The cost of motoring ..... tyre replacement?

I agree completely.

My car tyres wore down dramatically last year - I travel each day on my commute down many roads in bad comdition and over at least ten very large sleeping policemen (and the same coming home). I'm a smooth driver and like to get the most out of...well, my fuel more than my tyres, but both are a benefit.

This year, I've bought Michelin tyres which will supposedly last 28,000 miles...we shall see!

Yes driving fast over bad roads and sleeping policeman can cause excessive tyre wear. Tread wear is claimed to be primarily caused by three mechanisms:
1. Abrasion: Sharp edges in the road surface cut and tear rubber material from the tread, this kind of wear is closely related to high friction surface properties.
2. Fatigue : Rounded polished surface structure can produce wear also when the friction is low due to repeated deformation of the rubber elements in the tread.
3. Wave formation : On a dry smooth surface soft tread rubber can form wavelike deformation of the tread caused by friction forces which produce tread wear. This mechanism is not as important as the two others.
The rate of tyre wear can be directly linked to the way your car is driven.
Ways to reduce car tyre wear:
1. Careful cornering
Aggressive cornering will cause extra wear on your car tyres. If you corner harder one way than you do the other way, then expect to get uneven wear on your car tyres.
2. Gradual acceleration
Accelerating hard from a standing start will put extra wear on your car tyres, especially the front tyres, which wear out faster than the back ones in any case. It also puts strain on your car's drive shaft and gearbox, as well as several other components. All of these parts are expensive to replace.
3. Keep to the speed limits
Driving regularly at high speed will help to wear out your car tyres faster than if you travel at a more reasonable speed. At high speeds the temperature of tyres increases. This wears out car tyres faster.
4. Avoid hard braking
Braking hard places the entire load onto the front tyres, which helps to accelerate wear. Of course you will need to brake hard in an emergency; that's what the brakes are for, but remember to go easy when you don't have to.
5. Maintain recommended car tyre pressures
A car tyre that is inflated below its recommended pressure will wear faster because of its higher operating temperature and the extra flexing of the rubber. Over inflation can also increase wear due to the decreased size of the contact area between the tyre and the road.Driving with unequal pressures in your car tyres will lead to increased wear.

Yes, I do feel that the current bad condition of our roads is a major factor in tyre wear. I live in an area that is mostly rural and the road conditions range from bad to appalling! I had my tyres checked only yesterday for tread and condition as I worry about the bashing they seem to be getting these days. It doesn't help that I drive a 2 seater sports car which has unusually wide tyres which are very expensive to buy, and that my back tyres are a different size to my front tyres, so I can't take advantage of any special deals on buying all four. My choice I know, but still galling.

Yes Snoopy, I couldn't agree more. Our roads are appalling with potholes the size of canyons in our area one or two have been hurriedly filled in so quite how long they stay like that remains to be seen.
It's so hazardous trying to avoid these things and of course nigh on impossible in the dark, I feel we're lucky if a flat tyre is all we get as a buckled wheel is definitely on the cards anytime soon.

Hi Snoopy48

The cost of motoring is high, probably the highest it has been. It isn't just the cost of tyres wear, it's fuel prices, road tax costs, high insurance costs and maintenance costs. Old cars that you could fix yourself are soon to be a thing of the past, new cars require computers to fix them, so you have to take them to your car dealer or equivilent to put them right in the event of a problem.

All of these things make motoring difficult for those on a limited income and things will only get worse.

I agree entirely with you Snoopy48 and do think that the general wear and tear that tyres are subject to have increased ten fold over recent years due to the mainly shocking state of our roads (made even worse last year by the snow and cold weather and temporarily fixed vey badly if at all by local councils) and the increase in speed humps. Whilst you can do all that you can to ensure your tyres are correctly inflated and driving sensibly to minimise damage the fact is that if you do any amount of driving your tyres are going to suffer and it is a very expensive business to get them replaced especially if you have any regard for your own personal safety whilst driving. It is a timely reminder now just when we are facing the worst months weather wise ahead of us how important it is to have tyres that are fir for purpose. Unfortunately many people cannot afford a decent set of tyres and there are many driving around with less than adequate tyres for the conditions we have in this country. It does annoy me that we pay so much for our motoring costs in this country compared to our counterparts elsewhere and yet our roads are in a shocking state. I was taught this motto a long time ago 'Drive to Arrive' and it sticks in my mind as I know the terrible things that can happen and even if you can't afford the best and most expensive tyres on your car or you know they are way past their best remember this above anything else when you are driving.

Not much more I can add to what has already been said, but when buying tyres check prices as with many cars these can be expensive, try etyres for price comparisons they come to your house to fit.