Defeating tire camber wear question ?

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Set up:
2000 S with tire width 255 on rear and 225 on front. Kumho Ecsta 4X.
Camber of wheels causes the inside tread of the tire to wear faster than the outside tread. Tire have Outside and Inside on the sidewalls.

Action:
I want to flip these tires to make the Inside outside and the Outside inside to even the wear and extend the useful tread life.

Question:
Can I do this and expect adequate tire performance ?

[JayG]

No. The tire was designed to run a specific way

How much camber do you have?

[911monty]

You may be interested reading the Tire Rack test attached.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=188

[husker boxster]

Just swapping the tires from left to right and vice-versa is what the article is talking about, effectively turning the pattern backwards. But I think Red is suggesting remounting the tires from left to right, which would keep the direction the same. I don't think there should be a problem doing what Red is suggesting. I had a set of Cont DWs (lower S) on my 07 CS and the fronts cupped. The Porsche dealer remounted and swapped them from side to side.

Do you track you Boxster? If not, you must have a funky alignment. I wore the outsides of my PSSs on my CSS, but that was due to 12 DE days. I may go to a track alignment during the summer and a normal alignment during the winter to help the next set of tires I buy in the spring. I was getting ready to do what Red is suggesting with the current fronts, but went 1 too many DEs and chunked the side of my left tire. I currently have my snows on, so don't freak out.

[911monty]

[QUOTE=husker boxster;477183]Just swapping the tires from left to right and vice-versa is what the article is talking about, effectively turning the pattern backwards. But I think Red is suggesting remounting the tires from left to right, which would keep the direction the same. I don't think there should be a problem doing what Red is suggesting.

You're correct. My intention was to give him some information so he can make a decision himself, as I would Never recommend to someone going against the tire manufacturer recommendation. Especially in print! That makes JayG's the only "correct" answer.
That said the OP has asymmetric tires which are non directional. They do have different tread/shoulder compounds inside and outside for specific noise/handling requirements. Is the tire life worth the handling difference? That'll be the OP's decision.

[thstone]

Jay is correct.

Since the tires are asymmetric, the side of the tire marked Outside should remain on the outer side of the wheel as recommended by the manufacturer.

With that being said, you can have the car aligned with the camber set to the minimum which will reduce the wear on the inside portion of the tread. However, the increase in tire wear will come with a reduction in cornering performance.

[Paul]

The culprit can be the rear toe setting.

[j.fro]

Originally Posted by Paul

The culprit can be the rear toe setting.

+1 on checking the toe. Stock suspensions have enough neg camber to be effective, but not enough to kill tires. Toe is usually the culprit.

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Yes I am suggesting like Husker Boxster is interpreting.

Keeping the tire rolling in the same direction just changing sides by dismount/remount inside to outside.

I don't track the car and the alignment is within spec. Has anyone tried this technique to determine if it feasible and to find out how much traction is actually lost ?

[911monty]

Due to Liability issues it is doubtful you will find a tire shop that will knowingly do this for you.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Idaho Red Rocket 3

Has anyone tried this technique to determine if it feasible and to find out how much traction is actually lost ?

Yes, others have done this - but not with an asymmetric tire. The handling characteristics of the swapped around tires would be unknown but certainly will not improve. Will you crash and die? Probably not, but a poorly handling car in winter conditions isn't something that most owners would choose.

[Topless]

Have an alignment done for $120 and it will probably solve the problem. Too much toe causes tire scrub and inside tire wear.

[mikefocke]

The right tire shop with the right equipment and a person knowledgeable in setting Porsches up for the track is your friend.

Alignment specs are fairly wide ranging, a good guy can set the alignment to favor street driving with minimal uneven wear and still be within spec. The bozo will just set within spec and may be on the other end of allowable tolerances. The race guy knows the impact of the various edges of the various setting.

Made a huge difference to me. Went from cupping and wearing to even wear even after enough years and varied conditions that I finally ditched the tires due to age.

[Paul]

Same here, our local race shop set my cars up on the street side of the specs and tire wear went in half. Handles fine.