Sumitomo Htr+ Tires

[Naich]

Hey folks. I have Sumitomo HTR+ tires on my 077 rims... and I recently had to get the front 2 tires replaced. The front passenger side got a bubble in the sidewall (probably from hitting a pot hole) and the driver side front got a funky wear problem.

The outside edge of the tires (like not even 1/2 in from the outer edge of the tires) wore away much more than the rest of the tire. I had good tread left on both tires, and the tread wear on the rest of the tire was even. The outside edge of the tires were worn so badly that the steel belt started showing from the sidewall, and it looked like the tire was about to peel apart.

Now, what frustrates me is that these tires are only a year and 4 month old. I got them installed in like May of 03. The tires were awesome at first, but it seems that they have weak sidewalls due to the bubble problem and the wear problem.

I had my cousin change my tires and do an allignment to make sure that wasn't the problem, but he said it was almost perfect. He also says the only time he ever saw a wear pattern like that was if someone rode on a flat tire. I've never had a flat, and I always check once every 2 weeks or so to keep my tire pressure at 30 PSI.

So, my question is has anyone else had problems with these tires?

[AftermathAlero]

prolly just low tire pressure. Sumitomos tires are best to between 38-40psi. Max psi is 51, so it won't be a problem.

[Naich]

Really? I thought you were supposed to keep the manufacturer's reccommended tire pressure of 30 PSI even with aftermarket wheels? If thats the case, then I'll definately keep it up at 38.

[bigd6983]

no the manufacturer specs are for the stock tires that come on the car and the reason they have that recommended psi is because they think you will keep on replacing with the same type of tires.......each tire will have different psi's and such.........i know my nittos have a lower psi recomendation than the kuhmos I got........just depends on the tire.....

[Oldsmopimp]

yea, 30 is too low I think. hence the wear on the outter and not inner/middle. I have 235's also Naich and I run at least 40/43psi in them. (just read the fine print on yer tire sidewall, its prolly 50max or so)

and yea, that bubble is most likley from a pothole. Prolly not too strong of a tire. The HTR+ is kind of a cheaper tire, so i guess ya get what ya pay for.

[flalero]

The manufacturer's rated psi for tire inflation is based mostly on the comfort and loudness of the tires. They rate the psi to make the passenger comfortable, and that is pretty much it. Remember the whole hoopla with the Firestone tires on Fords? Well, I did a lot of research about that whole thing and I found out the tires were failing because they were being inflated to 20-25psi, not because they were crappy Firestones with problems. They kept the tires at this low of a psi because, in this case, Ford knew that Explorers and their other suv's had a problem with tipping over. To rememedy this problem, they underinflated the tires, instead of really fixing the problem. They saved money, but also cost lives in the process. So, the blame should have gone to Ford on this, but they put it on Firestone instead. Oh, I've always kept my tires inflated to 40psi, even factory tires.

[alero168]

ive got sumitomos too not sure what model it's the cheapest ones on tirerack.com and i usually keep them at 32 or 35 i guess i should get it up higher after reading all this and ive had them for about over a year as well.

[IndyAlero]

I have them and i got them at 32...

[Redog]

Yeah I have them too and I love them but after reading this post I think I'm goign to raise my PSI too. I run 30 psi now. I had it up to 35 but took some out. I think I'm going to go to about 38 to 40

[smokinAMD]

I run my 215/40/17 Potenza RE750 at 45PSI. No issues as of yet.

[bigd6983]

lets see who will go the highest lol i put mine at about 35-38 psi.........feels right to me.....

[bdyman]

i have nitto extreme nt555 and i have 45psi and not one prob
great tire!

[Oldsmopimp]

yup, i run 40-43 in my Pirelli's.

[Sundayalero]

So far I've had great tracktion and even wear with 35psi in Fuzion ZRi tires.