Tires

[radio2lady]

I have a 99 Solara with only 53K miles on it and I am replacing the tires for the 4th time. Anyone else have this kind of problem? Know what it might be? The last 2 sets of tires I purchased were Firestone Protenzas that were supposed to go 40K miles. The dealer is giving me a great price because I am replacing after 13 K miles but he is starting to question the reason why the tires aren't lasting. I did read online that the Lexus convertible also has this problem. People are replacing tires after 9K to 12K miles. Any help please?

[Mole]

Yeah, you might want to look into longer treadware on the tires. I personally have not dealt with passenger tires with long treadware for a while, so someone else can chime in on this.

If i assume correctly, you prob would not need these tires you currently have anyway.

[Jon11582]

There could be a ton of reasons.

Are the tires rotated regularly? Is wear even in front and back? Do you mostly highway or city driving? Proper inflation, alignment, balance?

If I recall correctly, I was around 30k before I had to replace my OEM Potenzas, which, I just wanna add, are really bad tires. The grip in bad weather is terrible, and when it gets to medium/low tread, traction decreases alot.

[Turbosolara]

you might need tire alightments, it will helps. Also it is depend on your driving style too, if you corning fast and brake hard all the time, it would eat up the thread fast.

[radio2lady]

Thanks for the help. Yes, I make sure my car and tires are maintained. I have purchased the alignment for life so I am there about every 2 months or so just to make sure and tires are rotated, balanced even Firestone said that none of that can be the problem as they keep my records on their computers. The only thing Firestone mentioned is that in 1999 Toyota did not have 16" wheels on their cars that he could find in his book. He suggested that someone traded wheels with my car. I told him that mine was a special order and I did not purchase off the lot. I also told him that I had ordered the "sport" package and it came with 16" wheels. He seems to think that maybe the suspension does not match the wheels. Sounds wack to me, I think he is grabbing for anything......I ran it past my dad that is a Firestone retiree and he agreed that this guy is wrong but sounds like something is going on with the way I go through tires. No I don't drive like a grandma yet and I do have the V6 but I am not reckless. I only drive 10 minutes to work daily so I have no idea what the problem might be. The only thing that I do that may be different is that I back into my parking space at work and I like to back into my driveway at home. I even make sure my car is rolling before I turn the wheel so I don't leave any rubber on the pavement. I have no idea.....

[Turbosolara]

If you have lifetime alightment, it doesnt hurt to do it again. I noticed my solara's alightment is very easy off, maybe because of the california road condition.

I guess you just happen have to brought some short life tires. do you have Low profile tires? If so, that might be the reason too. High performance tire has shorter life span.

[Jon11582]

Thanks for the help. Yes, I make sure my car and tires are maintained. I have purchased the alignment for life so I am there about every 2 months or so just to make sure and tires are rotated, balanced even Firestone said that none of that can be the problem as they keep my records on their computers. The only thing Firestone mentioned is that in 1999 Toyota did not have 16" wheels on their cars that he could find in his book. He suggested that someone traded wheels with my car. I told him that mine was a special order and I did not purchase off the lot. I also told him that I had ordered the "sport" package and it came with 16" wheels. He seems to think that maybe the suspension does not match the wheels. Sounds wack to me, I think he is grabbing for anything......I ran it past my dad that is a Firestone retiree and he agreed that this guy is wrong but sounds like something is going on with the way I go through tires. No I don't drive like a grandma yet and I do have the V6 but I am not reckless. I only drive 10 minutes to work daily so I have no idea what the problem might be. The only thing that I do that may be different is that I back into my parking space at work and I like to back into my driveway at home. I even make sure my car is rolling before I turn the wheel so I don't leave any rubber on the pavement. I have no idea.....

Solara came with 3 wheel options, 15" steels, 15" 7-spoke alloys, or 16" 6 spoke alloys. Suspension is identical for all wheel setups.

[Astro]

Solara came with 3 wheel options, 15" steels, 15" 7-spoke alloys, or 16" 6 spoke alloys. Suspension is identical for all wheel setups.

Yeah, but I thought all V6's come with the 16"?

[RichD978]

Solara came with 3 wheel options, 15" steels, 15" 7-spoke alloys, or 16" 6 spoke alloys. Suspension is identical for all wheel setups.

Yeah, but I thought all V6's come with the 16"?

nah i have a SE V6, 15" 7 spoke alloys came as an option. 16 was standard for the SLE V6

[Jon11582]

Solara came with 3 wheel options, 15" steels, 15" 7-spoke alloys, or 16" 6 spoke alloys. Suspension is identical for all wheel setups.

Yeah, but I thought all V6's come with the 16"?

I'm pretty sure all SEs have all three as choices. SLEs come with the 16" stock. If I recall right, The only thing that the SE V6 has over the SE stock are rear disc brakes and the side badging, and obviously, the engine.

[1st Gen Sol]

The interior controls are also different. There electronic as compared to manual.

[Jon11582]

The interior controls are also different. There electronic as compared to manual.

Are you talking the climate control? That was only available on the SLE if I recall, and i think it was standard. I definitly know Ive seen an SE V6's with manual HVAC controls

[1st Gen Sol]

Not sure..........anybody know the answer ?


I always park my car backwards in a parking spot and turn my wheel when its rolling or not........I got the same kinda of problem on the tire wear.........got the stock 15" alloys with the Potenza's on them.........tires suck but I can't complain because I swap the bald set I had (on steelies) onto a rent-a-car back in the day (yes it was a Solara with stock 15" alloys) with the same tires.

Only got about 25k miles on the tires and there starting to wear..good thing I'm getting a set of rims soon.....hopefully..........

[SpeedSTARs]

Not sure..........anybody know the answer ?


I always park my car backwards in a parking spot and turn my wheel when its rolling or not........I got the same kinda of problem on the tire wear.........got the stock 15" alloys with the Potenza's on them.........tires suck but I can't complain because I swap the bald set I had (on steelies) onto a rent-a-car back in the day (yes it was a Solara with stock 15" alloys) with the same tires.

Only got about 25k miles on the tires and there starting to wear..good thing I'm getting a set of rims soon.....hopefully..........

Hey guys,

I still have the original 1999 and 2000 Brochure from my Solara Purchase.
The SE had all three wheel options and the SLE came standard with the 16" aluminum alloy wheels. The SE can be had with the 16's only if ordered with the Sport upgrade package #3 & #4. The SLE came standard with the Automatic Climate Controls and leather seats, while the SE was substituted with the manual climate controls. The only main options that were available for the SLE was the TRACTION CONTROL, SUNROOF, indash 6-dics changer, Gold trim, color keyed front and rear mudguards side airbags and factory alarm with shock sensors. Hopefull this cleared some of the questions.


-G D guys

[radio2lady]

Ok, so I get my new tires today, Firestone now tells me that I need to rotate my tires every 5K, with every oil change. They act like everyone with a Solara knows this. I found out that their main mechanic used to work for Toyota and said that is the only way to insure the life of the tires. I now get tires rotated 2x per year, guess I will take it to 3x. I think they don't know what they are talking about and on my next Solara I will just buy the tires for life!