9-3 Aero 2.8 Turbo SportWagon front tyre wear

[new scot]

Anyone had experience of typical front tyre wear? Bought mine as ex-demo with 3000 miles and now, at 9000, the fronts are looking like Kojak's head. The OE tyres are Pirelli P Zero 225/45 x 18. Would welcome advice about other brands too.

Also finding fuel cons of 22 mpg a bit steep, meaning effective range is under 275 miles.

[TUS 373]

My 9-3 Aero is equipped with Michelin Pilots. Previous owner did tell me that it had an insatiable appetite for fron tyres so a 2.8 is only going to even more so.

Ran my 9-5 on Toyos because they are what are on my Tuscan and they have gone on seemingly for ever. Great all round tyre. I would be tempted by the Goodyear Eagles F1s now though.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I wouldn't have thought 9k was excessive on a powerful fwd car, especially if you have a heavy right foot and they are a soft compound...

Try a search on saabcentral / saabscene to see if anybody else has had similar problems....

[__LEE__]

NiceCupOfTea said:

I wouldn't have thought 9k was excessive on a powerful fwd car, especially if you have a heavy right foot and they are a soft compound... Try a search on saabcentral / saabscene to see if anybody else has had similar problems....

I have heard Saab's doing this and I can understand why it eats tyres with the cars grunt.

I once managed to ruin a set of tyres on my old Civic Type R after 6.5K through excessive abuse!

[968csreading]

I have the same size of tyres on my MG ZT and have used various different tyres over the 3yrs I have had the car (inc Bridgestone Potenza, Continental, Dunlop & Pilots).

Goes without saying but stay away from Cheap brands. I have had scary experiences with Khumos on the rear (oversteer in the wet) and I have NangKangs on the front at the moment and it is like driving on ice in the wet. Silly me, trying to save on a few squid.

[rikroblou]

best tyre out there has got to be goodyear eagle f1s gsd3 have had them on all my m3/5s but , i dont use them on my saab 9000 2.3 turbo because it will tear any tire to bits so its always them federals (cheap)
these saabs have always been bad (powerful ones that is)
so unless you want to drive around like a nun you will unfortunatly have to put up with it !

[viggen114]

rikroblou said:

best tyre out there has got to be goodyear eagle f1s gsd3

seconded

I have had at most 5k miles out of all the others makes and at that rate of wear I have tried a few.

[Saabyfox]

Obvious answer is to check the tyrewear rating- P Zero Rossos only have a rating of 220. Which is poor in anyones books.
Even the notoriously soft Bridgestone S03 had a rating of 280.

Have you definately got the correct weight rating as well? Should be 94 at least.
Powerful front wheel drive cars are never going to be easy on tyres.
Have had much better wear rates from Continental tyres on 9-5s than other brands. Also had Yoko s306's recommended recently as lasting well without sacrificing grip.

[new scot]

Thanks all. Circumstances forced the event, so had to go with what the local dealer could get, which was a pair of Continentals. Will see how they go.

Only other gripe is the SatNav with slow-witted character entry, & doesn't have a "postcode" option. Dealer (County in Ayr) says this is only available on the 9-5 Satnav - can anyone confirm this?

[900T-R]

rikroblou said:

best tyre out there has got to be goodyear eagle f1s gsd3 have had them on all my m3/5s but , i dont use them on my saab 9000 2.3 turbo because it will tear any tire to bits so its always them federals (cheap) these saabs have always been bad (powerful ones that is) so unless you want to drive around like a nun you will unfortunatly have to put up with it !

Must be a question of correct set up for the use, surely (although in fairness 9000s and 9-5s are a fair bit heavier than my pared-down c900 and thus will be a lot harder on tyres because of that alone). My Toyo Trampio R1R semi-race compound tyres have about 6,000 miles including 3 trackdays on them, my Saab has 280 bhp and shedloads of torque all over the place, I quite obviously don't drive around like a nun and I've got easily 4-5 mm left all round (from 6.7 mm when new).

[TUS 373]

As can be seen on my 9-3 Aero suspension thread, I find the ride a little harsh and there is also tyre noise. I know I am asking alot, but I am trying to make a car that handles, but at the same time is refined. After looking at various tyre reviews, I am inlcined to go for the Toyos to replace the Michelin Pilots. There is only 10p difference between the Toyos and the Goodyear Eagles F1s on www.mytyres.com , but the reviews suggest that the Toyo maybe quieter and more comfortable.

As for SatNav, I believe that there may be the facility to input postcodes for the London area if you have the 2005 onwards DVD. Rumours on saabcentral also suggest that a new SatNav system may be heading for the 9-3 range for the 2007 model year. Other than that, you are right - no postcodes I'm afraid and it is a different system to the 9-5.

[ylee coyote]

rikroblou said:

best tyre out there has got to be goodyear eagle f1s gsd3 have had them on all my m3/5s but , i dont use them on my saab 9000 2.3 turbo because it will tear any tire to bits so its always them federals (cheap) these saabs have always been bad (powerful ones that is) so unless you want to drive around like a nun you will unfortunatly have to put up with it !

bad ?
I have a "quite powerfull" 9000 and my tyres last typically 20k my current favourites are F1's and toyo tir's...
Why I guess its down to the Dreaded TCS actually doing some good altho my car will spin the wheels a little before it can catch it (up to 4 th gear )
I can say I do not drive like a nun and enjoy the power but if it starts to slip you back off...