Nudge nudge! This is the UK Mazda 5 2008+ Sport front tyre wear thread. we would probably see the Demio in the mazda garage when we go to complain about the 5 but I will not even consider a new vehicle to the market.
Anyway after thinking and worrying about this and comprehending what would be necessary for mazda to do if they ever accepted these complaints. That would be a major refit (cut and welding of new redesigned top mounts and different sized struts, arms and links etc.
I think they will withdraw (quietly) the Sport 2 and 2D (say in 2011) and make the facelift of the TS2 and give it a 2 litre engine, trimming, leather, nav (rubbish) and keeping it's 16" wheels and claiming it will reduce the cost of our motoring by giving us a bigger range of more popular after market 16" tyres. And right-off 2 or 3 years worth of Mazda 5 Sports.
This is my humble opinion. Mazda have a year before I am looking for another vehicle. Unless of course this one meets an untimely and not wholely unpredictable or unexpected incident with front tyre failure. It handle so terribly now with cold temperature whether wet or dry. I'm need to wait until I see the ply exposed, as expose ply is an offence. Because the wear limit indicators are ofno use at present, plenty of normal tread. Going for the ContiSport 3 if I have say in matter for temperature rating (dunlops seem very hot summery tyres)

 

So if I just have the wheels switched to the TS2 ones, will these not have the wear problem? And have cheaper tyres too I suppose? Is switching the wheels a simple operation, or will it mess up the speedo reading, traction control, ABS,...?

Is this something I could get Mazda to do under warranty? (and give me some cash compensation, since my 17" wheels must be more expensive).

The reason I went for the Sport and not the TS2 was mainly for the traction control, and least of all for the wheels (I was frankly concerned about the cost of these sport tyres when I bought the car), so I don't mind changing them.

 

I don't think the 16" wheels fit as the sport has bigger brakes.

 

I honestly would be happy for Mazda to exchange me 16" wheels (with tyres of course) and the necessary changes to speedo, engine managment etc. and ignore the negligable gearing difference. It will solve this issue by disguising it (Mazda will like that, but until they agree there's a problem they won't do anything and they certainly will not endorse the end users to change to 16" our selves. Even though they did it without the appropriate calculations and changes to the front suspension).

 

GSX600FMAN - how many miles have you managed to get out of this front set of tyres ??

Think ours will manage 9000 maximum !!

 

my tyres and the wear is extremely bad on the fronts and the severest wear is confined to a 1cm wide band. See linked photo - note darker band of wear which is now down to the rubber layer below the tread rubber layer. Everyone else's tyre wear like this? My car has done 12.5K miles

 

I actually got an artificially high mileage because this last Dunlop pair have spent most of their life on the rear, including a 4000 mile trip around europe in July. They had worn very little, even though performance (grip) is poor. But I put these on the front recently and the inner edges are now smooth but until the ply or cord shows they will not be replaced as Mazda and my 'provider' only look at and measure the centre 3/4 of the tread pattern, which is still currently about 4mm. I know there are tread wear indicators too, but these are only great if our tyres wore nice and evenly. It currently slips all over the place now, even on straight roads if you drive over white lines and overbanding etc. Bearing in mind snowed a bit yesterday and today. I will be putting my autosock back in the car (645 for Mazda 5 sport). Just in case as I will have no grip at all in ice/snow.
If your tyre looks like picture shown, it is an offence with points and fine. Other picture is Autosock just in case you have never seen or heard of it.
http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv...N_TjfU3k2TvXzS
Because I couldn't even get out of my drive yesterday I quickly popped the socks on and it drove out and about without slipping once (max 30mph). Again I'm impressed by the autosock as with earlier this year in Feb when it snowed too then.
By the way the snow picture was from earlier this year, Feb , remember the heavy snow? Yesterdays picture would have been similar.

 

No link in the post but it sounds the same as eveyone else - 12.5k not too bad I got 8.5k out of my 1st set on the front.

GSX600FMAN Autosock looks good. I too will try and get as much life out of the tyres as possible.

Has anyone got anywhere with Watchdog ????

 

For the benefit of newer members I will start with a brief recap of my situation.
Car is a 2008 2.0D Sport. It had about 4600 miles when bought as an ex demonstrator. After a further 1000miles it was noted the front tyres were wearing on the inner treads. By the time I was able to get the alignment done at 6334 miles the inner tread had disappeared and the inner compound was showing. New front tyres were fitted at this time.
Since then I have done about another 9000miles (total about 15300) and tyre wear is completely normal. Indications are I will get about 18000 - 20000miles out of the front tyres and 25000-30000 miles out of the rear.
The alignment is critical and I recommend getting a 4 wheel alignment at a tyre specialist if not otherwise available. It has cured my problem.

The alignment data is attached on post #511 on this thread.

 

My experience is similar Rhodri's - original Dunlops as supplied with new car were wrecked at 12,000 miles. Subsequent sets of tyres, two sets Bridgestone, one set Star Performer (bought after very strong recommendation from colleague) have not demonstrated any abnormal wear, having around 18000+ miles of life on the front.

The car has had two four-wheel alignment checks after the Dunlops were found to be wrecked, I paid for one, Mazda dealer paid for the other. Both supposedly showed the alignment was correct. (the print-outs are posted somewhere within this thread)

I would strongly suggest that anyone experiencing on-going problems with the abnormal (inner edge) tyre wear tries a different brand of tyre, and has the wheel alignment checked at a specialist tyre dealer.

I'd be interested to know if Rhodri has Dunlop tyres now. (Aha, I can answer my own question having back-tracked through the thread: Rhodri now has Goodyear tyres on the front.)