate the
tires. I haven't started looking yet and wonder if there are any other good
choices in the same price range ( ? )

 

If you like Sears Auto (I do, at least the ones I have had to deal with),
you might wait until they put their Bridgestone tires on a, "Buy 3, Get 1
free deal.

Bridgestone has just introduced a "Sears only" tire, the HP550. It is a
massive update of the HP50, which was an okay tire, but nothing special.

This new tire looks to be a seriously good tire. Treadwear and wet traction
have been extensively upgraded. And first reports indicate a nice, quiet,
smooth yet very responsive tire with even better stopping distances.

Many of the Sears Autos also have the Falken Ziex ZE-912. That is an
massive upgrade of the old 512. I never had the time of day for the 512,
nor did the local Sears tire specialists, even though Consumer Reports loved
it.

But the 912 does look to be a much better tire. My only concern there would
be Winter traction (if that is a concern). You won't ever find that at a
"buy 3, get 1 free, since it is already a value-priced tire. But there are
still sales on it, and it is always priced pretty competitively anyway.

Between those two and the Sumitomos, you have three tires at good prices,
especially if you can pick one, then wait for the right sale.


that mine is not an isolated case. Yes, I did get the tires from Sears. I
would agree that in all other respects they've been great. I need to find
out how much credit I'll get when they prorate the tires. I haven't started
looking yet and wonder if there are any other good choices in the same price
range ( ? )

 

Not an Elantra drive, but I did put two sets on the Ziex 512 on one of m
1992 Tauruses. The handling and traction were absolutely excellent. Th
treadwear, on the other hand, was mediocre at best. I'm currently runnin
Toyo Proxes on that car, and it's a small drop in handling/traction fo
about a 30% gain in tread life

 

The two biggest complaints on the 512 are treadwear (as you said), and wet
traction. Sears here almost stopped carrying them because of so many almost
scary complaints from people in wet conditions.

And none of those Falkens are ever going to be much in snow. But at least
the 912 has solved the wet traction problem. We will need more time to see
about treadwear.