Well folks, I just replaced the front tires for the second time, and this time got all of 4,200 miles on them. First time was about 8,000 miles. Alignment was checked about every two to three weeks, tire pressure was checked (and corected if necessary) every morning, cold.<br><br>Not to rain on the parade, and I love the car (in principle, anyway) but 6,100 miles average for a pair of front tires under any conditions is unacceptable, and under conditions of the best possible maintanance and dealer service is unbelievable. This leads me to conclude that something in the design of the front end is flawed at best. Or does someone else have an alternative explanation?

Hmmm....It might just be your car. I have about 5500 miles on my car and the tires still look new. Many people have estimated the life of the OEM tires at about 20K - 30K miles.

Perhaps, but Bridgestone in California told me they had been dealing with scores if not hundreds of similar problems from all over North America, so it's probably not just one isolated incident. It may be related to the kinds of roads (curves vs. straight vs winding and/or hilly) and so on. Thus far no clear reasons, but there have been similar posts earlier in this club and on the group site...

Hi,<br><br>Same no-probs with my OEM tires at 6300 miles. However, I have been doing two things: 1) Maintaining the air pressures at 35 front/33 rear, and 2) Rotating them front to back, back to front every 3750 (between service intervals). Also, make sure your front-end alignment is up to specs. Am seeing no significant tire wear including no feathering. FYI.<br><br>-Michael<br>CA "01 Prius"

The tires on my Prius (now the rear due to rotation are wearing quickly on the edges.(@9500 mi) I kept constant 35/33 pressure in them via a digital gauge and had the steering checked and it was "within perameters" according to the tech. I'm keeping a very close eye on them for any showing of tread separation since the edges are where the separation occurs first. It is nice to know others are having the same types of problems.

I took the Prius in for servicing about a month ago and noticed that the tire pressure that was set by the Prius techs was at 40psi instead of the 35/33. I wonder if Toyota has found out that this former air pressure may be adding to the additional wear of the tires?<br><br>In any case, since the increase in tire pressure, my mileage has gone up about 30 miles per tankfull. I am consistantly hitting the 500+ miles per tank mark.<br>

Hi Fakefish,<br><br>2 questions: <br>What "seperation" are you referring to?<br>Do you take corners fast?<br><br>-Michael<br>"01 Prius"

No separation noticed yet but where the tires are wearing is on the edges where the tread is fused onto the tire. No, I don't take corners fast.

Hi again Fakefish:<br><br>The term "seperation" usually refers to tread and cord coming apart, either caused by heat, underinflation, manufacturer defect or any combination. Wearing off the edges is not unusal in front-wheel drive cars. Since you stated that you are running recommended PSI, have a properly aligned front-end and are not cornering aggressively, rotating the tires more often is the best medicine. FYI.<br><br>-Michael<br>"01 Prius"

I know what tire separation is. I have seen it first hand and the effects of it. Edge wear is uncommon, front wheel drive does cause tire wear to sometimes accelerate and tire rotation does reduce those effects. The type of tire wear I'm expierencing and others with these type of tires should not occur and my driving practice is not at question here. It is a potentially poor quality tire placed upon a high quality vehicle.<br>Bridgestone/Firestone has always manufactured a soft tire from my dealings with them. It just may be too soft for this type of application.

Fakefish:<br><br>Hmmm, 6400 miles here and no tirewear problems whilst driving on Los Angeles freeways. Maybe it's the smog preserving the "edges" of "seperation"...<br><br>-Michael<br>CA "01 Prius"