Add a spare tire!

[Oilpan4]

That's just the lash in your gears.
It is normal.

[LeftieBiker]

Yes, probably normal differential lash, with no other symptoms. The tires do wear less at about 40psi than at 36.

[Oilpan4]

I'm trying to run 38psi in the new pair of Michelin energy saver all season tires and 42psi in the almost warn out ecopia tires.
The shoulder of the 2 original ecopia tires is about to hit the wear bars at 60,000 miles, so they won't have the chance to wear out in the middle.

I just don't want to run too much pressure and wear the middle of the tread down.

If you know 40 doesn't wear the middle of the tread I will run 40psi in new tires.

[SalisburySam]

I'm trying to run 38psi in the new pair of Michelin energy saver all season tires and 42psi in the almost warn out ecopia tires.
The shoulder of the 2 original ecopia tires is about to hit the wear bars at 60,000 miles, so they won't have the chance to wear out in the middle.

I just don't want to run too much pressure and wear the middle of the tread down.

If you know 40 doesn't wear the middle of the tread I will run 40psi in new tires.

Here’s a datapoint from my experience: 40 doesn’t wear the middle of the tread. I’ve pumped mine to 40 since original purchase and after seeing the threads in this forum. The only downside is SLIGHTLY, almost imperceptible for me, harsher ride. My wear is very even.

[LeftieBiker]

I'm trying to run 38psi in the new pair of Michelin energy saver all season tires and 42psi in the almost warn out ecopia tires.
The shoulder of the 2 original ecopia tires is about to hit the wear bars at 60,000 miles, so they won't have the chance to wear out in the middle.

I just don't want to run too much pressure and wear the middle of the tread down.

If you know 40 doesn't wear the middle of the tread I will run 40psi in new tires.

Here’s a datapoint from my experience: 40 doesn’t wear the middle of the tread. I’ve pumped mine to 40 since original purchase and after seeing the threads in this forum. The only downside is SLIGHTLY, almost imperceptible for me, harsher ride. My wear is very even.

Agree. This has been an issue for all the years I've been here. The suggested PSI is always too low (although the current 38psi isn't as bad as the original 36) and raising it to 40-42 has, AFAIK, never done harm. Some people go as high as 50psi - which I would not recommend - with no problems (again, AFAIK).

[jusgetalong]

Oilpan-Leftie thanks for the gear lash info. Running 41 PSI in wheels, no noticeable change in ride. Hopefully will alleviate edge wear and even it out. Wife drives heavy regen, uses brakes only for final stop. She drove trucks for awhile and used downshifts to save on brakes. Our trade in for Leaf had 92334 Miles on original brakes and dealer said they were fine and did not need replacement. I figure with her heavy regen we will never ever need to replace our brakes.

[goldbrick]

Well, I got stuck at work with a flat tire over the weekend and had to take the bus home. Not a big deal but now I have a spare semi-donut from a 2007 Altima (135-90-16). I think I'm going to make something like this http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.p ... ilit=spare so I can carry the spare around with me. I still need to find a jack, tire iron and styrofoam holder thingy for all the parts but I'm sure I can find one in a junkyard nearby. I should have looked at the Altima I took the spare from but I was in a hurry and didn't think of it at the time. The spare is about 12 years old but looks new. I'm hoping sitting in the trunk of the Altima reduced the deterioration of the rubber vs being outside and I did take it slow with the spare mounted.

On the plus side, I found a nice pair of used replacement tires (205/55/16 EcoTopia Plus from a Honda Civic) that match the other two tires on my Leaf and after having them mounted last night I'm back to driving my Leaf.