Unusual tread wear

[fabiavrs2004]

My 1.4FR ST had its first MOT the other week and passed, I've just noticed that I've two advisories. Both front tyres have worn close to the legal limit for about half an inch on the inside shoulders. The remainder of the tyres have about 4mm of tread. Is this a problem with Pirelli Cinturato tyres or wheel geometry such as tracking, I've never seen this before, I had a Fabia vrs for 11 years and nothing like this. The cars done 20k miles.

 

[DEAN0]

Is the car lowered ?

If it is standard height - I would suspect your tracking is out

 

[Lmbarrett83]

https://www.pepboys.com/auto-care/tires/typical-treadwear-patterns

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[fabiavrs2004]

It hasn't been lowered, I could understand tracking if it was one tyre, but both, I don't drive anywhere different now compared to the vrs. There appears to be similar issues with Skoda Octavias / Superbs which some think it's either speed humps being straddled ( yes I do and have always done so, vrs was narrower and still straddled with no tyre issues - Michellin PS3's ) or factory settings on sporty suspension set-ups. If the tracking out now, could it always been out.

 

[r200ti]

yeh as per Deano thats likely tracking.
Your lucky you got it spotted on the mot. That type of wear occurs fast and as its hard to spot can lead to a sudden deflation.

If nothing else get the tracking checked, also note the settings they use. Its not unkown for some cars to have OE settings with a smidge of toe out (as fabia said, for a more sporty setup). A FWD car for road use will typically and should run a bit of toe in.

 

[BoomerBoom]

I'd recommend getting all four wheels checked, including camber and castor, using something like the hunter system.

I had terrible tyre life on a previous VW, front and rears, with the tracking checked several times until finally discovering the front camber was too big and one rear was toed out.

 

[martin j.]

I'd recommend getting all four wheels checked, including camber and castor, using something like the hunter system.

If you go this route ensure the operator knows what they are doing.

 

[fabiavrs2004]

The 1.4 doesn't have a multilink rear suspension so why does it need 4 wheel when you can't adjust the rear.

 

[Mtailor]

The 1.4 doesn't have a multilink rear suspension so why does it need 4 wheel when you can't adjust the rear.

If I am right the toe can be adjusted as can the alignment. You want all 4 wheels pointing in the same direction at 0degrees deviation. If the rears are out it will cause crabbing and/or unusual wear on the rear, not to mention untoward handling.

I don’t think camber can be changed - don’t quote me on that

 

[BoomerBoom]

As far as I know all cars using the golf platform have adjustable rear suspension eg:

https://workshop-manuals.com/seat/l...ent_vehicles_with_front_and_four-wheel_drive/

 

[fabiavrs2004]

Only those above 150hp, so not 1.4 ecotsi or 2.0 diesel, leon is 1.8 petrol and 184 diesel upwards

 

[LouG]

That could be two things, excessive negative camber, and/or too much toe out. Get an full alignment.
There are ways on many cars to correct incorrect alignment even if not adjustable. We used to modify lower arms on Skylines to sort camber problems.

 

[BoomerBoom]

Only those above 150hp, so not 1.4 ecotsi or 2.0 diesel, leon is 1.8 petrol and 184 diesel upwards

You are referring to multilink rear suspension, but all models have adjustable geometry -both front and rear.

 

[fabiavrs2004]

That sounds like a lot of things that could be wrong, surely a normal person would expect camber and toe in would be correct from the factory. Surely tracking adjustment is the only thing the man in the street would expect to do.

 

[Mtailor]

That sounds like a lot of things that could be wrong, surely a normal person would expect camber and toe in would be correct from the factory. Surely tracking adjustment is the only thing the man in the street would expect to do.

Anything can knock them out. Kerb, vicious over a speed ramp with speed...

 

[BoomerBoom]

Potholes especially, can rip the whole hub off.

 

[fabiavrs2004]

Sorry but not hit many kerbs with offside ( pedestrians get too much notice ). As I said earlier, I don't travel anywhere different to where my vrs went and that never had an issue with tracking ( apart from the kerb I didn't see that bent the wheel )

 

[r200ti]

Using a hunter isnt about adjusting the rear on our front drivers. Its about getting the car lined up properly, a proper report on the cars settings AND most likely someone who knows what he is doing.

Tracking is a real bain. The slightest thing can change it, even fitting a heavier or lighter battery

 

[LouG]

That sounds like a lot of things that could be wrong, surely a normal person would expect camber and toe in would be correct from the factory. Surely tracking adjustment is the only thing the man in the street would expect to do.

You have done 20k miles, a lot of things can go out of spec in that time.