Pirelli P Zeros developing cracks

[johnnydog]

Recently noticed that all four original Pirelli P Zeros on my RS4 are developing small cracks on the shoulder area around the whole circumference, and in the outer edge of the tread grooves. They are very small cracks, but there are plenty of them. The car was built around Oct 2014 and registered at the end of Jan 2015. The tyres are dated 3114 (fronts) and 3814 (rears). The car has done just about 5,500 miles of normal road driving. I have never rated Pirellis on the RS4, preferring Michelins any day, but surely this shouldn't be happening in such a short space of time? Anyone else experienced similar issues, was a complaint made and what was the outcome, if any?

[Noyjatat]

Only had this happen once and reckon it was down to non PH neutral products when dressing the cars tyres. I ended up changing to a different cleaner who uses Auto Glym and not had a repeat since. That being said it wasn't on Pirellis that I had the problem, it was with PSS's.

[1199Panigale]

Does it look anything like this? I had my front 2 Dunlop Sportmaxx GT come apart like this after apps 15k miles

[Noyjatat]

1199panigale have you lowered the car buddy and if so did you fit adjustable upper arms when you did?

This is a good example of what happens on a lot of cars that have been lowered without also replacing the upper arms with adjustables. Lowered the cars run on the inside edge of the tyre more and you can be through to chord while the rest of the tyre still has 4 mm on it.

[johnnydog]

No, nothing like the photo which I agree looks like the tyres are wearing unnecessarily on the inner edge.
The cracks on mine are very tiny hairline cracks, approx 2mm long, but there's a lot of them, a bit like crazing if that makes sense. The actual tyre wear is quite even with no particular wear on any area.
As regards the tyre dressing, I have used Armorall Tire Foam, not sprayed directly onto the tyre wall, but onto a cloth and then applied to the tyre wall. I have used this on my daily cars, and a couple of classic cars I own, none of which have suffered this cracking so, personally, I don't think it's down to the type of tyre dressing I use.
Maybe as other topics have suggested, crap tyres from Pirelli unfortunately.

[Noyjatat]

No worries buddy. As a matter of interest which version of the Pirelli P Zero do you have fitted?

[johnnydog]

They are 265/30 ZR 20 94Y, and are the correct R01 fitment on standard rotors.

[Noyjatat]

I meant which of the four types of p zero buddy.

p zero, p zero corsa, p zero nero, p zero rosso

[johnnydog]

Sorry, I didn't realise there were that number if Pirelli types! just had a quick peek (in the snow....) and they are plain P Zeros....

[Noyjatat]

Cheers dude. Good info to have.

[1199Panigale]

Noyjatat, car is completely standard MY13 B8 RS4, I purchased it new and have not made any suspension adjustments. The tyre Shop are trying to tell me that the tyres have been under inflated but my local Audi agent has advised that the type pressure monitoring system will alert when a change of 2psi occurs. This pic is the drivers front tyre which was worse with appx 2/3 split as shown. The passenger front was only about 10% split. The tyres still had a few mm of tread left so I was not planning on changing them yet but had no option once I put it up on the hoist and saw how bad they were.

[1199Panigale]

Noyjatat, car is completely standard MY13 B8 RS4, I purchased it new and have not made any suspension adjustments. The tyre Shop are trying to tell me that the tyres have been under inflated but my local Audi agent has advised that the type pressure monitoring system will alert when a change of 2psi occurs. This pic is the drivers front tyre which was worse with appx 2/3 split as shown. The passenger front was only about 10% split. The tyres still had a few mm of tread left so I was not planning on changing them yet but had no option once I put it up on the hoist and saw how bad they were.

[RS_Four]

Does it look anything like this? I had my front 2 Dunlop Sportmaxx GT come apart like this after apps 15k miles

image.jpeg

+1 ... The Dunlops that came off mine were downright dangerous on the inner edges. Hoping a full 4 wheel alignment will fix. Find out when I take winter tyres off in the spring.

[johnnydog]

I have a tyre fitter friend, who always advised me to stay away from Dunlops as they had a tendency to crack along the tread grooves. My wife's car had Dunlops on, and my daily car had Goodyears F1 Assymetrics on, which initially were good. Unfortunately both the Dunlops and the Goodyears developed the cracks along the tread grooves. Not surprised however, as Dunlop and Goodyear are part of the same company so probably use the same recipe.
Had the Michelin Pilot Sports on my B7, and they were a brilliant tyre, so when the time comes with my B8 - off with the Pirellis and Michelins it is.....without question.

[Rallyz]

my local Audi agent has advised that the type pressure monitoring system will alert when a change of 2psi occurs.

In my experience it's nowhere near that sensitive.

The only time it triggered for me was when I put new tyres on and forgot about resetting it in on the dash. Even then it didn't pick it up for about 30 miles.