Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated. Steve, which Pirellis did you try? I'm quite pleased to hear most other tyres are quieter than RE050s, hehe. I like their grip but 95% of the time I just listen to them thrumming away...
The wear pattern I was talking about is with the rear wheel camber. The tyres on the back have 3-4mm of tread before the wear bars, but on the inside edges they are down pretty much to the canvas
Maybe, because the tyres wear faster on in the inside edges thanks to the camber, I'm just seeing them wear through there first and it's just how it is.
Either way, thanks for the advice. The car is primarily a commuter and long distance driver, with spirited driving happening opportunistically during those activities, so I've got a firm focus on all-rounding
Update: I called a local tyre place, checked some prices, they let me know that Bridgestone S001 are out to replace the RE050s, focusing on improving wet weather and road noise, so I'm going to give them a go.
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