Slightly off topic, but if it makes you feel any better Marty, the continentals on our Volvo are screwed after only 19,000kms. Mind you, I'm not expecting much life out of the r compounds on our SE.......as mentioned, these Wellington roads (well at least around our area) are always being fiddled with. It's really not much fun getting stone chips stuck in the discs and having that screeching in your ear :-(