Just had a couple new tyres fitted, as the last ones were unevenly worn (i.e front right tyres 3 mm across tread 0 on inside edge)
Place I took it to didnt do tracking, so took it to the local guy down the road (charges £20) - but was closed, so went to kwikfit round the corner (also £20)
The guy there put it on the ramp, and whilst I was in the office the guy asked why I though the tracking was out. Told him that I just had a new tyres, and he went to the guy on the ramp and said something to him.
Turns out that the tracking is OK, and doesnt need adjusted (and nothing to pay for just a check - only for adjustment)
Inclined to beleive him, as he didnt charge, but confused as to why I has uneven wear on the tyres in the first place. Could there be any other reason for this? Shall I just keep a eye on wear and take it in again if it is still uneven (why should it change?)
Any advice?
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Did you actually see them checking the tracking with a gauge?
Usually this is done on the ground, not on a ramp.
My experience of Kwikfit does not inspire confidence.
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Nope. never been keen on KF either - just handy at the time to get it checked
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Actually the tracking is done on a ramp now at many fast fit places, certainly Kwik Fit, ATS, and Rapid Fit.
As far as I can tell it's for no other reason than the car is at an easier height to read the gauges.
As for tracking problems, I've had loads of fun with that, as long time posters may remember. However, even when the tracking is OK, my front near side tyre wears the outside edge away quickly, the front off side tends to be slightly heavy on the inside edge as well as the outer edge, but no where near as badly as the near side.
It seems that this is down to my enthusiastic driving style, combined with accidentally running on too low pressure on the front tyres for a few thousand miles, it was enough to be a terminal case for my tyre wear. After 10K I would feel happier changing the front tyres, but I don't see why I should do that on a car that's only done 10K... so I bought a new car instead! :) I intend getting the alignment checked on this one immediately after buying...
Blue
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Pete
I think I would have it checked at another place to be sure, if you keep and eye on the tyres and find that one is starting to wear unevenly then its too late to rectify as they will always be uneven. Does the car pull to one side? as this would suggest the tracking is out.
A similar thing happened to me, I had hit a bad pot hole and the car was pulling to the left. I had it checked at a local garage, I could'nt see them working on the car and in less than 10 mins the mechanic said its all done it was'nt much out. I always suspected that it was'nt even checked, the wheel trims had'nt even been removed. When I got the MOT done at a different garage they did the tracking (I watched them) and I noticed the difference immediately.
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A week or so ago I had the luck of parking next to an identical make/model/year car as mine (Vectra Estate 2.2 Petrol 01-Y) in a car park. I've had uneven nearside tyre wear on both the front and back, so took the opportunity to check the other car's.
Yes you guessed it - they were identical to mine - outside edge wearing faster than the inside - the wear profile matched exactly !!
My guess is that the suspension geometry leads to all this as was set up in the factory - and unless you have tracking/toe-in/camber adjusted professionally - this will always be the case !
Steve
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I can't understand how they checked it on a ramp - the usual method is to check on flat surface, wheel dead ahead, and to roll the car back & forth in neutral, to settle the suspension after each twist of the rods, before measuring again.
Strange, though, that they missed the opportunity to charge you.
That the inside shoulder of one tyre was worn suggests suspension wear - have you checked all the bushes and ball joints for wear?
If you go round corners a bit quick, you would usually see the outer shoulders wearing mostly...
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and to roll the car back & forth in neutral, to settle the suspension after each twist of the rods, before measuring again.
In cases like this the wheels are placed on rotating plates so that when an adjustment is made to the rods the wheels turn instantly without the need to keep moving back and forth.
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You only say the front right tyre was worn on its inside edge. What about the front left?
On Rover 800s if the upper suspension bushes are worn, they wear out the inner edge of the right front tyre even if the tracking is perfect. Basically the excess movement causes the tyre to be dragged around roundabouts slightly sideways (you might think you turn left and right equally when driving, but because of the British love of roundabouts you actually turn right a lot more often than left).
You don't say what car you have, nor its age & mileage, but I would suggest you check all suspension mounting points and bushes and ball joints for wear. It's a worthy check even if you find nothing amiss.
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There are other reasons for uneven tyre wear other than tracking.
The main one being "Setback" e.g. the distance between the front and back wheels on each side. I have never seen the likes of Kwikfit check this and it willeat your tyres in no time.
Check by measuring the distance between the back of the back rim and the back of the front rim, it should be the same as the manufacturers wheelbase. A simple tape measure will do perfectly and you don´t need LAZERS or CASH!!!!
If it is out it may be due to badly fitted suspension parts and can adjusted on some cars. (The words VW and ATS spring to mind)
On others that cannot be adjusted it indicates a bent suspension component which needs replacing.
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