QUOTE(George @ VPTUNING @ Aug 23 2005, 08:43 AM)
Both! I imagine the characteristics of the rubber in the tire were permanently altered from low temps.
I had a customer who had the same tires on his 2000 S40 and suffered a tire failure on the highway going 80+ miles per hour. The tire disintegrated at the sidewall. He was left with a half inch strip of rubber on the wheel. You know how you can see truck tires on the highway? That's what happened to him. I contributed it to a poor tire size selection given the max load weight for the tire. But when I unmounted my 451's, I then saw the cracks in the sidewall. The cracks were not visible when they were mounted.
This is definately something that should be inspected for.
tire failure like what you described will be from running the tire when it is flat. When ANY tire is run flat the side walls will start to heat up and disinergrate. Modern tires are contructed with radial tire plys to prevent what happened in the good ole days when there were inner tubes in the tires. Tire plys give the tire more strength and durability.
These complaints of premature tire failure, eneven tread wear, or even fast tread wear is all dependant on alot of variables.
Tire failure, ie blow out stems from low tire pressure then driving on the tire with low pressure = shredded tires.
Uneven wear goes back to tire pressure and/or alignment issuesand/or suspension issues
Fast tread wear maybe a combination of tire pressure, alignment, driving style, and suspension components being worn out.
With treadwear at 280 theoretically you should get 20-25k out of them.
I'm not a falken dealer but i do sell alot of tires and i seen my fair share of "PROBLEMS" but usually not due to tire failure. Actually only got 4 nitto neogen's back for warranty for out of round when they first came out and 2 Nangkang NSII 245/35/20 size.
Rule of thumb, if you feel your problem is a true problem. Call the manufacture! I called Falken about a tire that was not bought from me and the gave me a RA and i got credit for a new tire! The nangkangs did have a factory defect in them and they gave me two new tires! same with the nittos. I'd never know if i didn't ask either!!!! Instead of saying that the tires are horrible(personally i'd do the smae) check with the tire MANUFACTURE not the retailer about any know issues. there could have been a batch of bad tires out there. FYI tires have date/production codes on them, that's how they can "pro-rate" you tire for wear and stuff like that!
