They are speed rated "Y"...= 186 mph.

 

As a Crossfire "newbie" - less than 6 months, I can tell you with great confidence that it isn't the spoiler that wears out the rear tires it's the gas pedal! My Crossfire is my daily driver and I don't drive it hard, but the car is so damn fun I DO enjoy the acceleration and handling of the car. I drive it differently than the family SUV even when I'm not intending to. My wife made a comment to me last week when riding with me into town. She said something to the effect of: "You drive this car differently, kinda jerky or jumpy" And when she said it, she leaned back in the seat, then leaned foward to demonstrate how it felt to her. I guess she was refering to my accelerating and braking when moving through normal traffic. She's right. I drive it in a "sportier" fashion. It's a sports car and I can't help myself. Since she's mentioned it I notice I'm much gentler on the SUV's gas pedal. Even though its a heavy vehicle I still get long life out of its tires.

Now to be more logical about it. The Crossfire has good low end torque, a low first gear and starting from a dead stop to even 35mph X times a day with a "sporty" right foot takes it toll on the rears.

This is the price we pay for driving such a fun car. It's the first car I've owned where I look foward to getting behind the wheel every time I need to go somewhere. Shoot, I live 6 miles from my work place and I actually go slightly out of my way to take the freeway for 4 of those miles just for the on and off ramps! Its like a drug, I just can't stop! The best part of the ride into work is the off ramp finishes with a brand new traffic circle so I finish off my exit with a nice "S" curve through the circle to a sweeping left curve on the side road. Whoo-hoo!!!

Tom

 

Actually the spoiler only adds 40lbs. of down force at 80 mph (according to the owners manual). So about as much as 7 gallons of gas or a couple of adult sized bowling ***** under your hatch.
I don't think that would have much of an effect on tread wear.
The first couple of years that I owned my car I had a fully functional spoiler, and the tires seemed to wear out pretty quickly. Then I installed a switch to shut the spoiler off, and most all my driving was done with the spoiler deactivated, and the tires seem to wear out just as fast.
Just one of the things you have to deal with to enjoy one of the best kept secrets in the automotive world.

 

I run T-1R's And Drive very aggresivly My toyos perform in the wet or 3 FIGURES!

 

Thanks, I guess you installed the manual override sw. to keep a check on tire wear?
Well anyway that is what I wanted to know....if any one besides me was curious if the spoiler would effect tire wear. Funny thing - you say it's in the manual...WOW! What a concept..read the BOOK. Thanks again. JIM

 

Jim, I installed the "kill" switch to deactivate the spoiler because I wanted to have control over it, instead of the cars computer. I just never happened to noticed any difference in tread wear with it up as opposed to it being down.
The owners manual states that there is 40lbs. of downforce at 80mph. I don't think there's anything in the manual about treadwear.

 

O.K.!.... Now that you figured out the tire wear/spoiler equation for me, what difference did you notice in handling without the spoiler at higher speed?... 'cause I think it's a bunch of B.S. The car handles too good to need a 40lb. asist.

I'm not going "whoo-hoo"ing just would like to know. Thanks, JIM

 

A spoiler disrupts air flow and is meant to kill lift.
A wing creates down force.
Without the spoiler the cars rear could possibly lift and reduce the weight on the rear wheels.
That's my thoughts on the matter, so I'll let the spoiler raise for safety reasons.
If you want to save your tires lay off the heavy acceleration and corner slower, if you can stop yourself of course.
Keep the air pressure in them correct as well.

 

Jim, as 180 pointed out the spoilers real purpose is to prevent lift. At Autobahn speeds the back end can get pretty light.
That's why there is an audible warning at around 95 mph to let you know that your wing (when it's been shut off) is still in it's lowered position at a speed that it's really necessary.
Most all of my driving is at speeds well under 80 mph. On the rare occasion I travel faster than that (like trying to keep up with the Chicago crew on their way to Carlisle) then I put my spoiler up. Also, if I get caught in the rain on the highway, or on a very windy day.
Cruising with traffic at 75 mph I feel no difference in the way the car handles with the spoiler up or down. As an added bonus, my car got better gas mileage with the wing down. https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...e-vs-wing.html
The main reason I installed a kill switch, is because it seemed as though everytime I got on the highway and started to accelerate, some tuner boy would see the wing go up and think I wanted to race. It was almost like wagging a red cape in front of a Bull (even though they're color blind).

 

I'm at just about 27K on the OEM Conti's so that's not too bad. Probably one more summer out of them. Chis said the tires, DWS's are 186 speed rated, so that is pretty high perf, but what I was meaning is I'll not be generally anywhere near there as I tend to drrive most of the time in a daily driver mode. But the D's will do well for other spirited drives too. I'm going to give them a shot and just see how they live.

 

Since I purchased them last June/July, I would hazard to say my DWS Contis have another 10K left on them if I behave myself.

I currently have 12K on the set, and that includes last fall's Dragon meet (three days of BTTW driving).

Also, high speed is rougher on tires than you'd imagine. I spend a considerable amount of time in the 80+ range.

When you purchased your 2nd and 3rd sets, what kind of pro-rating deal did you get on them? Conti has a warranty on them for 50K miles. As mentioned, I'll do good to get 25K. Fronts are still in great shape, probably 70% life left on them.

 

That's what I call winning.


Since injecting Tiger Blood into my fuel system I haven't gotten more than 15k out of the tires. But I'm ok with that. Cause I'm a WINNER. Duh!

 

Apparently my car can accelerate faster than the wing can deploy and the warning will sound. This is what I have been told from MisterTaz because he did it in my car and I dont have an off switch like +fireamx describes. I wonder if drive like this has an effect on tire wear beacuse when the weather gets better I will be trying it! Again and Again...

 

This post made my day

 

Was unable to get any prorating on them at all. They'll get you when you when you have to fess up and admit they cannot be rotated. I'm sure I could get a "receipt" from a shop showing they were "rotated" But, It's not worth the hassle to me personally. Plus, I'm sure it would come back to bite me in the rear!
Some day's my foot is heavier than others, So no sense in me blaming the car or the tires. I live on a gravel & oil road. It's a half mile to regular pavement, Then there's all the grooved concrete sections along the highway that Texas is so fond of using! The majority of the time, my speeds are 70-75 mph. So many things can contribute to tire life. So I won't knock the DWS's at all.
I'm fine with the tread life I get out of them. Even bald, They are by far the most quiet tire I've used to date. Plus, They really do excel in dry,wet and snow, Something most "all weather" tires just can't do!