[GA_ZL1]

I did a track day yesterday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on my 2018 ZL1 1LE and noted this unusual tire wear on my left front 3R. It looks like some delamination of the edge tread or maybe the outer belt. It's happening only about 1/3 of the way around the tire (for now), and I do not have the same issue on any of the other tires. I run the track alignment as per the Track Prep Guide, with the front top strut mounts rotated 180 degrees, and I'm pretty good about keeping the pressures in the 32-35 psi recommended range for track driving. It was a nice sunny day (low 60s temps) yesterday, so it wasn't a blistering hot day like we get in the summer. I'm not a big curb-hopper, although I do use the curbs as needed, especially at Turn 3 (which could stress the left front, maybe), but my driving was the same as usual. The second pic shows the face of the same left front tire. The set is nearing the end of their life, but it's not as though they are tread bare or wearing unusually in any other way. I've probably run 4-6 sets of these tires over the past 4 years with the same alignment and pressures, and I have not noticed this kind of wear before. Now, Road Atlanta is a killer on left side (especially LF) tires, so it's no shock that the left front is cooked (I always swap left/right tires between events), but I'm curious if anyone has seen this issue or has any insight? I probably got 4 track days out of the tires, so I have no problem in dispensing with them, and I'll continue to use the 3Rs since they are predictable and pretty sticky. I haven't checked my alignment in a bit, so that could be an issue, but if anyone has any insight, please share it. Thx. JB

[JSH]

My OEM 3R's only lasted 2500 miles.

[DylansZLE]

In my experience and knowledge from others this happens from not letting the tires warm up all the way before going all out.

Hope this helps!

[GA_ZL1]

Interesting. Given how diabolical the 3Rs are cold, I usually give them a good 1-2 laps to warm up before going hard, but maybe I drove them too hard too soon. Still, my warm-up laps and driving yesterday weren't different from how I normally use the 3Rs. Perplexing.

[Vtor_ZL1]

You need MORE camber! Rolling that outside edge a ton.

[Stephen12ZL1]

any cracks in the rubber prior to tracking? Some of these have been known to crack due to low temperatures even on new cars. Do you have pics of the tire to compare prior to your track day for comparison?

[GA_ZL1]

Originally Posted by Vtor_ZL1

You need MORE camber! Rolling that outside edge a ton.

I'll check my alignment. It was at the -2.7 +/- .15 degrees recommended setting. Interesting that I only see this on the left front.

[GA_ZL1]

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

any cracks in the rubber prior to tracking? Some of these have been known to crack due to low temperatures even on new cars. Do you have pics of the tire to compare prior to your track day for comparison?

. No cracks in the rubber I noticed on any tire. I'll take and post pics later showing the right front for comparison and a set I have off the car with about 50% wear left. They look normal from my perspective.

[Zl1+911]

What tire pressure did you start with (first session) ?

[NG329]

Originally Posted by GA_ZL1

I did a track day yesterday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on my 2018 ZL1 1LE and noted this unusual tire wear on my left front 3R. It looks like some delamination of the edge tread or maybe the outer belt. It's happening only about 1/3 of the way around the tire (for now), and I do not have the same issue on any of the other tires. I run the track alignment as per the Track Prep Guide, with the front top strut mounts rotated 180 degrees, and I'm pretty good about keeping the pressures in the 32-35 psi recommended range for track driving. It was a nice sunny day (low 60s temps) yesterday, so it wasn't a blistering hot day like we get in the summer. I'm not a big curb-hopper, although I do use the curbs as needed, especially at Turn 3 (which could stress the left front, maybe), but my driving was the same as usual. The second pic shows the face of the same left front tire. The set is nearing the end of their life, but it's not as though they are tread bare or wearing unusually in any other way. I've probably run 4-6 sets of these tires over the past 4 years with the same alignment and pressures, and I have not noticed this kind of wear before. Now, Road Atlanta is a killer on left side (especially LF) tires, so it's no shock that the left front is cooked (I always swap left/right tires between events), but I'm curious if anyone has seen this issue or has any insight? I probably got 4 track days out of the tires, so I have no problem in dispensing with them, and I'll continue to use the 3Rs since they are predictable and pretty sticky. I haven't checked my alignment in a bit, so that could be an issue, but if anyone has any insight, please share it. Thx. JB

This happened to me early in the season. Goodyear would not warranty them either.

I believe it comes down to the construction of the tire. My tires did that on a 90*F day and they stayed warm throughout and in-between sessions. It's not a cold tear. I will say that it did not affect grip or my outright lap times (1:29.x at NJMP Thunderbolt)

I was cording fronts after 1 day so I bought a set of Apex SM-10s for sub $1,700 and now I run Hankook F200 slicks ($1,800/set new) or Pirelli scrubs ($900/set used). I get 2 complete days out of the F200s before the fronts go and the Pirelli scrubs are usually good for a day and a half.

[GA_ZL1]

Originally Posted by Zl1+911

What tire pressure did you start with (first session) ?

I start the day (when cooler) at maybe 29 or 30 and then bleed them back as the day progresses and the track and ambient temps go up. I don't start at the suggested 26 psi when the air/track are cooler. I try to hone-in on the target 32-35 psi recommended pressures. Of course, they cool between sessions, probably down to 29 or 30 psi before going back out.

For comparison, here are pics of the right front, which shows typical wear for Road Atlanta. Again, the left sides take a beating at RA, so maybe I just wore them out. I was driving hard and had some decent lap times (for me). :-)

[GA_ZL1]

Originally Posted by NG329

This happened to me early in the season. Goodyear would not warranty them either.

I believe it comes down to the construction of the tire. My tires did that on a 90*F day and they stayed warm throughout and in-between sessions. It's not a cold tear. I will say that it did not affect grip or my outright lap times (1:29.x at NJMP Thunderbolt)

I was cording fronts after 1 day so I bought a set of Apex SM-10s for sub $1,700 and now I run Hankook F200 slicks ($1,800/set new) or Pirelli scrubs ($900/set used). I get 2 complete days out of the F200s before the fronts go and the Pirelli scrubs are usually good for a day and a half.

Thanks for the feedback and info. I still like the 3Rs, so I'm going to get a fresh set and then check and adjust the alignment as needed before my next event late winter. Maybe my alignment is off. I have a second set of OE-sized wheels (BC Forged) on which I run just OE-sized high performance street tires for daily driving. 3Rs just for the track. I also switch the 3Rs left to right side between track days to even out the wear. This is all baffling to me because I've run 4 or 5 sets of 3Rs in both hot summer track events in Georgia (90+) as well as on cooler days in fall or spring without this unusual wear pattern.

[JimGnitecki]

OP did not mention the ambient outdoor temperature when the cracking occurred.

Jim G

[Zl1+911]

I have had that exact wear happen once and I could not (like u) for the life of me figure out how…it seems like a defect to me …not excessive wear or load..that looks different…