Driving back from work the other night the steering developed a vibration. Continued home (about 40-50 miles) and when I got home checked the tyre to discover the below. I was lucky it didn't blowout! Front wheels BTW.

I drive alot of miles so check my tyres (along with everything else) on a weekly basis, so this has happened quickly.

The tyres were only just...maybe...possibly legal and I have some more ready to go on, but don't want to wreck a new set of tyres.

I have also changed the wheels (pic below) back to the 16's on the front and have driven for 100 miles or so and there appears to be no abnormal wear or vibration with these. (Is it legal to have different sized wheels - all be it with the same rolling radius?) EDIT - got all four standard wheels back on now - but still be onterested if anyone knows.

Any ideas what could have caused it.

EDIT - ooooh that is rather a good picture isn't it.

Edited 17 December, 200916 yr by KLM

If that tyre is legal I'm a Chinaman Seriously, forget the 1.6mm legal limit, and change tyres at 3mm minimum. Looks like simple canvas exposure to me. When you corner, modern cars alter the camber of each wheel for better turn in, and stability. This puts extra strain on the loaded tyre, and if the tread is low, the shoulder of the tyre over heats, and bingo.

You may want to get your camber checked, but more importantly, please change your tyres before they get to that state. You don't stand a chance.

You may want to get your camber checked

but you can't really adjust it

i'd deffo get a tracking check done, just to make sure there isn't too much toe out

You may want to get your camber checked, but more importantly, please change your tyres before they get to that state. You don't stand a chance.

Err ... thanks for the lecture... did you not read my post! I have the new tyres waiting to go on and the tyres were legal last weekend (2mm - checked with a tyre tread depth gauge- which as I said above is very low but still just legal). The other front tyre is still fine and above the wear indicators - I can post you photo if you would like!

Because I do alot of miles I am always very careful to make sure my tyres, and the rest of the car, are legal. It is the fact that it got in to that state so quickly (2 days) that concerns me - hence the question!

MoggyTech - many thanks. I hope that it is just as you say and nothing more serious. Will be getting wheel alignment done this weekend.

Edited 17 December, 200916 yr by KLM

It is very easy not to notice wear on the inside sholder of a tyres (especillay the rears), hence while the outer 3/4 was down to 1.6mm the inside was obvioulsy worn further. As soon as the canvas is exposed it will simply rip off with the rubber.

Personally in winter I would change sooner then 1.6 as you are pshing seious risk of aqua planing. Don't have too many quams about running that low in summer but you just need to ensure full tyre width is okay.

I generally loose tyres on the shoulder before the centre but thats down to me cornering too fast.

Err ... thanks for the lecture... did you not read my post! I have the new tyres waiting to go on and the tyres were legal last weekend (2mm - checked with a tyre tread depth gauge- which as I said above is very low but still just legal). The other front tyre is still fine and above the wear indicators - I can post you photo if you would like!

Not rying to lecture- sorry if that's how it seemed. You did say

only just...maybe...possibly legal

and the pictures make them look perhaps worse?

but you can't really adjust it

i'd deffo get a tracking check done, just to make sure there isn't too much toe out

I'd expect tracking to knacker both though. OP: you haven't hit any potholes or such have you that could knock that side out camber wise?

Regarding tyre size, I'm pretty sure some cars have different tyre sizes front and rear from the factory- a Porsche, IIRC, but I might be just thinking of width, rather than diameter. You're right to mention the rolling radius: a significant difference will confuse ABS, for a start.

Edited 17 December, 200916 yr by cjb

Not rying to lecture- sorry if that's how it seemed.

Sorry - probably being a bit over defensive. I do take your point though, tyres were less than ideal.

Not hit any potholes that I can remember. Car had a full set of bushes at Unit 18 6 thousand miles ago so I know it was right then, I will get wheel alignment done this weekend and the new tyres are away with the wheels being fitted now.

Thanks all.

Edited 17 December, 200916 yr by KLM

To me it looks more like damage than wear.....