Centre of tyres worn 3-1-3mm

[Daz Auto]

My car was in for a service last week. On the paper work it showed that both front tyres were 1mm in the middle and 3mm on the outside i.e. 3-1-3mm.

The garage told me that this wear pattern happens when tyres are over inflated.

The tyres were Michelin PS4 225/40/R18 which were inflated to the recommended pressure of 38 psi. It was the 20k service and the tyres had been on the car for 18k miles. The alignment of the car was checked using a Hunter 4 way laser alignment system when the tyres were new.

Every month I check the pressure using a small analogue gauge and adjust the pressures using a Michelin tyre pump. The pressure reading on both devices roughly correspond. So I don't believe it is an equipment malfunction.

I have just had my winter tyres fitted and am now wondering what pressure to run them.

Questions -

Has anyone else had this problem with their tyres?

Could this just be a problem with Michelin tyres?

Should I ignore the VW recommended tyre pressure?

What pressures should I use for my summer and winter tyres?

Other factors - VAQ LSD set to sport, DCC set to comfort, I have noticed it a lot easier to make the wheels spin as the tyres neared the end of their wear. (Though I was not trying to make them spin all the time - wife wouldn't let me )

This has been discussed on another thread. It appears that VW increased the pressure recommendation from 36 to 38 psi for the Clubsport and the Mk7.5. This isn't really a big increase and I don't see how that alone caused the centre wear pattern.

[Ryan90GTI]

I run PS4 and I put 34psi in mine as I felt the VW recommended were a bit on the high side. I've had no problems with uneven wear and the grip is fantastic.

[ajmoir36]

I think 38 is too high for 18"s I run my 19"s at 38psi and VW every service lower them to 36psi. I think my sisters GTI runs at 34psi according to the door sticker.

[wantmygti]

I would of thought 18k miles is pretty good for a set of fronts. I run mine at 38psi without issue.

[fredgroves]

I would of thought 18k miles is pretty good for a set of fronts. I run mine at 38psi without issue.

More than good, its epic.

The PS4's don't last anything like that normally on the front - the OEM BS's maybe 16k? PS4's maybe 14-15k.

Ignore the garage BS and just swap the tyres and carry on.

[mcmaddy]

I ran the factory fit Bridgestones at 36 all round and got 17k out of the fronts and the rears still had just under 5mm left. The fronts actually had just under 3mm left but the puncture I got was unrepairable so I just changed all four. I'm probably one of the only people who didn't have any real issues with the Bridgestones although the grip was gradually worse as the tyre wore down especially in the cold. When all four were removed they were even across the entire tyre.

[dubber36]

Manufactures recommend higher pressure to achieve less rolling resistance, therefore lower emmission. 38PSI is way too high for a car that weighs as relatively little as the Golf does.

[Ryan90GTI]

As a general rule I tend to double the size of the tyre for a rough estimate of pressure for example 17" = 34psi.

Don't know how accurate it is but I tend to run with that until I know for certain the pressures.

[dubber36]

Recommended tyre presures are what are required to support the weight of the vehicle, that's why you should increase the pressures for higher loads. The size or shape of vessel (tyre) the air is contained in, makes no difference to the load it will support. So other than comfort preferences, there is no reason to have different pressures for different size wheels and tyres.

[Finglonga]

I run 35 all round on mine and check pressure, tread depth and condition weekly and adjust if needed. Not had any uneven wear, usually get 16k out of fronts over double out of rears.