7k miles and tires are Shot!

[stockguru]

Do you have a teenager at home taking your baby out for donuts in the parking lot?

7k is definitely not the typical wear for what others are getting based on what I've read from this forum and others.

[Boston X5 4.4]

Back to OP's question....

Something is amiss with 7K especially given that the wear is even across the tire and you are not tracking it etc. I don't remember seeing mileage that low posted here for any other summer tires. Other members probably have the same wheel/tire config. and can give you real life #'s. As a point of reference reference I got close to 20K on 19" Diamaris summers and I wasn't holding back - different mfr. but at least in the same tire class.

You should take it up with the dealer - and possibly with tire mfr. also.

[JCL]

Continuing with the OP's question....

Still wondering what the tire pressures are.

We won't know what the front alignment specs were since the shop won't release them. Too bad.

And I am not sure how the OP has Bridgestone Sport Maxx tires, since Sport Maxx are a Dunlop tire. Once we know which tires they actually are, then comparisons to tread life from other posters with the exact same tire are possible. All the tread life comparisons to all season tires don't matter, these are summer performance tires with a (relatively) soft compound. They should wear out faster, just not that fast.

[Alan Smithee]

How is the ride and handling with the Toyos in 20"? I would like to get a set of M+S non-RFTs when the 20" Dunlops wear out (perhaps sooner than later after reading this thread), but I don't want to give up any of the handling, and I like the stiff ride (call me crazy). From what I have read, the Continentals are a compromise in this regard (not to mention, near impossible to find).

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by Alan Smithee

How is the ride and handling with the Toyos in 20"? I would like to get a set of M+S non-RFTs when the 20" Dunlops wear out (perhaps sooner than later after reading this thread), but I don't want to give up any of the handling, and I like the stiff ride (call me crazy). From what I have read, the Continentals are a compromise in this regard (not to mention, near impossible to find).

are you driving on non-RFTs now Alan?

forgive me as i'm confused regarding your question. if your concern is that you will lose the handling from a RFT Dunlop by going to a Toyo then i say your worries are unfounded. any non-RFT is going to grip and ride better than a RFT tire IMO.

i can't speak for 20" Toyos. but i can tell you if you don't go with the XL (extra load) version you will have wasted your money.

i never get good mileage out of any tires i buy. that is before i put Toyo Proxes STIIs on my X5. maybe i got the fluke set Toyo puts out once every generation. damn good tires.

my wife's car uses Conti run flats summer version. got burned on a set of rears, 10K miles in seven months at close to $400. screw that, i went with non-RFTs from Conti with a 400 treadware. at half the price i might add. once the fronts wear out i will do AS tires there also.

the grip on these tires (Toyo proxes STIIs) impresses me. call me whatever JCL will, i think they are a damn fine tire for this platform.

[Alan Smithee]

Have the OEM 20" Dunlop RFTs now, and want to get M+S non-RFTs. Only options appear to be the Continental DWS and the Toyo STII in 20" (Michelin Latitudes are more expensive and poorly rated). From what I have read on this board, the Continentals have a better ride than the Dunlop RFTs, but a bit of handling is lost due to the softer sidewall with 5k curb weight. If the Toyos manage to retain the steering and handling (the reason I got a BMW SUV instead of another brand) while adding some M+S ability, I will probably go that route when the time comes. Improving the ride isn't a priority (although at almost 10lbs less per rear tire, I'm sure the Toyos will be an improvement with so much less unsprung weight).

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by Alan Smithee

Have the OEM 20" Dunlop RFTs now, and want to get M+S non-RFTs. Only options appear to be the Continental DWS and the Toyo STII in 20" (Michelin Latitudes are more expensive and poorly rated). From what I have read on this board, the Continentals have a better ride than the Dunlop RFTs, but a bit of handling is lost due to the softer sidewall with 5k curb weight. If the Toyos manage to retain the steering and handling (the reason I got a BMW SUV instead of another brand) while adding some M+S ability, I will probably go that route when the time comes. Improving the ride isn't a priority (although at almost 10lbs less per rear tire, I'm sure the Toyos will be an improvement with so much less unsprung weight).

yep, unsprung weight is nice improvement. again, you must go with the XL (extra load) version of the Toyos. probably the contributing factor for the weakness of the Contis.

can't speak for M+S as we don't get much mud or snow here. cold, deep rain in February...... sure.......... and the tire behaves magnificently.

i just stay home when it snows................. sorry.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by soldmystang

are you driving on non-RFTs now Alan?

forgive me as i'm confused regarding your question. if your concern is that you will lose the handling from a RFT Dunlop by going to a Toyo then i say your worries are unfounded. any non-RFT is going to grip and ride better than a RFT tire IMO.

Isn't grip based on how soft the compound is regardless if it's a RFT or not ? I thought this topic was covered in a previous thread awhile back--it's like beating a dead horse.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by BGM

Isn't grip based on how soft the compound is regardless if it's a RFT or not ? I thought this topic was covered in a previous thread awhile back--it's like beating a dead horse.

Yes, compound as well as tread pattern. Doesn't much matter if it is a run flat or not, as long as the tire remains in contact with the pavement. BMW claims that run flats will turn in better as well, for the same reason as people go to a low profile tire, less squirm.

[motordavid]

Meanwhile, back at the Bald Tire Ranch, we've had a few pages of which tire is great/sucks and why, but the OP has wandered off into a fugue state,
with no update. ...

I suspected as much, with the posting history...
Get the sumbitch diagnosed and fixed.