Ok, for some there have been issues of tyre wear with the Octy II and other VAG units using the same platform I am sure, but get this..........!

Having already changed a full set of rubber to another make, and other than what was fitted from the factory, I am again experiencing severe axle noise, which upon inspection is due to uneven tyre wear, again at the rear.

This is only after some 6k miles and the rubber was purchased from Protyre, some may or may not know of the company?

Anyway, I popped back up to the local Protyre centre today and highlighted the issue, and after some questions I was absolutely amazed at what he said, maybe I'm Mr Thicko but here goes!

"Sir, we would always advise our customers to exchange the rear wheeels and fronts after every 5-6k miles, as irrespective of model or make, tyre manufacturer or tyre design this will happen, as the rear wheel trail and are not the driving, this will lead to uneven tyre wear"

Now, I must say at this point that i have bought in total 6 tyres this year from Protyre, a full set of 4 and a set of 2 and on each purchase they never uttered any comment as above. Nor did they in previous visits with other cars I have owned!! This was pointed out to the guy I spoke to who happened to be the manager! His response, "Oh, i can only apologise for that sir, but maybe we will try harder next time"

Mmmmmm, there we go, and after some 24 years driving and of many makes and models of cars, and having tyres changed etc, etc, I have never ever heard of this!

Now, somebody is most definately going to shed some light on this if not provide a definitive answer............Aren't they.........Of course I mean to the statement that we are all advised to swap out the rears for fronts after 6 months or so..

Have a look here for my ongoing tyre wear issues.

Steve

What about rear wheel drive? according to his statement: "all makes and models" means every car produced is front wheel drive

I have always had new tyres straight on the front when needed and the same on the rears. I have had uneven tyre wear but thats when the tyres are well down to the wear markers. I've never bothered with the whole swapping of tyres malarky.

Uneven tyre wear is normally incorrect car geometry or heavy loads in the car all the time especially if the suspension is of the independant type. My OEM set went like that, 5 or 6mm on the outer edge, canvas on the inner shoulder :eek:

Its not your wheel bearing(s) is it?

Utter rubbish, this is a sales ploy to sell extra wheel balance.

What about rear wheel drive? according to his statement: "all makes and models" means every car produced is front wheel drive

I have always had new tyres straight on the front when needed and the same on the rears. I have had uneven tyre wear but thats when the tyres are well down to the wear markers. I've never bothered with the whole swapping of tyres malarky.

Uneven tyre wear is normally incorrect car geometry or heavy loads in the car all the time especially if the suspension is of the independant type. My OEM set went like that, 5 or 6mm on the outer edge, canvas on the inner shoulder :eek:

Its not your wheel bearing(s) is it?

No, not wheel bearing definately not!

Swapped the rears to front as the issue is with the rears, rear now quiet front noisy as hell!

The uneven wear is truely remarkable to see, but hey ho, at least so far nobody has mentioned or agreed with this guy at Protyre!

Moving the tyres around will cure the symptoms, but you need to find the cause otherwise the same thing will happen to the tyres currently on the rear.

As a guide, on the rear I have Michelin Pilot Premecy tyres. They have been on the car for 44K miles now, never been swapped to the front and still have 3mm tread left.

When I changed my 4 original tyres at just under 30K they'd never been swapped around and the amount of wear was the same on all four.

No, not wheel bearing definitely not!

Swapped the rears to front as the issue is with the rears, rear now quiet front noisy as hell!

The uneven wear is truly remarkable to see, but hey ho, at least so far nobody has mentioned or agreed with this guy at Protyre!

Hi Superted,

What is the nature of this 'uneven' tyre wear? What tyres do you have and what is the style of the tread? Are they heavily block tread style?

The guy at Protyre is not entirely wrong as rear tyres will wear in a particular way given they are not 'driven'; here is something I wrote in another thread in relation to a 'Sawtooth wear pattern';-

"When braking the leading edge of the tread blocks on a tyre get squashed more than the trailing edge, due to the transfer of weight etc. and when accelerating the trailing edge of the tread blocks take the strain.

On a front wheel drive car the front tyres are used for both accelerating and braking so the strain on the tread blocks is roughly equalised. The rear tyre, as they are used for braking only, have the tread blocks getting their wear on the leading edge only and hence finish up wedge shaped; creating the sawtooth effect."

Front to Rear rotation every 6-7,000 miles will minimise this.

However; it is concerning that you have uneven tyre wear after so little mileage; back to the question, what tyres do you have and what is the wear pattern?

Sawtoothing on the treadblocks?

It isn't unheard of on the Octy II

Hi Superted,

What is the nature of this 'uneven' tyre wear? What tyres do you have and what is the style of the tread? Are they heavily block tread style?

The guy at Protyre is not entirely wrong as rear tyres will wear in a particular way given they are not 'driven'; here is something I wrote in another thread in relation to a 'Sawtooth wear pattern';-

"When braking the leading edge of the tread blocks on a tyre get squashed more than the trailing edge, due to the transfer of weight etc. and when accelerating the trailing edge of the tread blocks take the strain.

On a front wheel drive car the front tyres are used for both accelerating and braking so the strain on the tread blocks is roughly equalised. The rear tyre, as they are used for braking only, have the tread blocks getting their wear on the leading edge only and hence finish up wedge shaped; creating the sawtooth effect."

Front to Rear rotation every 6-7,000 miles will minimise this.

However; it is concerning that you have uneven tyre wear after so little mileage; back to the question, what tyres do you have and what is the wear pattern?

Tyres are Kumho, previously Dunlops on the Octy and i also have a Leon II which did have Pirellis but now has the same as the Octy, Kumho.

Symptoms seem to be as you described, the inner tread pattern looks like it is lifting or could be this "sawtoothing" you mention.

If this is indeed asa result of the backs wearing due to trailing and braking only, why don't the vehicle manufacturers advise the course of action in the manual?

The only indication i found in my manual was to possibly change the backs to fronts in order to maintain even wear and so that all four corners can be changed at the same time.

Symptoms seem to be as you described, the inner tread pattern looks like it is lifting or could be this "sawtoothing" you mention.

Do I take it therefore that the 'uneven wear' is restricted to the inner edge (shoulder) of the tyres OR is it equally 'uneven' across the whole width of the tyre?

Have you tryed fitting the same brand and modle tyre that were fitted from new, this may sound odd but when the suspention and geometry are set up by the manufacturer, they use a controle tyre, this is then fitted to the car in production,

things like traction rating side wall strenth tread patern can all have an afect on noise wear and handling , even if the origional tyre is not avalable an equivalent will be made by the tyre manufacturer.

When i was a sprog all those years ago swoping tyers was part of a service (happy days)

Undulating "scallope" type of wear at the rear has been in depute between tyre/ car manufacturers for years regarding who's to blame.

The terminology differs but the global name you describe is "heel and toe" meaning the pitch of the tread differs around the circumference but favors "heel" on one particular size of tread block and "toe" on another, collectively you have "heel and toe" which when advanced generates the harmonics mentioned.

Moving the tyres only masks the reason which from my dealings with the issue is the dampers.

Do I take it therefore that the 'uneven wear' is restricted to the inner edge (shoulder) of the tyres OR is it equally 'uneven' across the whole width of the tyre?

Inner, on both tyres..............

Rear camber adjustment!

See this recent thread;- http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/enormous-dangerous-wear-inside-rear-tyres/127164/

I dont have rear tyre wear issues, but it does look like my rear springs are upgraded for towing a caravan with twin electrics! Can get 5-6 fingers between the arch and tyre haha.

So maybe thats sorted my camber out?

I do know that it wants to flail the **** out when you touch the brakes a little through a bend when its either wet or dry. Front end sags and back end lifts.

In all my previous cars the servicing was once every 6mths and the tyres were always swapped front to back. Definitely got longer life out of the tyres as did yearly wheel balancing.

It does highly depend on the tyre though, we had outer edge wear so got tyres that were better suited to that and haven't had a problem since. I probably will get the tyres rotated every 6 mths myself as 12mths is too long.

Sawtoothing on the treadblocks?

It isn't unheard of on the Octy II

Sounds alot like that.

I have finally just replaced the rear tyres on SWMBOs furby vRS (Federals 595s awful awful tyres - on there when brought) and the horrible droning has disappeared. It is now nice and quiet and grip is superb (Vredestein SporTrac3s all round).

I could tell it was the tyres as moving them around made the noise follow it Defo sounds like feathering, 50p'ing or saw-toothing (pick your preferred name).

It does seem to be a problem with some of the cheaper brands.

The heel & toe wear pattern is why I don't like directional tyres & prefer to stick with "standards" or assymetric tread patterns - then you can X-rotate the tyres & this will take the high points off the tread blocks (on the tyres with reversed rotation).

The heel & toe wear pattern is why I don't like directional tyres & prefer to stick with "standards" or asymmetric tread patterns - then you can X-rotate the tyres & this will take the high points off the tread blocks (on the tyres with reversed rotation).

Very valid point; plenty of good asymmetrics around today.

You guys with the odd rear wheel wear - are the rear tyres balanced OK?

Some of the smaller tyre fitters round here don't balance rear wheels, and that can lead to bizarre wear patterns.

Sounds alot like that.

I have finally just replaced the rear tyres on SWMBOs furby vRS (Federals 595s awful awful tyres - on there when brought) and the horrible droning has disappeared. It is now nice and quiet and grip is superb (Vredestein SporTrac3s all round).

Cant say i noticed alot of road noise from the Fedral 595S on the astra coupe when i had 215/40/R17's on there.

Comparing them to the Avon's ZZ3's i had on there before i didnt notice much difference in terms of noise or handling. Saved me a wedge of money and were pretty hard wearing at the same time.

Cant say i noticed alot of road noise from the Fedral 595S on the astra coupe when i had 215/40/R17's on there.

Comparing them to the Avon's ZZ3's i had on there before i didnt notice much difference in terms of noise or handling. Saved me a wedge of money and were pretty hard wearing at the same time.

Prob didn't help that they had feathered and so was making a lot of noise. They were crappy tyres though imo compared to the michelins and Vredesteins I am now use to. Poor wet weather characteristics that meant understeer city when the road was damp.

Comparing them to the Marangoni's on the rear they stuck like poo to a blanket....312mm discs they use to stop quite well.

One thing i noticed though is that they wore quite quick on the edges, and i was running around 34psi in them.