Tyre Wear

[JBob74]

Originally Posted by Ninja59

More than likely to much camber possibly toe you need a 4 wheel alignment really ideally a hunter machine. Fixing the "tracking" wont resolve the problem.

I very much doubt the camber angle will be adjustable, unless the strut is bent.

As the others have said, this is most likely low tyre pressures, or possibly too much toe-out causing the inner wear. The outer wear isn't as noticeable and could simply be due to spirited driving around roundabouts/corners!

Before spending £££'s on 4 wheel laser alignment, get the tracking checked first, then keep an eye on your tyre pressures.

I have always tracked my own cars using one of these:
http://www.gunson.co.uk/item.aspx?item=1812

[Ninja59]

A check on a proper hunter is only £30...not £££'s. Whilst suggesting a £100 piece of kit.

I never said you could adjust the camber just a possible problem because of the wear. Tyre pressures is possible as well but clearly the OP has had issues over different tyres.

[Joggern]

As has been mentioned, 27k on Pirellis is good for rears on a front wheel drive! I used to get 18-22k on Continental on my Mondeo (2.5V6) and 50-60k on the rears (Pirelli P6000 split radially at 35k so switched from them).

My gut feeling is don't trust KwikFit. Not only are they expensive, they are the Facebook of knowledge. "I once read somewhere that this happened to one chap so now it must be what happened to you!"

If you're wearing the outside edges, it suggests that either your tyres are under inflated (the side walls are stiffer so therefore hold the bulk of the weight) or that you accelerate hard whilst cornering (so the tyre is pushed to the edge). I think it's safe to say from your mileage that you're not one for hard cornering...

It's hard to see from your picture, but if your tyres are nearing legal limit then I'd take the car elsewhere for advice - Merityre are good and your dealer may be able to advise.

I've got to 17k on my factory fit Continentals and I was pleased with myself but there's no way I'm going to get another 10k out of them and I mostly sit on the motorway!

[RSVolvo]

Thanks for everyone’s comments. Interesting that a couple of you have also had wear on the inside edge. I’ve got the car booked in at the dealer to be checked over next week. As there was little point in getting it all checked over and aligned with the old tyre on, I got the tyre changed yesterday (the dealer couldn’t get anywhere near KwikFit for price, otherwise I’d have had it all done on the same day). Having had the last tyre deflate on the motorway, I don’t want to risk that again, or worst still a full blow out.

The tyre has done over 25k which for a front tyre is good, but apart from this wear on the edge it is still good with 4-5mm right across the tread. As I do a lot of motorway driving, I do check my tyre pressures regularly and other than a slight drop in cold weather I can’t remember them being below the recommended pressure. I would say my driving style is average; I’m not a hard driver, but not a Captain Slow either.

As I had the other incidents with tyres, each time I’ve had an alignment check, probably 3 times in the last 12 months, so I know that is OK. However, I take the point that this was just a front wheel alignment. I’ll speak the dealer to see what they are going to do and if it will be a full 4 wheel and include camber.

With the tyre coming off, I had chance to take some more photos, so will attach these.

[JBob74]

Originally Posted by Ninja59

A check on a proper hunter is only £30...not £££'s. Whilst suggesting a £100 piece of kit.

I never said you could adjust the camber just a possible problem because of the wear. Tyre pressures is possible as well but clearly the OP has had issues over different tyres.

I would have thought a 4 wheel alignment would have been more than that but I stand corrected!

I wasn't suggesting the OP bought the Trakrite, just that I use it with good results - to be honest it pays for itself in the long run but is a bit expensive for what it is.

[wimorrison]

If you buy your tyres from the places then many of them will throw in a 4 wheel alignment free - Kwikfit and ATS Euromaster certainly do

The equipment being used doesn't make any difference nowadays certainly not for the optical equipment which could be used by an untrained monkey, they show you exactly what to adjust where and when the green light goes on it is correct - all they have to do is make sure they punch in your registration correctly

And as for Kwikfit not being any good - they work well for me, pleasant helpful and friendly.

[Stevelimabravo]

As I said, my tracking and alignment was spot on.

[RoyMacDonald]

Volvo only warrant the tracking for 3 months from new for a reason. Suspension wear and poor roads. Modern cars need full laser alignment every 6 months or 6,000 miles.

I get my cars laser aligned to the schedule and I've never had uneven tyre wear, front or rear in 15 years of Volvo AWD use.

Just remembered I have a photo of my tyres after 25k on my XC90.

[RSVolvo]

Once again thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I’ve now taken the car into the dealers. Their first reaction on seeing the photos was that the wear was due to the camber being out, but this could be due to a failed bushing. They then took my car into the workshop and gave it a good look over and found the bushings on the rear suspension were starting to go. Whilst I can see that if the rear and front don’t align it will give problems, I can’t say I understand exactly how it leads to the wear pattern I was seeing. Anyway these bushings were replaced (fortunately my car was still in warranty) and the dealer did a full four wheel alignment. This showed that the front camber on the opposite side was slightly out and also the caster was slightly out. However, apparently even the dealers are unable to adjust these, so they remain slightly out. The rest has now been aligned – at least until the first pot hole!

The dealer looked after me very well and has done everything they can, so the proof will be for my front tyres to wear more evenly in the next 25k miles.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by RSVolvo

Once again thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I’ve now taken the car into the dealers. Their first reaction on seeing the photos was that the wear was due to the camber being out, but this could be due to a failed bushing. They then took my car into the workshop and gave it a good look over and found the bushings on the rear suspension were starting to go. Whilst I can see that if the rear and front don’t align it will give problems, I can’t say I understand exactly how it leads to the wear pattern I was seeing. Anyway these bushings were replaced (fortunately my car was still in warranty) and the dealer did a full four wheel alignment. This showed that the front camber on the opposite side was slightly out and also the caster was slightly out. However, apparently even the dealers are unable to adjust these, so they remain slightly out. The rest has now been aligned – at least until the first pot hole!

The dealer looked after me very well and has done everything they can, so the proof will be for my front tyres to wear more evenly in the next 25k miles.

My dealer got my caster and camber correct by moving the rear sub frame. Apparently it was slightly out of spec from the factory.