On 20 Aug 2004 05:27:23 -0700, (Jon) wrote:

>Hi,
>
>My 166 2.5 V6 (1999) averages around 19.5 mpg, if I take it really
>gently on a motorway I can get his up to 23mpg. Is this normal
>/usuall? I read on a recent posting of someone who was getting 28mpg
>which is bit more respectable. If this is a problem, any ideas on the
>solution as the local alfa dealer is hopeless.

This figure doesn't surprise me but I'm no expert on the 166.

>Also any suggestions on tyres, I've just had to replace all four after
>9 months / 9000 miles. Wear was pretty even across them all. Again is
>this normal.

Well..I'm heading for 30000 miles (currently 4mm left at 27000 miles)
on a set of Continental Sport Contact tyres. Some here don't like them
but I think they're fine. They don't appear (to me) to have any
terrible weaknesses but they do go on forever. If your wear pattern is
even, I doubt there's any great misalignment so I can only suggest
getting 'harder' rubber if this is a major concern. Don't be fobbed
off with other Continental tyres..at least 'Sport Contact' and it's at
least the revision II tyre now.

At a 3+ year average of 41mpg, I don't drive mine gently AND my tyres
were chewed by the factory Veloce 'misalignment' for their first 9500
miles (an issue that killed tyres before 12000 miles by prematurely
wearing off the inner edges). I would not be surprised if, driven
gently(!), CSCII tyres could be made last 40000 miles on my car. The
only reason I have ever changed tyres on my Alfa is due to punctures!

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)