Morning all,

As you might notice I'm new around here, I use the seatcupra.net site a lot but having bought a vRS in December it looks like this is my new home for car problems

Anyway, I had the car serviced (the car still has some warranty which requires receipts for servicing should I want to claim....) and they noticed that the rear tyres are wearing. However, it's on the inside edge of the tyres and it's not smooth around the circumference. Each tread block is on an angle, almost like a serration.

I'll see if I can get my phone to co-operate with the laptop to show you guys. I was wondering if anyone else has had similar problems?

The garage suggested worn rear dampers (not a big problem, only £19 each) but I was wondering about the rear bushes on the beam? The car has done 86k for what it's worth.

Thanks for any ideas.

Anthony

Edited 22 April, 201016 yr by AlpineWhite

View from behind:

This shows a step very clearly:

I can't see the pictures due to my work filters but the serrated look of different wear on individual tread blocks sounds a lot like the feathering I have experienced on the rears of my last 2 sets of Kuhmo KU31's

Ends up making a droning noise like a knackered wheel bearing and drove me mental.

After posting a very similar question here answers were inconclusive - ranging from possible suspension problems to just braking too hard too much!

I didn't have enough cash to have a full aligment check carried out and given the lack of adjustability at the back of the Fabia didn't really see what could be done even once we knew what the problem was.

I have the front alignment/tracking checked and it was way out; which had balded the inside shoulders of both front tyres.

That was all straigthened up and I rotated the feathered Kuhmos to the front in an attempt to smooth them flat again and stop the droning; while 2 new Pirellis were put on the back in a hope that a different tread pattern wouldn;t suffer so badly.

So far the Pirelli's aren't feathered but haven't really done enough miles to know if the problem is sorted for sure.

Thanks gents. I'm pretty sure it won't be hard braking that's causing it, I'm usually very gentle on the brakes. I am starting to notice a hum like a worn wheel bearing now.

So we're down to alignment problems, suspension wear or just the type of tyre.

Would I be muddying the waters if I said the tyres on mine were Pirelli (P-Zero Nero)?

@helpmedisappear: what type of tyres did you put on?

Thanks for the help

I had what sounds like exactly the same problem on both rear tyres - fitted with Avon ZZ3.

They ended up looking like a 50p when viewed from the inner side, very unevenly worn. The noise drove me crazy!

Garage said it must have been a duff set of tyres that had been stored incorrectly so had become out of shape but took that with a pinch of salt. Got P-Zero Neros on now and thankfully not had a problem yet.

Unlikely to fix the problem for you but thats what I was told!

GC

Ok, quick update from this morning

1. A trip to Powerstation in Tewkesbury to have the geometry measured. Rear toe angle is a little low but nothing of great concern. Slight adjustment was made to the front left toe angle. Camber was fine at front and rear. Suggest a tyre with stiffer sidewall and monitoring tyre pressure and wear. Reccomended to run the rear pressure slightly higher than book.

2. Four Toyo Proxes T1-R tyres fitted. These have a load rating of 87, opposed to 83 on the Pirellis.

3. Pressure gauge and vernier calipers are ready to measure tread depths. I'll mark they tyres so I can see how each tread block is wearing around the tyres. I'll be checking approximately every 300 miles.

I'll keep this thread updated with the latest.

Anthony

good work Ant - Powerstation were my first choice for aligment check by i really couln't stomach the £80 to get it done.

interested to hear they adjusted the rear as i though everything back there was fixed.

should be Nero's wear funny again i'll probably bite the bullet and go get myself checked out

look forward to seeing if you've sorted the problem

I had what sounds like exactly the same problem on both rear tyres - fitted with Avon ZZ3.

They ended up looking like a 50p when viewed from the inner side, very unevenly worn. The noise drove me crazy!

Garage said it must have been a duff set of tyres that had been stored incorrectly so had become out of shape but took that with a pinch of salt. Got P-Zero Neros on now and thankfully not had a problem yet.

Unlikely to fix the problem for you but thats what I was told!

GC

This sort of wear is very common on Golf V, Leon, Octavia etc, but I've seen it on Mondeos as well. The theory goes that it's due to the back tyres only wearing under braking. The rears on my Leon were cheap ditchfinders, and sounded awful. I think the best answer is differnt tyres with less of a block pattern, and rotating the tyres back to front, or if they're not directional, swap them side to side.

Right, thread resurrection time.

The Toyos are stepping now too. In fairness they have done something like 35k (can't be certain because I ran winter tyres from November to March). So I'm not too unhappy - they've lasted a lot longer than the Bridgestones that were on before.

I imagine the Toyos will be dead before long with this stepping wear, so its time to try something else.

I've just put a pair of Michelin PS3 on the front, but I'm not sure I fancy risking them on the back, they're mighty pricey!

Will update again when I have a new set fitted.

It might be worth checking 4 wheel alignment. If you any where colse to Leeds come see me and I will check it for you.

Hey, thanks for the offer. Unfortunately Leeds is a bit of a trek from Bristol! I did get the alignment done when I first had the problem on the Pirellis, didn't find anything untoward really.

We done few cars after other found nothing.

Perhaps its just something the Fabia tends to do. Doesn't sound uncommon. Anyone got suggestions for tyres that don't step?

Before you spend money on set of tyres, get a few £££ for alignment with print out. Only one with print out as then you will have proove as what is going on on your vehicle.

Interesting. Same problem has just been reported to me by Beadles in Maidstone. Octavia VRS Limited Edition - so the question is, will they fix whatever it is under warranty and replace the tyres?