I'm usually a reader not a writer but I had something happen a few weeks ago while I was buying new rear tires. My passenger side rear tire was tread-less after 11,000 miles so I went to buy new ones. I wanted to replace my Continental All Season but they were on back order so I bought Continental Sports Contact. I like the tire company I buy my tires from and I've always been happy with their service.

The low tire pressure light was on when I took it in so I was surprised when I drove away and it was still on. I waited a couple days and went to check the tire pressure on all the tires. It was the front passenger tire that was low. But - the new rear tires were at 42 lbs and the aluminum tire valve caps were all gone and crappy looking grey plastic ones were on all the tires.

Tire company said:

- New plastic tire valve caps because the aluminum ones fuse to the valve stems and they usually have to cut off the valves when replacing tires. I went to Pep Boys and bought new ones that looked like the originals.
- The tire pressure should be higher than 33 lbs because the tires are low profile.

Questions:

- Why did my one tire wear out so quickly - and no I never rotated the tires?
- Tire valve caps fusing to stems seems a little weird since they came on the car?
- If I had run with 42 lbs in the rears would that have extended my original tire life?

Thanks,
Mark